Tears welled up in the eyes of attendees as the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff and Philander Smith College HBCU alumnae choir sang “Guide My Feet While I Run This Race,” Negro spiritual, during the unveiling of the Daisy Bates statue.
Setting the tone for the momentous occasion, the legacy of civil-rights leader Daisy Bates was celebrated in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Arkansas and national leaders gathered to unveil a bronze statue of Bates, best known for mentoring the Little Rock Nine – a group of African American students who integrated Central High School in Little Rock in 1957.
Students from Pine Bluff, Little Rock and Stuttgart, traveling with the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, bore witness to a historic moment in the nation’s capital. The unveiling of Daisy Bates’ statue in Statuary Hall permanently etched her legacy into the core of American democracy. Bates, a civil rights pioneer who unwaveringly fought for her school’s integration in 1957, fearlessly championed educational equality, forever immortalizing her impact on the nation’s conscience.
“For these students, this wasn’t just a field trip,” said AMLKC Executive Director DuShun Scarbrough. “Each step in the hallowed halls of the Capitol echoed with the footsteps of those who fought for justice before them. They stood in the very room where decisions that shaped their lives were made, reminded that their history is not just in textbooks, but in the bronze figure before them.”
Last Sunday, delegates of the AMLKC embarked on a journey to Washington, D.C., as part of the AMLKC Dream Keepers Tour to attend the ceremony honoring Bates, a pivotal figure in the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School in 1957. The statue created by sculptor Benjamin Victor captures Bates’ determined spirit, portraying her with a newspaper and pen in hand, symbolizing her dual roles as a journalist and activist.
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In a conversation with The Commercial, Victor emphasized the profound significance of the physical placement of Bates in Statuary Hall. The 7-foot, 6-inch bronze statue of Bates, weighing approximately 2,050 pounds, shows her walking forward while carrying a copy of the Arkansas State Press in her left hand and a pen and notepad in her right hand with an NAACP lapel pin and a rose on her left side.
“Here you have Daisy Bates, who is this shining star, smiling and striving forward to create change in her world as she’s walking across the room striding right towards Rosa Parks and Mary Bethune,” he said. “It’s a beautiful room of civil rights leaders that are representing our country.”
Remeia Smothers, a soft-spoken senior in Pine Bluff, held back tears as she reflected on the moment. “Seeing Mrs. Bates up there, so strong and proud… It makes me realize how much she sacrificed for us. We owe it to her to keep fighting for what’s right,” she said.
Assistant Superintendent of the Pine Bluff School District, Phil Carlock, said the experience was eye-opening for him as well. “I’m 46 years old and I thought I’d seen it all,” he said.
For his students, Carlock said he thinks it’s a moment they will understand over time and realize the unique opportunity they had.
“One thing that captured everything for me is what a student said,” said Carlock. “She said, ‘Mr. Carlock, I have never been out of Arkansas so this has changed my whole mindset of what I want to do in life.'”
Carlock said it also changed his mindset as an educator because his students did not know who Daisy Bates was.
“We just assume that they know and if I could have done this all over again I would have prepped them,” he said. “This makes me want to rethink just as a district how we approach things because history is still in the making and it’s very relevant and even in our city of Pine Bluff people don’t realize how much history is in that city.”
Despite the students’ limited knowledge of Bates’ life, her unwavering determination in the face of adversity made her stories instantly relatable. Standing before her statue instilled a newfound vitality into those tales of courage, creating a tangible connection to a past that felt both distant and immediate.
Lanette Frazier, Pine Bluff city council member, found herself overwhelmed with emotion. “I never thought I’d be so moved by a statue,” she said. “But it’s more than just a statue. It’s a symbol of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest times, there were people like Mrs. Bates who refused to give up.”
During the unveiling ceremony, emotional speeches and heartfelt tributes filled the air. Lawmakers spoke fondly of Bates, highlighting her unwavering belief in the transformative power of education. Former Arkansas Legislator Shane Broadway revered her as a beacon of hope. Arkansas State Rep. and Democratic candidate for Pine Bluff mayor, Vivian Flowers, who was also in attendance, described Bates as a trailblazer who inspired generations.
The true impact of the day was revealed in the hushed conversations among the students. They shared dreams that had been reignited, a newfound dedication to social justice, and a burning desire to uphold Bates’ legacy. Chandler Laurent, a senior at PBHS, expressed his awe at the event, stating, “Being here today and seeing Mrs. Bates honored in this way is truly inspiring. It’s a reminder of the courage and perseverance it took to fight for equality, and it motivates us to continue that fight.”
The students had the opportunity to meet with lawmakers and other dignitaries during their Dream Keepers Tour including Gov. Sarah Sanders, discussing the importance of Bates’ legacy. Zaniya Colvin of Stuttgart remarked, “This trip has been eye-opening. It’s made me realize the impact one person can have and the importance of standing up for what’s right.”
In Arkansas and American history, the unveiling of the Daisy Bates statue stands as a monumental occasion, honoring the contributions of a woman who devoted her life to justice and equality. For the students present, it presented a rare opportunity to witness history in real-time and to draw inspiration from the legacy of a person many regard as a genuine hero.
As the AMLKC student delegates boarded the bus back to Arkansas the next day, many of the students said they carried more than just souvenirs and photos. They carried a newfound sense of purpose, a deeper understanding of their own history, and a burning desire to make their mark on the world, just as Daisy Bates had done before them.
A close up of the 7-foot, 6-inch bronze statue of Daisy Bates, weighing approximately 2,050 pounds, shows her carrying a copy of the Arkansas State Press in her left hand with an NAACP lapel pin and a rose on her left side representing her dual role as a journalist and activist. (Pine Bluff Commercial/Eplunus Colvin)
Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Delegate Timothy Baker (left) poses with sculptor, Benjamin Victor, who portrays the statue of Daisy Bates walking forward while carrying a copy of the Arkansas State Press in her left hand and a pen and notepad in her right hand with an NAACP lapel pin and a rose on her left side. The statue is placed on a pedestal describing Bates as a “civil rights leader,” “journalist,” “author” and “publisher,” as well as a “champion of the integration of schools.” (Pine Bluff Commercial/Eplunus Colvin)
Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders (right) visits with the student delegates of the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission during the pre-ceremony for the Daisy Bates Tuesday evening at the Smithsonians’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. (Pine Bluff Commercail/Eplunus Colvin)