09 Dec 2024 Black History Commission of Arkansas awards seven grants totaling $23,807.22

Posted at 6:19 PMh in News by

LITTLE ROCK — The Black History Commission of Arkansas (BHCA) awarded seven grants during its quarterly meeting on Nov. 21st. The grants, totaling $23,807.22, will fund projects across the state aimed at preserving and promoting African American history and heritage in Arkansas.

The awarded projects are as follows:

African American Funeral Homes: The Final Emancipation – Kennedy Funeral Home – Resting in Peace? Phase I

  • Organization: African American Historical Genealogical Society
  • Description: Documenting the history of the Kennedy Funeral Home in Marianna, AR, established in 1913.
  • Award Amount: $3,500

Historical Marker Commemorating the White County Training School and Mr. Harold Wilson

  • Organization: White County Historical Society
  • Description: Funding for a two-sided historical marker to commemorate the former White County Training School site, now Westside Middle School in Searcy.
  • Award Amount: $3,370.00

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of The Eliza Ross Miller “Purchase” and African American Delta Greats

  • Organization: West Side Community Hub, Inc.
  • Description: Documenting and celebrating African American lives in the 19th and 20th centuries through exhibits, events, and oral histories.
  • Award Amount: $2,949.24

Unrecognized: Arkansas’ Forgotten Track Legends

  • Organization: Antwon Publishing Co., Inc.
  • Description: Documenting the lives and accomplishments of six African American track athletes during segregation and desegregation eras.
  • Award Amount: $3,500

Preservation of Fraternal Cemetery’s African American History and Heritage in Oakland and Fraternal Historic Cemetery Park

  • Organization: Friends of Oakland and Fraternal Historic Cemetery
  • Description: Preserving the African American heritage of Fraternal Cemetery in Little Rock.
  • Award Amount: $3,487.98

The Restoration of the Forrest City Colored Cemetery, Research, and Educational Materials Project

  • Organization: Wellness Council of St. Francis County
  • Description: Creating a museum display and historical marker to honor influential African Americans in Forrest City.
  • Award Amount: $3,500

Journalist for a Day, The Daisy Bates Way

  • Organization: Huttig-Strong School District
  • Description: Educating students on the legacy of Daisy Bates through research and hands-on journalism experiences.
  • Award Amount: $3,500

The BHCA is committed to supporting initiatives that preserve and amplify Arkansas’ rich African American history, ensuring these stories are documented and celebrated for future generations.