The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission will travel to Washington, D.C., to commemorate a special unveiling on Capitol Hill.
On May 8th, Daisy Bates, a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement, will be honored with a statue in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. The hall features sculptures of individuals who have profoundly impacted their home states.
In conjunction with the AMLKC 2024 Dream Keepers Tour, DuShun Scarbrough, executive director of AMLKC, will travel to Washington, and accompanying him will be an entourage of student delegates from the Southeast region, including Pine Bluff High School, and dignitaries representing municipalities across the state.
“This trip holds significant importance as it is centered around the historic event,” said Scarbrough, noting the commission is a division of the Arkansas Department of Education. “Daisy Bates was a remarkable figure in American history, known for her courageous leadership during the Civil Rights Movement, particularly in her role as an adviser to the Little Rock Nine. Her tireless advocacy for equal rights and educational opportunities for African American students has left an indelible mark on our nation’s history.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Bates stands as an important figure in the chronicles of racial equality in the United States. Both as co-publisher of the Arkansas State Press and president of the Arkansas NAACP, she was at the forefront of the struggle for equal rights. Her support for the Little Rock Nine, a group of Black students who desegregated Central High School in 1957, cemented her place in history.
In 2019, the Arkansas General Assembly decided to replace the two initial statues in Statuary Hall, Uriah Milton Rose and James Paul Clarke, with sculptures of Bates and singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. Bates will become one of the first African American women to be honored with a sculpture in Statuary Hall.
The National Statuary Hall Steering Committee and the Arkansas Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission commissioned sculptor Benjamin Victor to create a larger-than-life bronze sculpture of Bates.
“The 7-foot, 6-inch bronze statue of Bates will depict Bates in a way that captures her strength and determination,” said Scarbrough. “This permanent installation signifies a long-awaited recognition of Bates’ national impact.”
The unveiling ceremony is anticipated to be a grand occasion, attracting a notable gathering of distinguished guests, including dignitaries and those from Bates’ family.
One of those attending is Pine Bluff City Council Member Lanette Frazier, who will be taking students from Pine Bluff High School to the nation’s capital.
On Tuesday, the 11 a.m. Anti-Bullying Rally organized by the AMLKC as part of the Dream Keepers Tour, will take place on the Lincoln Memorial grounds.
“This is a historic moment for Pine Bluff,” said Frazier. According to Scarbrough, part of the mission of the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission is to promote and preserve the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The AMLKC developed an anti-bullying task force in the Pine Bluff School District in September 2023 during the Nonviolence Youth Summit at Pine Bluff High School. Scarbrough and his team, along with Frazier, have met quarterly with the anti-bully task force to give updates.
“The AMLKC takes immense pride in fulfilling Dr. King’s legacy of sharing social equality and philosophies of diversity and multiculturalism by providing programming that encourages nonviolence, community service, collaboration, and inclusion throughout all four congressional districts,” he said.
Frazier, a volunteer with the AMLKC, has participated in multiple anti-bullying campaigns as an instructor. She said she was bullied as a child and expressed gratitude for the partnership and the opportunity to showcase the Pine Bluff Anti-Bullying Campaign on a national platform, highlighting its significance.
“Together, we will work tirelessly to enhance awareness and educate individuals about the detrimental effects of bullying,” she said. “By empowering students to take a stand against bullying, they are laying the foundation for a more compassionate and inclusive future.”
Zaniya Colvin, a student who has been a victim of bullying, said she is looking forward to an educational trip to Washington with the AMLKC. While this is not her first time traveling with the commission, she said this experience will be unique due to the unveiling ceremony.
She said she believes the trip will provide opportunities for her to learn beyond the classroom and looks forward to potentially seeing President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
The AMLKC will receive a White House tour and be guests at a VIP reception at the Smithsonian Museum of African American History.
Scarbrough emphasized the significance of offering young individuals, like Zaniya, firsthand experiences that enable them to witness history in the making. He said she believes that the opportunity for students to witness the installation of Bates’ statue in the National Statuary Hall holds immense educational and profound meaning.
“This experience provides a unique perspective on the struggles and triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement,” he said.
Scarbrough also highlighted the enduring legacy of Bates, emphasizing that few Arkansans have left such a mark on the world. The statue, he says, serves as a constant reminder of her courage and the ongoing fight for civil rights.