Executive director of Arkansas Martin…

Standing on the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge, where thousands once risked their lives for the right to vote, Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission Executive Director DuShun L. Scarbrough Sr. reflected on the meaning of legacy, service and responsibility.

The day before, he had received the Freedom Flame Award, one of the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee’s highest honors, recognizing individuals who carry forward the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement.

With the recognition, Scarbrough became only the second Arkansan ever to receive the award, joining the late poet, author and civil rights activist Maya Angelou.

For Scarbrough, it was a deeply emotional and historic occasion. His speech served as a powerful homage to the colossal legacy of the late Bernard Lafayette Jr., a towering figure in the Civil Rights Movement who trained Scarbrough.

Lafayette was renowned for his profound commitment to and rigorous training in the principles of nonviolence, directly mentored by Martin Luther King Jr. Scarbrough, who had himself been profoundly influenced by Lafayette’s teachings, felt a personal and moral obligation to honor the man whose wisdom and courage had shaped the movement’s trajectory.

The award was presented March 7 during the annual Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee weekend, a national gathering commemorating the 1965 marches that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Each year, thousands travel to Selma to retrace the footsteps of the marchers who faced violence on March 7, 1965 — an event remembered as Bloody Sunday.

But while the award was presented in Alabama, much of the work that earned Scarbrough the recognition has taken place hundreds of miles away — in communities across Arkansas, particularly in the Delta.

Since 2008, Scarbrough has served as executive director of the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, leading statewide programs centered on nonviolence, youth leadership, racial unity, civic engagement and economic empowerment. Many of those initiatives have been directed toward underserved communities in Pine Bluff and Southeast Arkansas.

“The commission’s work in the Delta focuses heavily on helping young people discover leadership potential while addressing social challenges that affect their communities,” he said.

“Dr. King believed every community deserved opportunity, dignity and hope,” Scarbrough said. “That includes rural and Delta communities that sometimes get overlooked. Our mission is to make sure those young people know their future is limitless.”

One of the commission’s signature initiatives is the Nonviolence Youth Summit, a program that brings together hundreds of young people ages 10 to 18 for leadership development and violence prevention training. Students participate in workshops focused on leadership, career readiness, civic responsibility and community engagement.

Central to the program are King’s six principles of nonviolence, which encourage conflict resolution, compassion and moral courage.

“When young people understand the philosophy of nonviolence, they begin to see themselves not just as students but as leaders,” Scarbrough said. “That mindset can change the direction of an entire community.”

In recent years, the commission has also partnered with community organizations in Pine Bluff to help address gun violence.

Working alongside local leaders and national partners, the commission has supported initiatives tied to National Gun Violence Awareness Day and collaborated with Group Violence Intervention.

Another initiative that has had a major impact on Delta students is the Dream Keepers Educational Tour. The program takes Arkansas students to historic civil rights landmarks across the country, including trips to Washington, D.C.

Students from White Hall High School and Watson Chapel High School have participated in the experience. The tours allow students to visit museums, monuments and historic sites tied to the civil rights movement.

Educators say the trips often leave lasting impressions on participants.

“When students see these places in person, history stops being something in a textbook,” Scarbrough said. “It becomes real. And that reality inspires them to lead.”

Beyond youth programs, the commission promotes economic empowerment initiatives designed to help families overcome barriers to financial stability. Programs include financial literacy education, partnerships with financial institutions and homeownership assistance efforts.

Throughout the year, the commission organizes community events honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., including statewide King Week programs, youth education initiatives and volunteer service projects. The commission’s MLK Day of Service has grown into one of the largest volunteer efforts connected to the holiday.

Outreach tours also bring discussions about racial unity, civic leadership and economic development to communities across the Delta.

Scarbrough has also organized peace marches, interfaith gatherings and dialogue initiatives aimed at bringing people together across racial and cultural divides.

“Reconciliation takes courage,” he said. “But when communities choose dialogue over division, healing becomes possible.”

Receiving the Freedom Flame Award in Selma placed Scarbrough among a distinguished group of leaders recognized for advancing the ideals of the Civil Rights Movement. For him, however, the award represents not an ending, but a renewed commitment.

“The flame represents responsibility,” Scarbrough said. “It reminds us that freedom is never finished work. Each generation must carry the light forward.”