Our stunning inaugural issue, with the help of covergirl Delena Lattimore
Wardrobe and styling by the amazing Korto Momolu
That good slickback (whew chile!) by Chanelle Brooks
Serving an immaculate face card with the help of Amari Briggs
Eagle eye courtesy of Sarah Oden
content in written and pictorial form in both print and online mediums and is a work of art everyone will be proud to display.
Established in 2022 and published quarterly by communications and media executives Stephanie Bass Jackson and Myron Jackson through Jackson and Jackson Publishing, LLC, NOIRE® brings us stories of triumph, heartache, celebration, grief, hope, and aspiration, and always leaves us wanting more. Each issue, NOIRE® features content that’s hot and relevant for the culture, of course. And we always keep the content fresh, thought-provoking, and exciting at NOIRE. This is our news, our culture, our time.
Find us at NOIREArkansas.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) @ArkansasNOIRE
ission
To unapologetically share the beauty and rich heritage of amazingly diverse Black Arkansans and to better foster cooperative and collective advancement of the people.
a deeper collective love and appreciation for the contributions of Black Arkansans to the culture of Arkansas.
The increasing prevalence of early menopause in Black women requires attention to its causes and consequences.
A group of heralded musicians form a chorus to explain why Arkansas’ music scene is the perfect verse over a tight beat.
Noted director and producer Ken-Matt Martin comes home to take a bow. 50 THE MAN WITH A PLAN
Jaylen Smith may be Earle’s young mayor, but he’s ready to lead.
Sounding the alarm that the opioid epidemic is not just other people’s problem.
Getting to know YOUrself through substantive information, illuminating insights, and meaningful experiences.
Exploring the nuances of African American culture by highlighting the diverse narratives, concerns, aspirations, and accomplishments that make us uniquely US.
Exploring why knowing and understanding our community’s struggles strengthens our identity and empowers collective action.
Founders / Publishers
Stephanie Bass Jackson Myron Jackson
Executive Editor Sericia Nelson
Creative Director
Myron Jackson
Art Directors
Joseph Stout Sherine Salem
Editorial Assistant Vine’Shia Barnes
Producer Jasmine Blunt
Issue Contributors
Vine’Shia Barnes · Tanisha Joe-Conway · Katrina Dupins · Khloe Janel Kim Jones-Sneed · Jimmy Warren · Adena J. White · L. Lamor Williams
Issue Photographers
Alexander King · Jen Missouri · Sarah Oden · London Porchia
Vol. 001, Number 001
NOIRE Magazine is published quarterly by Jackson & Jackson Publishing, LLC Copyright 2023 NOIRE All Rights Reserved. Printed in the USA
400 W. Capitol Ave., Suite 1802 Little Rock, AR 72201
Cover and contents may not be reproduced or reprinted in any form or medium without prior written permission. While effort has been made to verify the accuracy of information presented in this issue, neither NOIRE nor its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine.
CONTRI BUTORS
For nearly 30 years, this public affairs television guru has developed, produced, and coordinated programming for Arkansas PBS. Her work has garnered numerous awards including a Videographer’s Award of Distinction, the Arkansas Press Association Award for Community Service and a National Educational Television Association Best Documentary Award. She has also earned regional EMMYs for the documentaries “Precious Memories: Our Vanishing Rural Churches and Dream Land: Little Rock’s West 9th Street,” and the segment “Carver Cobras: A Final Run.” For NOIRE, the Conway resident (wife of Charnley, mother of Taylor and Carson, and grandmother of Taelyn) joined us on West 9th Street for our feature story, “And The Beat Goes On” (page 32) and pulled back the curtains of the historic Dreamland Ballroom (page 42).
Kortu Momolu
This Liberian-born fashion designer and stylist made waves on the fifth season of Bravo’s hit show, “Project Runway,” and ever since her star has soared to the stratosphere. She recently returned to the screen for the show’s for its first-ever All-Star Season, reuniting with designers from the previous 19 seasons. When not curating her latest collection lines or showcasing her designs in fashion shows and highprofile venues around the world, the mother of two calls Little Rock home. We were fortunate to have the talented TV fan favorite on set working her styling magic for our debut cover photo shoot.
As an in-demand makeup artist and esthetician, her passion for all things fashion and beauty traces back to her childhood in Wrightsville. These days, she’s “making the ordinary extraordinary” specializing in bridal, beauty and high fashion makeup. (Check out her impressive portfolio gallery at www.eyecandybyamari.com.) After honing her skills at the MAC counter and earning her bachelor’s degree in business, Briggs finally struck out on her own in 2019, launching Amari B. Studios in Little Rock where her beat remains makeup plus full-body waxing and skincare services. The wife and mom of three brilliantly applied her artistry to the musical artists and performers who grace our feature story, as well as made sure our cover model was a stunning representation of NOIRE.
Adena J. White
An accredited public relations professional and social-impact storyteller, White is a veteran communications professional. In 2017, she founded Blackbelt Media to tell the stories of changemakers working to make the South a better place for all. Through her company, the Center Ridge native produces the Blackbelt Voices podcast, which tells stories from and about Black folks down South that honor Black history, celebrate Black Southern culture, and shape the future of the region. For our historic first issue, she caught up with Earle Mayor Jaylen Smith during his first 100 days in office for “The Man With a Plan” (page 50). Along with her husband and son, she lives in Conway.
Jimmy Warren
Crafting messaging that resonates is a part of the job for this proud father of two. It also comes in handy in his role as communications officer for the Walton Family Foundation. A two-time alumnus of Arkansas Tech University, he holds a master’s degree in higher education administration and a bachelor’s degree in communication and sociology. When not sprinkling in hip-hop wisdom whenever the occasion arises or pontificating politics or sports, he and his wife, Shakira, are in the stands of their girls’ various sporting events and extracurricular activities. In “Father Time” on page 65, the avid Conway community leader waxes poetic about what he has learned being Amaya and Alivia’s dad.
Tanisha Joe-Conway
Amari Briggs
NOTE PUBLISHERS’
On the pages of this issue, the rich, striking content you’ll see and read is a showcase of humanity—stories that will resonate with you as we celebrate the triumphs, mourn the losses, and aspire to greatness.
Dear Readers, We are thrilled to introduce you to NOIRE®, the premiere publication for news and culture for, by, and about African-Americans in Arkansas. NOIRE® is the voice of Black folk desperate to see, hear, and share stories from our unique perspective.So, how did we get here?
As the COVID-19 Pandemic gripped the world, Myron and I realized there was a significant void in news and information about how our community and communities of color across the state were dealing with this crisis. A thought that we’d pushed to the back of our minds over the last decade kept returning—it’s time to tell our own stories.
Myron and I are both born and raised in Little Rock, and when we were considering what this magazine would be called, it was important to us that the name we chose symbolized the longevity and significant contributions of African-Americans in this community, even as the history of our city is rooted in pain for those native to the land and those forcibly brought here to build an economy. That’s our origin story. At NOIRE®, we believe in the power of storytelling. It can change minds. It inspires. It causes one to dream about the what-
if. It can agitate you. Excite you. Motivate you. On the pages of this issue, the rich, striking content you’ll see and read is a showcase of humanity— stories that will resonate with you as we celebrate the triumphs, mourn the losses, and aspire to greatness. And we are gonna brag a bit.
The works you’ll see have beautifully captured the essence of our experiences, starting with our cover. Triumph, grace, style, tenacity are all revealed. Go back and look at it again. It’s stunning. And we hope you see yourself in this image. You are NOIRE®.
We could not have done this without the talented team of photographers, writers, designers, and our executive editor. You’ll find them on the pages to come. Together, we have created a space where our news, our culture, and our voices can be heard loud and clear. NOIRE® is a testament to the vibrant and diverse community we represent, and we are proud to showcase the incredible talent and stories that Arkansas has to offer.
We invite you to join us on our journey as we continue to uplift and inspire. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @ArkansasNOIRE to stay up-to-date with our latest releases, events, and behind-the-scenes moments. Thank you for being a part of NOIRE®
Uniting forces to create a masterpiece requires many things: vision, creativity, commitment, planning, alliances, patience, participation and execution. These ingredients, and more, were certainly in the mix during the making of this inaugural issue. Publishers Stephanie and Myron Jackson began assembling their editorial team at the end of 2022 and the rest, as they say, is the history you hold in your hands. We will not soon forget the moments that led to our launch – so check out a few of our behind-the-scenes memories that helped take NOIRE from dream to reality.
NOIRE MAK THE OF ING
Editor’s
While mainstream media would have us believe that black connotes all things negative – darkness, despair, rebellion, mourning and grief –Black people have turned those unfavorable attributes around to more accurately convey our strength, pride, mystery, power and elegance. Simply put: Black is breathtaking.
This is why I am so pleased to welcome you to the inaugural issue of NOIRE, a space dedicated to amplifying and celebrating the awe-inspiring experiences of what it means to be Black in Arkansas. I am honored to help create a spotlight for the diverse experiences, triumphs, successes and challenges that inform the culture, news and aspirations of African Americans; folks whose origins are rooted in our state or whose stakes are currently planted in the ground here.
In a world where representation matters, this is an important platform specifically devoted to uplifting the multifaceted voices and perspectives of Blackness. Our sincere goal is to showcase the dynamic nature of our identity as revealed on our pages. We aim to pour out stories that are steeped in tradition, draped in desire, saturated with struggle, robed in success, and adorned with dignity and pride. Readers will uncover our glorious splendor as well as our ardent longing to be seen, recognized and appreciated for our unique contributions to this state.
This is my home. Born in Monroe County, Arkansas, and raised in the capital city, I embody what it means to explore, strive, falter, dream and attain here, which is why I am sincerely looking forward to taking you on this journey. We are prepared to challenge stereotypes, dispel misconceptions and shine an illuminating light on our presence in this state. So as you dive into the magazine, be prepared to be immersed in the most poetic of love songs to our people – told in OUR voices. The tone and the mood, the form and cadence, the imagery and language are artfully designed to captivate as you peer into the mirror of this publication.
Because, as we’ve been sure all along, there is no beauty without Blackness.
While this journey of exploration, celebration and education is just beginning, our excitement has no end. Therefore, I’m thanking you now for embracing the power of our unity and the sheer might of our collective narratives as we paint the Arkansas landscape with NOIRE. Because, as we’ve been sure all along, there is no beauty without Blackness.
Sericia Nelson Executive Editor
DARIUS NELSON
AUGUST 12, 1971 – OCTOBER 6, 2023
At press time, Darius Nelson, the beloved singer and choir director who is featured in this inaugural issue of NOIRE, suddenly passed away. Heartbroken and in disbelief, we halted printing to document our grief in real time, wanting to pay tribute to our dear friend who is already missed.
Darius was not just my choir director. He was my friend. I was so excited about our plans for December; his design skills were going to really be shown off and make for one fabulous Christmas. Darius always had a joke about something— he noticed EVERYTHING, so you’d better come correct! Yet, he was a caring leader and the consummate professional. He took the Saint Mark Sanctuary Choir to places few choirs get to experience. We sang for hours at The White House Christmas Party in 2013, and we met and took photos with former President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama. I cherish those big moments, but I also treasure the small ones— like celebrating New Year’s with some amazing cooking with our friends. Darius said his favorite song was “Anthem of Praise” by Richard Smallwood. The third verse repeats: “Oh be joyful, all ye people, oh be joyful and clap your hands.” Darius’ death is so difficult to understand. But I know that God doesn’t make mistakes. So, I plan to do more clapping and make more joyful noise, just the way my friend would urge me to do.
— Stephanie
My mind keeps taking me back. Back to the days when laughter was the only bill we had to pay. In truth, I scarcely remember not knowing him. He was just always THERE... Now, he lives as an irrepressible memory of smiles and jokes and experiences and heartfelt MUSIC. We were children together, sharing times into adulthood that created unforgettable ribbons in the sky. More recently, when my last name changed to match his – making me family by marriage – he, of course, laced his congratulatory comments in hilarity. Talking, joking, singing, laughing. His voice is a soundtrack for my life.
Limited Saturday appointments available (479) 320-8588
2301 W. Walnut St. Suite 11 Rogers, AR 72756 4285 N. Shiloh Dr. Suite 104 Fayetteville, AR 72703
FB: Chantal Crosse-Sumlin Nurse Injector
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BEST FACE FORWARD
“Whether it’s wellness or aesthetics, I am passionate about helping clients achieve their unique goals while building personal connections with them.”
Chantal CrosseSumlin, APRN is a trailblazing force in aesthetic and preventive healthcare in Arkansas. As one of only a handful of healthcare providers of color specializing in aesthetic care, she is paving the way for others and living out her passion to help people.
We found Crosse-Sumlin where we discover many things these days — on Instagram. While searching for information about the latest and greatest in skincare, her profile appeared: a Black woman, in Arkansas, offering laser treatments, chemical peels, Botox® and Dysport® injections (don’t knock them until you try them!), and more.
A military brat who claims El Paso, Texas, as her hometown, Crosse-Sumlin has been a registered nurse for 28 years and a certified nurse practitioner for 24 years. She, along with her husband and now three adult children, moved to
“I WAS GETTING THESE TREATMENTS DONE, AND I REALIZED THERE WAS A LACK OF DIVERSITY AMONG THE CLINICIANS PROVIDING THE TREATMENTS…”
By Stephanie Bass Jackson
Fayetteville in 2004. Once settled in Arkansas’ northwest corner, she began building a thriving career focused mainly on serving at-risk populations and managing chronic diseases. But while she excelled in family medicine – and as a certified group fitness instructor, no less –she also harbored an undercurrent of fascination with beauty, skincare, and anti-aging treatments.
“I was getting these treatments done, and I realized there was a lack of diversity among the clinicians providing the treatments, as well as the population accessing services. I began wondering why – and also became curious about the differences that exist in skin and facial features of more richly melanated people like me.”
With her curiosity piqued, CrosseSumlin moved from being a client to being a provider; the allure of helping clients achieve their goals through cosmetic and anti-aging treatments becoming undeniable. In 2021, she made a bold decision to solely practice medical aesthetics; however, she soon realized that her calling was not confined to aesthetics. “I missed my role as a primary care provider.”
So the following year, CrosseSumlin founded Aesthetica Beauty and Wellness, a practice that combines the best of both worlds: aesthetics and primary care. Now, she’s able to provide a proactive approach to healthcare, focusing on prevention rather than reaction. And by adopting a concierge model, she offers longer visits, more frequent appointments, and increased
accessibility to her clients.
“With my years of experience, I was recently granted independent practice authority through the Arkansas State Board of Nursing which means I can now practice without supervision of or collaboration with a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathic medicine.”
Crosse-Sumlin’s commitment to her patients goes beyond physical enhancements. She says wellness encompasses body and mind, explaining why she places a premium on the personal connections she forms with clients and patients. Her warm and empathetic nature create a safe space for them and fosters a sense of trust and partnership.
“Because of my previous experiences and some less-thanideal outcomes that have happened with treatments on my richly melanated friends, my goal is to provide appropriate aesthetic care or referral for specific concerns that truly require advanced knowledge for the best outcomes. I want everyone to feel seen, heard, and celebrated.”
Photography by Jen Missouri
By Stephanie Bass Jackson
THIS GIRL IS ON
THERE ARE 5,000 NEW WOMEN ENTERING MENOPAUSE EACH DAY.
That’s a whole lot of women experiencing a major life change—and far too many are quiet as a church mouse about it. If you are a Black woman, chances are you will experience menopause seven years sooner, for a much longer period —up to ten years instead of seven — and with more severe symptoms than women of other ethnicities.
By “normal” menopause standards, it’s a bit early for me to be experiencing “The Change,” as we have come to refer to it. But here we are. My oncologist says it’s likely that the medication prescribed to me to reduce my risk of reoccurring breast cancer is propelling me faster toward it — frustratingly, I admit, faster than I’d prefer.
I am 44. Night sweats that wake me up and lead to a 2 a.m. bed linen change? Yeah, that’s a thing, now. Random body itching, getting (more!) pissed off about the simplest things? Check and check. Heart palpitations? Thankfully, I’m not experiencing that, but Oprah is. And Ms. Winfrey is telling the world about her menopause journey, including how her doctors missed this scary experience as a symptom of menopause. So I called the best source in Arkansas for information on this topic, Dr. Gloria Richard-Davis, to help me make sense of this flash dance.
As a tenured professor in the UAMS Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Board-certified reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist, division director for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, an associate editor for the journal Menopause, and a North American Menopause Society Certified Menopause Practitioner, Dr. Richard-Davis is helping educate women and physicians in Arkansas around the country about “The Change.”
Richard-Davis: We have a women’s healthcare workforce that is not really trained in menopause. If you look at our OB-GYN residency programs, we have been saying this for years now, OB-GYN focuses on obstetrics—babies. So the other educational pieces have deficits in them.
Jackson: So, is that why Oprah’s doctors missed her heart palpitations as a symptom?
Richard-Davis: Well, what I do know is that the hormone estrogen can be found in organs throughout the body, not just your reproductive organs. So everything from the brain to the skin, to the eyes to the heart, to your GI tract, all of those systems have estrogen receptors, which means that estrogen plays a role in maintaining those cells. That means a woman could experience several different symptoms and it could be related to menopause.
Jackson: Symptoms such as?
Richard-Davis: Cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbances, fatigue, vaginal dryness… all of these symptoms can impact a woman’s quality of life and believe it or not, her earnings!
Jackson: Wait, what?
Richard-Davis: For our brains to recover right from the day we go into rapid eye movement, REM sleep, and that’s the deep sleep that we rest in. And so the hot flushes, the night sweats, the disruption of our sleep pattern ends up not allowing the brain to rest and to recover so that the next day you’re in this fog, you’re fatigued, right? Because you haven’t gotten a good restful night of sleep. By the way, this is all happening during our prime income-earning years. I’ve even seen women decide to not put themselves up for
promotions because they’re tired; they’re fatigued. They don’t want to add additional stress.
Jackson: And that goes on for how many years? You said ten.
Richard-Davis: It could be up to ten years. And you have women who are thinking, oh, you know, ‘I can slug through this.’ Mm-hmm. For ten years.
Jackson: Why is it that Black women in this country experience menopause so differently from other women?
Richard-Davis: We’re chronologically older than our age by about seven years. Without getting too technical, a study of a key component of DNA shows that Black women’s DNA is negatively impacted in a way other women’s DNA is not. And stress, lifelong stress we’ve experienced, is the culprit.
Jackson: So what should women, and in particular Black women, AND healthcare providers be doing?
Richard-Davis: We have to empower women to use their voices. Help them know what questions to ask and how to advocate for themselves. And ladies, don’t be afraid to look for a different doctor. ‘I’ve been seeing Dr. So-and-So for ten years now.’ And that’s true because he delivered all your babies. But Dr. So-andSo may not be the doctor for you for menopause. You might have to let them go and find somebody else who understands the treatment options.
Jackson: What about doctors?
Richard-Davis: It’s twofold. We need to expand the number of Black and brown students who are applying to professional schools and who are hopefully going into the profession. So, it’s
building that talent pool. Education for physicians is also important. I’m teaching a menopause 101 course at the North American Menopause Society Conference and at the American College of OBGYN Conference I’m giving a menopause discussion.
Jackson: Do you find that it’s difficult for women to talk about how menopause is causing vaginal dryness or impacting their sexual function?
Richard-Davis: Definitely. Women don’t tend to bring that up, and it’s an issue that should be addressed. We have treatment options for vaginal dryness. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Women should definitely communicate to their doctors what they’re experiencing. We’re also encouraging physicians to ask the questions; there is a questionnaire that my office staff knows to give to women.
Jackson: I feel like we’ve covered a lot, and there’s so much more to discuss and understand about how women take this information and make the lifestyle changes to live more comfortably with the changes happening to us.
UAMS Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Richard-Davis encourages specialized training for healthcare professionals and promotes open conversations about menopause to help foster understanding and treatment.
Richard-Davis: I don’t want to oversimplify things, but find a doctor that understands how to treat women going through menopause. Prioritize reducing stress. You have that chronic cortisol level that is released. It converts your calories to fat, and weight is definitely a factor in how our bodies manage menopause. And we need to have some serious conversations about what we’re eating. Even for women that don’t have access to fresh vegetables, fruits, we have to do a better job at helping communities cook and eat better. So, it’s kinda like, how do you eat the elephant, right? One bite at a time.
Gloria Richard-Davis, M.D., FACOG
TIONNA JENKINS , PH.D.
BY VINE’SHIA BARNES
The world has come to know and embrace Tabitha Brown, the colorful vegan foodie, social media personality and cookbook author. But is there room on the vegan stage for more than one act?
As health disparities persist and chronic illnesses wreak havoc on the Black community, Tionna Jenkins, Ph.D., is cooking up ways to dismantle them in the form of Plate It Healthy and O’nita Lee Foods & Products.
“Instead of ignoring the signs, I needed to be an example, not only to myself but to family and others,” said Jenkins – a wife and mother of two. “Those changes included being accountable, changing my environment and my mindset.”
Plate It Healthy, founded in 2017, started as her personal blog—a means to hold herself accountable during her own healthy lifestyle change.
By documenting her plant-based and vegan dishes, along with her physical activities, Jenkins began writing a new story. The positive results she experienced,
such as losing over 80 pounds, reversing pre-diabetes and gaining muscle, caught the attention of others and led to more.
“Our first paid event in 2019, ‘Dining with Dr. Tionna L. Jenkins, A Plant-Based Experience,’ was a turning point,” she recalled. “We served a three-course plantbased meal, hosted a Q & A with medical professionals, and it sold out. That’s when I realized the demand for our offerings.”
Plate It Healthy is now a full-fledged, Little Rock-based public health and wellness venture that provides consultation, vegan culinary experiences and cooking classes, along with a range of digital products. Through pop-up events, cookbooks, television appearances, and social media segments, Jenkins is creating a brand that delivers the best in vegan and plant-based cuisines.
The perfect complement, O’nita Lee Foods & Products, emerged from Jenkins’ deeprooted connection to both her grandmothers and their culinary wisdom. Their emphasis on cooking from scratch, using herbs and ingredients from the earth, inspired her to
Jenkins is creating a brand that delivers the best in vegan and plant-based cuisines.
establish the family-owned, wholesale food manufacturing enterprise.
With a focus on small-batch, hand-crafted baked goods including cookies and jams, O’nita Lee Foods sources fresh, natural ingredients, emphasizing the farm-to-table concept and the use of local and regional suppliers, supporting women-owned businesses and Black farmers.
Education and passion for public health helped fuel the Little Rock native’s entrepreneurial pursuits. She leverages her degrees – including a doctorate in public health policy and administration from the University of Arkansas – and graduate certifications in business management, plantbased nutrition, and lifestyle coaching to bake, advocate and inform.
Jenkins’ plan is to strengthen her current products and services and to scale progressively. “We are not in a hurry to build fast, but to last for the long haul.”
Website: plateithealthy.com onitaleefoods.com
BLACK EXCELLENCE:
By Stephanie Bass Jackson
Prior to the abolition of slavery, it was illegal for Black people, slave or free, to read and write. Slave owners and anti-abolitionists had a clear motive: an educated Black populace posed a grave threat; and the prohibition on education was a calculated maneuver, designed to safeguard an economy built upon the backs of those in bondage.
“There became this demand for education; it helped freemen exercise their freedom,” Kevin Butler, Associate Professor of History at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff said. “Black men in the Union Army [during the Civil War] would use their off-duty time to learn to read and write.”
Although some states that abolished slavery allowed free people of color to attend predominantly white universities, they still faced overt racism and discrimination from their white peers. Moreover, Black students often struggled at these institutions due to significant gaps in their educational backgrounds and college readiness.
Recognizing the need for change, a Quaker philanthropist named Richard Humphreys established what would become the nation’s first historically Black college or university in Cheyney, Pennsylvania, in 1837. And over time, more HBCUs were founded, including the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. It was founded in 1873, only ten years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
So, as UAPB celebrates 150 years of educating some of the world’s greatest minds, NOIRE® joins the applause chorus, recognizing the important mission of Arkansas oldest HBCU— to help uplift African Americans.
It’s impossible to pack into our pages all of the amazing alumni who have contributed extraordinarily to the enrichment of humankind. So, on the following page, NOIRE pays homage to a few.
O.W. Gurley, a prominent and influential figure during the early 20th century, is celebrated for his pivotal role in shaping the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, often recognized as “Black Wall Street.” Prior to his move to Oklahoma, Gurley was raised in Pine Bluff, where he also attended Branch Normal College.
Rev. W.R. “Smokie” Norful, Jr. ’91, a Grammy-award-winning gospel singer, pastor, and pianist, gained fame through his acclaimed works, notably his 2002 album “I Need You Now” and his 2004 release “Nothing Without You,” which secured the Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album award at the 2004 Grammy Awards. He earned his second Grammy in 2015 for his song “No Greater Love.”
Dr. Ruth Jones ‘94 serves as an Aerospace Engineer and holds the position of Deputy Division Chief for Avionics while also acting as the Ombudsman at the NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center located in Alabama. She holds the distinction of being the second African American woman in Alabama to achieve a Ph.D. in Physics and is also the first woman to earn a B.S. in Physics from UAPB.
Colonel Erica Ingram (ret.) ‘95 made history when she became the first African-American woman to be promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Arkansas Army National Guard in its nearly 220-year history. This wasn’t her only first, however: she is also the first African American woman to serve as Arkansas Army National Guard Battalion Commander, the first African American woman to lead the National Guard Association of Arkansas as president, and the first woman to serve as Camp Robinson Post Installation Commander. She currently serves as the Chief of Staff- Assistant Director of the State of Arkansas Department of Veteran Affairs.
Terron Armstead ’12 is an exceptional NFL player known for his outstanding performance as an offensive lineman. Armstead is widely recognized as one of the most dominant offensive tackles in the NFL. A third round draft pick in 2013, Armstead played for the New Orleans Saints until 2022 when he joined the Miami Dolphins. He has been selected to play in 4 Pro Bowls. Overall, he has appeared in 110+ regular season games.
Dr. Samuel Lee Kountz ‘52 stands as a trailblazer in the realm of kidney transplantation. In 1961, he achieved a monumental milestone by conducting the first successful kidney transplant between non-identical twin humans. Alongside his colleague, Dr. Folkert Belzer, Dr. Kountz pioneered the development of a groundbreaking machine that extended the viability of organs significantly, revolutionizing the field of transplantation.
Dr. Kountz’s groundbreaking discovery came in the form of a crucial observation: administering high doses of a steroid hormone called methylprednisolone could halt the rejection of transplanted kidneys. This breakthrough laid the foundation for modern drug regimens, making organ transplants from unrelated donors a routine medical practice. One of the most memorable moments in Dr. Kountz’s career occurred in 1976 when he performed a live kidney transplant on NBC’s Today show. This extraordinary event garnered an overwhelming response, with 20,000 individuals stepping forward to offer their kidneys for donation, highlighting the profound impact of his work on organ transplantation.
Dr. Samuel Proctor Massie ‘37 was one of the few African American scientists to work on the Manhattan Project, helping in the development of uranium isotopes for the atomic bomb, during World War II. Massie was named one of the 75 greatest chemists of all time, alongside Marie Curie, George Washington Carver, by the journal Chemical and Engineering News. Dr. Samuel Proctor Massie’s work in chemistry, dedication to
O.W. Gurley
Rev. Norful
Ruth Jones
Col. Erica Ingram (ret.)
Terron Armstead
Samuel Kountz
education, and advocacy for diversity have left a lasting impact on the fields he touched, inspiring future generations of scientists and educators.
Raye Jean Montague ’56 was an American naval engineer credited with creating the first computer-generated rough draft of a U.S. naval ship in just 18 hours and 26 minutes. She was the first female program manager of ships in the United States Navy. Raye Jean Montague’s remarkable career not only broke barriers but also demonstrated the power of determination and innovation in overcoming adversity. She is remembered as a trailblazer in engineering and a symbol of resilience and excellence.
Wiley Austin Branton ’42 left an indelible mark as a civil rights leader in Arkansas. His pivotal efforts helped to break down the walls of segregation in Arkansas and beyond. In a historic move, Branton initiated legal action against the Little Rock School Board, leading to the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling to end segregation in the Little Rock School District. Branton also played a crucial role in persuading his friend, Silas H. Hunt, to seek admission to the University of Arkansas School of Law, the first Black student to attend the school. Branton’s unwavering determination eventually led to his own admission to the School of Law, making him one of the esteemed “Six Pioneers” who blazed a trail for integration at the institution. Branton’s contributions extended beyond the courtroom. He played a crucial role in coordinating the implementation of two pivotal pieces of legislation, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, further solidifying his legacy as a tireless champion of civil rights and equality.
Jeff Donaldson ‘54 was a visual artist whose work helped define the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Donaldson, co-founder of AfriCOBRA and contributor to the momentous Wall of Respect, was a pioneer in African-American personal and academic achievement. His art work is known for creating alternative black iconography connected to Africa and rooted in struggle, in order to replace the history of demeaning stereotypes found in mainstream white culture.
As a member of the ‘Steel Curtain Defense,’ L.C. Greenwood ’69 pushed the bounds of hard work as a defensive end for the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. Greenwood was a six-time Pro Bowl player and was named to NFL All-Pro teams in 1974 and 1975. He was named All-AFC five times. He also led the Steelers six times in sacks with a career total of 73½ (sacks were an unofficial stat at the time). In 1991, Greenwood was named to the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team and in 2007 he was named to the Steelers All-Time team. In 2012, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Greenwood to the Hall of Very Good.
Geleve Grice ’50 skillfully captured the diverse and profound facets of African-American life, solidifying his position as Arkansas’s foremost photographer for more than six decades. His lens, ever watchful, documented moments ranging from the ordinary to the extraordinary. In 1958, Grice’s camera bore witness to the historic commencement address delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. at AM&N College, immortalizing a pivotal moment in civil rights history. Beyond this iconic event, Grice was a trusted chronicler of other distinguished African Americans, including Mary McLeod Bethune, Ray Charles, Thurgood Marshall, and Muhammad Ali. Grice’s visual narratives transcended local borders, finding their way into national publications like Ebony, Jet, and Life magazines. His enduring legacy as a prolific documentarian of African-American life is an invaluable contribution to both regional and national history.
Trombonist Chris Johnson is a Grammy award winner and has showcased his musical prowess during Beyoncé’s highly-praised HBCU-themed Coachella performance. As the section leader for her record-breaking “Renaissance” tour, he played a pivotal role in the tour’s success.
On an unusually warm and windy day in April, Arkansas musical artists and icons met to highlight The Natural State’s music scene. What better place than West Ninth Street in Little Rock which was, for a time, the heart of Black music and culture in Arkansas. From the King of the Jukebox – Brinkley’s Louis Jordan – to the Godmother of Rock and Roll – Cotton Plant’s Rosetta Tharpe – Arkansas has long struck the right note in creating and marketing a lasting music legacy. We wanted to know: What keeps these artists pushing music forward in Arkansas? Among the group was the legend, Al Bell, standing tall in stature and accomplishment; Yvette Preyer, a drumming phenom and icon; Rodney Block, a current leading bandleader and trumpeter; Dazz, the rocking creative entrepreneur; Bijoux, the bold singing sensation and collaborator; Nicky Parrish, the enduring powerhouse vocalist and trendsetter, Rock Boy Beats, producer extraordinaire; and Darius Nelson, the velvety-voiced gospel singer and choir leader.
AL BELL
ELDER BELL, STATESMAN THE IS
THE FORMER CHAIRPERSON AND OWNER OF THE FAMED STAX RECORDS, WHOSE LONGEVITY IN THE INDUSTRY LIES WITHIN CERTAIN INHERENT PROPERTIES.
“Music is a way of communicating, spreading, and transferring feeling; science for the mind and for the body. It can heal you,” with Preyer adding,” It’s life. It’s breath. It’s joy. It’s comfort. It’s my hiding place ... it is everything other than God.”
It is not surprising that most of these artists credit the church with honing their musical chomps. As Bell remembers it, “From the fields, our music goes back to that. Once in church, our passion came out in music.” Block, who was raised in the church, could attest. “I think that [with] church upbringing, you’re used to being in front of people. You are used to this exchange of energy. It is so much a part of the culture.”
Nelson put it another way. “When you are trying to keep your lights on, and you’re trying to keep your family together, and you’re trying to stay married, you need to ask the Savior to help you.”
“When I sing in Memphis and other places, they eat me up. We are not lacking talent in Arkansas. But, we are lacking love in the local area. I’ve heard so many times the term ‘local legend to be.’ It’s supposed to be a ‘dis. I could go anywhere. I want to be here. I’m not stuck in Little Rock. No. I like it here. I like the little skyline,” Bijoux offers with a smile.
“I think that it’s kind of hard to stumble across people or find people who are willing to pour into or share their experiences to help you elevate or navigate through the industry. So, I think intentionality through mentorship would serve us well here in Arkansas,” continues Dazz.
DARIUS NELSON
BIJOUX
Female artists often have an even tougher road. “I had to learn to be a leader, to be my own boss. I learned to set up my own sound equipment,” says Parrish. “I was forced to learn that if you are not careful, people will take advantage of you. [It is hard] to be a woman and not have to do other stuff outside of keeping it strictly business because a lot of females struggle with that.”
“As a queer, Black woman from the South, a lot of places you’re not allowed or permitted to be your full, authentic self,” Dazz shares. Preyer goes on further. “What I’ve learned and experienced, I had to take a beating to get that because I had to deal with the boys coming after me. All the boys came after me. Every one of them.”
So, what do they see on the horizon that could improve Arkansas’s music scene?
“I will say that we have unproblematically packed out spaces and filled the pockets of local entrepreneurs, but somehow those spaces still end up going belly up, going away. I very much value the authentic music venues that are still around that are honoring artists and their artistry,” remarks Bijoux.
DAZZ
RODNEY BLOCK
Block, meanwhile, believes that a little hometown personality would go a long way.
“They’re gonna tell you if you go to Memphis, go to Beale Street. If you go to New Orleans, go to the French Quarter. We need to really work on establishing our personality when folks are coming to town, that they’re gonna have a unique musical experience just like these other places,” he says.
As for the church community, Darius believes “it is support across the board. The support is not always there. ‘If I go to this church, I’m not going to another church.’ I try to go to other programs, and I want them to come and support my stuff.”
There are also concerns for quality musicians, studios, audio engineers and other music professionals across the state. Bell is working to help foster the future of the state’s music community to correct a problem he sees in developing writers and musicians across Arkansas, not just in certain corners.
“It takes those pieces to give rise to the pulling of networks together like Lee Anthony was doing here. My plan is to put a music entertainment business in Central Arkansas that can spread across the state.”
“I wish we could get to a point where we can have the tough conversations and hear each other to understand what is needed from the older generation to help the younger generation to find a solution,” says Parrish. “We have up-and-coming talent that is so amazing, and we are going to lose them if we don’t change this thing around and show the world there is real talent here.”
As the rhythm, mood and vibe continue to evolve, one thing is for sure. The future of Arkansas music is here and reaching for new heights. And as it modulates, these artists plan to be a part, both individually and collectively, to ensure that the music never skips a beat in Arkansas.
YVETTE
PARRISH
NICKY
ROCK BOY BEATS
ROCK BOY BEATS HAS
BOY
MARK “ROCKBOYBEATS” HUDSON IS PROOF THAT WHEN TALENT MEETS OPPORTUNITY, THE STARS ALIGN.
The 29-year-old producer/songwriter calls Little Rock home but the world is his stage, especially after catching a coveted Grammy nomination by way of his contribution to singer Chris Brown’s 2022 album, “Breezy.”
A Parkview High School graduate, RockBoy was an audio/ visual technician at the Little Rock Marriott in 2020 when his gifts caught the attention of music executives helping Brown create the project that went on to vie for “Best R&B Album of the Year.” The rest is music history in the making. He’s no one-hit wonder either, as RockBoy’s Instagram bio spells out that he’s got credits with other chart-toppers like Kevin Gates, Eric Bellinger, and Arin Ray – just to namedrop a few. - S.N.
As his star ascends, we’re putting it on record: From The Natural State to the next award-winning album, we’re streaming RockBoyBeats.
ABMA
Dreamland Ballroom
‘Oh say can you see’ … as they lifted their voices in this and other spaces where they had no choices. From the scattin’ of Ella to the ‘Hi-De-Ho’ of Cab, the blues of B.B., the silky soul of Al; there was the dentist’s drill of Dr. J.V. Jordan, the bedside manner of Dr. W.B. Black and on and on, no service did it lack.
HISTORIC PERFORMANCE
VENUE USED DURING THE DAYS OF THE CHITLIN’
CIRCUIT
contact Matthew McCoy with the Friends of Dreamland at (501) 255-5700.
eet the aestro
Jeffrey Allen Murdock Jr.,Ph.D.
Directing the Center for Black Music and Degree in Black Sacred Music at the University of Arkansas, Dr. Jeffrey Murdock is shaping tomorrow’s musical talent.
“I really love seeing kids who look like me succeed in a way that they didn’t think possible and to help to give them that opportunity.Obviously,these are things that we do forall students,but it’s really meaningful to me when I see students of colorknowing that they can excel in this field.
At the U of A,I get to teach the future teachers and help mold and shape future generations in an exponential way.”
By Katrina Dupins
by Jen Missouri
effrey Murdock, Ph.D., is exactly who he wanted tobewhenhegrewup.Chosenforhishighschoolhall of fame in 1991, Murdock knew back then he wanted to be a directorof choirs at the university level.
Coming from a family of singers and musicians, the seeds for hispassionformusicandmusiceducationwereplantedearly.
He started taking piano lessons at age 5 and subsequently learned to play by ear. Since then, music has been center stage in his life ñ from middle school band to a doctorate in music education.
“IguessI’vekindofalwaysknownthatthiswasmytrajectory,” Murdock said.“And I love what I do.”
Murdock joined the University of Arkansas in 2015 and says the institution allows him to be his whole musical self: from conducting the Mozart Requiem to conducting gospel music with the Inspirational Chorale. He currently serves as an associate professor of music, the directorofchoralstudies,andthefoundingdirectorofthenewly launched Arkansas Center for Black Music at the University of Arkansas. Made possible by a generous gift from the Alice L. Walton Foundation, the center is home to the Master of Music in Black Sacred Music degree program, the first of its kind in the world.
“There has been no place, until now, where a Black musician in a Black church could go to hone and strengthen their skills and get the degree and credentials. Black folks have heretofore had to go to institutions that teach sacred music in the Western European tradition and add their Black to it,” Murdocksaid.“Thisisanopportunityforfolkstostudysacred also allows the program to bring in visiting faculty from anywhere who are experts in the field.
“Dr. Leo Davis, an expert in church music, was the minister of music at one of the largest Black churches. He’ll come to bring his expertise,” Murdock said. “Kurt Carr, Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter, and director, will teach songwriting courses. Students will be able to learn from the best,which is exciting.”
ThecriticallyacclaimedandinternationallyknownMurdockis no stranger to receiving prestigious awards and recognition, suchastheGrammyMusicEducatorAwardwhichhereceived in 2021. But the most meaningful accolades to him are the UA’sTuskAward and the FacultyApplauseAward because the recognition comes from students.
“It speaks to the impact that I make on students’lives directly from the students, not from not from a community or an industry perspective, but from students whom I’m working with every day.”
Photography
Ken-Matt Martin’s
Theatrical Homecoming
Ken-Matt Martin is a celebrated director and producer in theater who’s back where his love for performing arts began. Born and raised in Little Rock, Ken-Matt felt the first spark of excitement for performing arts while attending a production of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. As an 11-year-old boy, he was captivated by the magic of the stage in a moment that changed his life forever. Today, as The Rep’s newly appointed interim artistic director, Martin sits on the edge of the stage and points to the area from which he experienced that unforgettable production.
“The play blew my mind and changed my life. We were on a field trip watching a student matinee,” Ken-Matt said. “That next year, I convinced my mom to let me audition for a television show on Nickelodeon. I became a semifinalist and ended up on the show for like one or two episodes. It was like this exciting period as a 12-year-old because I got an agent out of that and all these things started happening.”
The early taste of stardom soon faded, and Ken-Matt says it is the best thing that could have happened to him.
“It taught me how to navigate having big dreams but not being able to achieve the exact thing you thought you would get. That’s how I found the theater.”
His voice choked with emotion when he described his appreciation for them and their impact on his life.
“They are two of the most selfless, generous giving people. I feel so lucky every day to have been raised for them. They have hearts for service, they lead by example, and they’re fearless advocates for their community.”
His father is the pastor of Greater Archview Baptist Church in Little Rock, and his mother serves as the community relations manager for the city’s police department. His younger brother, Seth, is also making waves. With a Ph.D., a family of his own, and a church co-founded by him in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN”, Seth, like Ken-Matt, continues the tradition of service instilled by their parents. It’s a thread that Ken-Matt has carried, along
I’m very proud to be from this city and to have been raised by Ken and Laura Martin.
These “dreams deferred” led to his attitude of radical patience and grace. For the next 12 years, he worked as an actor in various locations nationwide, honing his skills and gaining valuable experience. Ken-Matt’s journey significantly turned as he transitioned from acting to directing and producing.
About a decade ago, he co-founded the Pyramid Theatre Company in Des Moines, Iowa, alongside close friend and fellow Little Rock native Freddy Fulton, embarking on a pivotal mission to bring exceptional theater to new audiences.
Now, Ken-Matt is happy to be back at home. One perk is that he can see his parents, Ken and Laura Martin, more often.
By Katrina Dupins
Photography by Sarah Oden
with a deep sense of empathy and community, throughout his life and career.
He’s eager to employ those passions during his tenure at The Rep as he makes an impact by producing high-quality shows that reflect the diversity and culture of Little Rock.
As the first Black to sit in the seat of artistic director at The Rep, Martin is far removed from his childhood days of dreaming about a career in the arts. With a wealth of experience and a sturdy foundation under his feet, he’s gone from being an 11-year-old theater enthusiast to a theater luminary – one who can be expected to flip the script on Little Rock’s artistic scene.
I want to be great right here in my small community rather than going to be great somewhere else in somebody’s big city.” “
By Adena J. White
MAYOR
Photography by London Porchia
MAYOR
THE MAN WITH A PLAN JAYLEN SMITH
The mayor of Earle, Arkansas, is writing the vision for his city and making his political aspirations plain.
arely legal voting age, Jaylen Smith was elected mayor of Earle, Arkansas, becoming the youngest Black mayor in the U.S. at the age of 18. His unprecedented, high-profile victory in November 2022 - and subsequent January 2023 inauguration - has garnered attention from the worldís top news media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN - and even the United States Vice President, Kamala Harris.
“I want to make an impact before I leave,” Smith said. “I want to be great right here in my small community rather than going to be great somewhere else in somebody’s big city.” Smith’s deepseated desire to make a positive
impact inspired him to serve on the student government association while in high school.
Before running for mayor, he would attend city council meetings and noticed that they were “pretty much ran the same” as the student government meetings he led; he would only be dealing with a larger budget and more laws, policies and procedures at the city level.
“I knew that I could do it, and I knew that I could make a difference in my community by being a leader of the city,” Smith said. “You won’t know how good you could do something unless you try it. So that’s what I did.”
At the time of this interview, Smith had been in office for a little more than 100 days. While he believed
that leading the meetings and managing the budget would be doable, Smith recognized that it wouldn’t be easy to attract businesses to the city of 1,831 or secure adequate resources.
He described his first four months in office as both ‘a smooth ride’ and a challenge.
“I’d rather go through struggles than not do anything or take the easy way out,” Smith said. “We wish progress could happen overnight, but we just trust in the process and know that going through challenges and obstacles is part of preparation.”
Smith’s philosophy is “people first, paperwork second.” He wants to ensure the people of Earle have the
“
Every day, we can make a difference. And every day, we learn something different”.
same access to food, health care and employment opportunities that bigger cities have.
Attracting a grocery store to the community is one of the goals Smith outlined during his campaign for mayor.
Delta address food insecurity and the lack of job opportunities. “It’s not just about me as mayor; it’s about all of us ñ the mayor, the city council and the people ñ working together to move this thing forward.”
So what’s next for Mayor Smith?
So what’s next for Mayor Smith?
he is working with “one of the former presidents” and another connection in and the lack of job opportunities. “It’s not just about me as mayor; it’s about all of us - the mayor, the city council and the people - working together to move this thing forward.”
That process takes time, but heís working with ìone of the former presidents’ and another connection in Little Rock to help make it happen.
In the meantime, partnerships with Memphis-based Mid-South Food Bank and Arkansas Workforce Services are helping the City of Earle in the Arkansas
His 10-year plan is to serve two terms as mayor and then run for the Arkansas Senate.
His 10-year plan is to serve two terms as mayor and then run for the Arkansas Senate.
“After my due diligence in the state legislature is done, I want to serve as governor of Arkansas for two terms and then another eight years as president of the United States.”
“I just want to make a difference.”
“After my due diligence in the state legislature is done, I want to serve as governor of Arkansas for two terms and then another eight years as president of the United States.” “I just want to make a difference”.
TUESDAY
LETHAL WEAPON
OPIOIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY (PART ONE)
By L. Lamor Williams
It’s not our problem.
For a long while, that’s how Black people were prone to view the opioid epidemic – as an “other” people’s problem. This is likely because, when the crisis started in the 1990s, Black communities were practically untouched. Since 2019, the tide has changed as Black opioid-related deaths now exceed those of whites. In fact, from 2019 to 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports an alarming 44 percent increase in deaths among Black people, while the death rate among whites rose only 22 percent during the same period.
In Arkansas, it’s complicated when it comes to opioid-related deaths.
According to Joseph Thompson, president and CEO of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI), the state has the second highest rate of opioid prescriptions per capita in the nation but the lowest in terms of recognized opioid-related deaths.
Thompson said that from 2018 to 2020, ACHI did observe an increase in reported deaths among Black Arkansans from 19 per 100,000 to 41 per 100,000, noting that these numbers could be artificially low because “some of the looseness in coroner assessments may have been missing opioid-related deaths.”
The common denominator among these deaths is fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine except 50 to 100 times more potent. However, a look into the opioid crisis is incomplete without magnifying the role that disparities played
in leaving Black communities virtually unscathed at first; and now, in hammering the same communities with struggles associated with addiction and overdose deaths.
“The first wave of the epidemic was brought on by overprescribing of opioids for pain management,” Thompson said. “African Americans were far less likely to be prescribed opioids for pain than the Caucasian community so that led to the beginning of the crisis primarily affecting white Americans.”
The second wave has been the introduction of fentanyl, he said, noting that “with fentanyl now in the illicit drug market, exposure to the drug is a risk for every illicit drug purchase.”
Thompson isn’t the only one making this assertion. The Scientific American reports that Black men older than 55 who have survived for decades with heroin addiction are dying at rates four times greater than people of other races in that age group because of drugs tainted with toxic fentanyl.
Muskie Harris is the founder and owner of Muskie Harris Rehabilitation Services in Little Rock. He also has more than 20 years of experience as a court liaison for local rehabilitation facilities.
From what he sees in drug recovery work, Harris says the overdose deaths he encounters in Arkansas are from accidental use, primarily among addicts aged 40-plus.
IN ARKANSAS, IT’S COMPLICATED WHEN IT COMES TO OPIOID-RELATED DEATHS.
“Every generation is going to experiment, but now experimenting can cost you your life because you can’t tell what you’re going to get. Even if you’ve been using for years, you can’t tell the difference.”
According to Harris, young Black Arkansans tend to sell fentanyl rather than use it. But this carries the risk of giving rise to another issue, citing recently enacted state laws that hold drug dealers accountable for murder if they
distribute fentanyl-contaminated drugs that result in fatal overdoses.
“You’re going to get at least 20 years and you’re going to have to do at least 85 percent of your sentence,” he said.
“And prosecutors are backlogged so you’ll likely be sitting in jail for two years before you can even get to trial. I don’t think these young folks understand the risk of dealing and it’s going to devastate families.”
Thompson also called out incarceration – but for an entirely different reason.
“Many individuals coming out of the prison system, if they had a substance abuse issue before, they are at high risk,” he said. “When they get out, they think they are using the same thing as before, but it’s actually 50 times more potent.”
Other racial disparities are also driving death rates in the Black community.
Harris, himself a recovered drug user, also sees firsthand how lack of access to healthcare and drug treatment among Black people with substance use disorder can make addiction more challenging to beat or put them more at risk of relapse and exposure to fentanyl.
“We have a 70/30 split when it comes to placements in our rehab programs,” he said. “Most of the Black folks I encounter either don’t have insurance or are underinsured and don’t have the money to pay out-of-pocket,” Harris said, “and federal and state grants can cover about 90 days of treatment for those cases, but rarely is that enough time for long-term success.”
ACHI and other resource entities are working to narrow the gaps when it comes to harm reduction and medication treatment. NaloxHome is a program that will provide free naloxone to hospital emergency rooms to dispense at discharge to patients or caregivers of patients who have experienced an overdose or are at risk for an overdose. By removing barriers to naloxone, which can reverse opioid overdose, the program aims to save lives, Thompson said.
Harris has been clean for 27 years. Now his life is dedicated to helping others turn theirs around. As someone who has walked the walk of addiction and found the path to recovery, he wants all families to know about the dangers of opioids – fentanyl, in particular.
“IT’S NOT A BLACK DRUG OR A WHITE DRUG. IT’S UNIVERSAL.”
RESOURCES:
If you or someone you know is at risk of opioid overdose, Act 284 allows Arkansaslicensed pharmacists to order, dispense and/or administer naloxone at little to no cost in many cases. Visit nARcansas.com for more details.
Through the Central Arkansas Harm Reduction Project those at risk can get naloxone mailed to them. If you or someone you know needs naloxone or other resources, text 501-438-9158 or visit nextdistro.org for more information.
ARtakeback.org has an ‘Arkansas Opidemic’ dashboard with statistics broken down by county. Clicking on your county also provides a list of recovery and/or medical-assisted treatment providers.
Muskie Harris
Farming: Family ARKANSAS RIVER RICE
By Kim Jones Sneed
Arkansas River Rice, the only Blackowned rice mill in the U.S., represents a legacy of family farming, perseverance and sustainability that began over 150 years ago.
Located in the Port of Pine Bluff, Arkansas’ industrial development district on the Arkansas River, owners Billy Bridgeforth and PJ Haynie opened the mill in December 2021 to bring more diversity to the rice industry while offering the best rice available, according to the company’s website.
“Agriculture is the foundation of this U.S. economy,” says Bridgeforth a fourth-generation farmer who is farming his 43rd crop this year. While his son, Troy, handles strategic operations for the rice mill, he and his brother, Gregory, are the principals who oversee the farm operations of the familyowned and operated Darden Bridgeforth & Sons, named after their father.
A FORTUITOUS MEETING
Haynie and Billy Bridgeforth met through the National Black Growers Council (NBGC) and started farming together in Mississippi in 2016.
“We saw a lot of similarities in the two families,” Bridgeforth said.
Haynie is a fifthgeneration farmer from Virginia. Eight years ago, he and his father, Ricky, expanded some of the family
farm’s operations to the Mississippi Delta region.
“When we first expanded our farming operation from Virginia, we landed a farm in Mississippi that we leased for one year, and then we moved over to Arkansas,” Haynie said.
The move to Marvell, Arkansas, occurred after helping a fellow member of the NBGC who was having difficulties harvesting his
HARVESTING OPPORTUNITY
It was a colleague who alerted Bridgeforth of a rice mill that was for sale in Pine Bluff and suggested that he look at it. Around the same time, a woman who was farming in the Delta who moved to Oregon emailed Haynie about the availability of what was then Southwind Milling Company.
Bridgeforth spoke to PJ’s father, who told him about some hungry children in Africa that he saw on television. Ricky Haynie prayed that the Lord would bless him to do something to help him feed those children.
“Not too long after that, the opportunity for the rice mill came up and I shared it with him,” says PJ Haynie.
“He and I came down and looked at this facility and we saw the opportunity.
Dad said, ‘Let’s call our friends over in Alabama – the Bridgeforths – and see if they want to join in this adventure with us.’
And that’s how the Haynies and Bridgeforths got in and started doing their due diligence in the rice industry as well as the rice facility.”
Bridgeforth said that two years prior, he and PJ Haynie had invested in a community bank and made
crop. They brought in their equipment to assist Cox Brothers Farm, which was Black-owned. Bridgeforth said that shortly thereafter, the owners of Cox Brothers Farm decided to discontinue their operation, which opened closed the door on farming in Mississippi for Haynie and Bridgeforth and opened a new one for them in Arkansas.
connections that aided in their purchase of the rice mill.
Today, the two families are making a remarkable difference in the farming and rice industry worldwide.
“What we are hoping to do is continue the legacy of our family in the farming business but also the food business,” says PJ Haynie. “And the exciting part is that now that my family has moved into the food business, it’s more than just growing crops. What we desire to do is to try to capture more downstream opportunities in the crops that we grow.”
BLACK-OWNED
PJ Haynie
Billy Bridgeforth
KENYA EDDINGS
By Sericia Nelson
Born and raised in Little Rock, Kenya Eddings reveals that she has always loved taking pictures. So her foray into online publishing was born out of an effort to record things happening around her. “Photographs really do tell stories and I enjoy capturing that history. So, several years ago, I started taking my camera with me to select events as a way to document the moments.”
One thing led to another, and a personal passion morphed into a business as Today’s Communiqué was officially incorporated in October 2014. Like any other new venture, while things are up and running smoothly now, it was an adjustment getting the formula for the twiceweekly newsletter just right.
“Start-up was a bit of a challenge because
while I knew what I wanted, I didn’t know how to articulate it and make it happen. Thankfully, I had a few friends who understood my vision and helped me create the Today’s Communiqué platform.”
Eddings holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tuskegee University and a graduate degree in public health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. She recently started a doctoral program at the University of Central Arkansas – making it easy to believe that Today’s Communiqué was truly a serendipitous venture. Since her online guide has taken off, however, Eddings has immensely enjoyed being a community connector.
“An experience I’ll never forget is being on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in arms distance of the late
everyone under the sound of his voice to be civically engaged,” she recalls. “From members of famed art group AFRICOBRA, to young Black fathers reflecting on fatherhood, to Black women sharing their journey through health challenges … I’ve learned that our community has such a rich, colorful past, present, and future. Using Today’s Communiqué as a tool to tell our story is important to me.”
Eddings also leads a full life offline. She is a wife, a daughter, a sister, and an aunt (“I really like spending time with family”). A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she is active in her local community, serving on several boards. Several years ago, the amateur art collector started an art appreciation group, Kuumba Arts Collective, with a group of friends. Juggling family with a career, entrepreneurship, school, family and leisure activities isn’t easy, but Eddings manages through “balance and boundaries,” as well as a healthy dose of realism that tempers future goals for her business.
Sunday capturing him encouraging
It
wasn’t intentional. I just remember friends and colleagues sharing events happening in
the community. I always wondered why they weren’t being covered in mainstream media outlets. I started sharing the events I received and the rest is history.
“I’d like to expand Today’s Communiqué. I have a few ideas, but just need to dedicate time to develop them.” Witnessing her devotion to community, culture and creativity, whatever time Eddings stumbles upon will be worth any wait.
I C AN’T MISS WORK BEC AUSE OF THE FLU.
Even healt hy pe ople can get t he u, and i t ca n be seri ou s. Thi s sea so n, p ro te c t your sel f and t ho se a rou nd yo u by get ti ng a u va ccin e. For m o re i n fo rm atio n, v is i t http :/ /w w w.cdc .g ov/ u
Eve r y yea r, I get my u va cci ne to p ro te c t mysel f, my cowor ke rs, a nd my famil y from ge tti ng sick from the u.
From Nigeria to Arkansas: A Journey of Passion and Flavor
Born in Nigeria, Ola Atilola’s cultural roots and lifelong desire to promote products from African farmers led him to Arkansas in 2014. With a background in the food industry, he honed his culinary skills first before opening Asami Tea Shop – a history that has formed the foundation for his vision of sharing the rich flavors and stories of African tea.
The Birth of Asami: Cultivating African Tea Traditions
In the summer of 2020, Asami Tea Shop materialized as a realization of Atilola’s passion. Inspired to showcase African tea and support smallholder farmers, he chose Northwest Arkansas as the ideal location. By connecting consumers directly to African farmers, Asami aims to amplify the significance of tea to Africa and give a voice to its origin stories.
Sizzling Selections: A Journey through Africa’s Vibrant Tea Landscapes
Asami’s wide selection invites customers to embark on a sensory voyage through Africa’s vibrant tea landscapes that celebrate its heritage. From robust and bold Kenyan teas to delicate and floral Rwandan brews, each cup tells a unique tale of a specific region. By sourcing directly from African farms, Atilola’s visionary boutique promotes traceability and empowers customers to support local communities.
The Quest for Quality and Authenticity: Freshness Guaranteed
Maintaining the highest quality and freshness are Asami’s top priorities – as evidenced by rigorous testing and analysis by trusted laboratories to ensure maximum purity and authenticity. Every blend is an original recipe by Atilola, who personally oversees the quality checks to guarantee a genuine and invigorating tea-drinking experience.
Unveiling the Essence of Asami: An Experience Like No Other
What sets Asami apart is its dedication to heritage-based, unique teas infused with authentic flavors. Each blend tells
A Taste for Every Palate: From Adventurers to Wellness Enthusiasts
With a warm welcome extended to tea and cocoa lovers, adventure seekers, and wellness enthusiasts, Asami offers a diverse range of teas to cater to various preferences. Each blend is carefully crafted to satisfy unique palates. Popular blends transport customers to notable places on the African continent, capturing the essence of their origins and the people behind
Crafting a Welcoming Experience: Personalized and Engaging
Asami prioritizes the customer experience by providing personalized touches. The shop’s e-commerce website ensures each order is accompanied by a thoughtful note, and teas are shipped directly from the farm. Customers can even tip the farmers and engage with them through mess Additionally, Asami Tea Shop hosts monthly tastings and offers customers the opportunity to book private tasting events.
ASAMI TEA SHOP
Location: 206 E. Main Street, Gentry, AR 72734
Hours: Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: 417-232-3344
Website: asamiteashop.com
@Teafromafrica
@Asami Tea
@ASAMI
@Asami_llc
By Khloe Janel
LUCKY SUNNY DAYS
Khloe Janel is an interdisciplinary artist from Little Rock, Arkansas. She creates for self-healing, liberation, and preservation. As an actor, you can see her in television shows such as “Chicago Fire/PD,” “Empire,” “The Chi,” and Netflix’s “Easy.” You can also find her in the feature film “I Used to Go Here,” now available on various streaming services. As a writer, her original poetry has been featured in many publications around the world and her debut poetry collection, “don’t worry, we’re okay” is now available for purchase on Khloejanel.com/poetry.
I deserve to enjoy the euphoria they told me. I swear the one on the left waved out the corner of my eyeone on the right blew a kiss my way between the rain like rocks skipping in a pool. It’s as if they knew how to get my attention.
As if a message or two or three were hidden beneath the surface. If I just dig a little deeper into myself as if the scary parts would set me free, one in the middle looked good enough to sleep on after I’ve already had a full 8 hours worth.
I dream of skipping on each cloud toe first like a trampoline-if I fall, so be it, one hiding behind a storm resembled early afternoons at the state fair.
I ate turkey legs that burned my tongue and sat on questionable ferris wheels for something other than the everyday mundane. I knew how to breathe before speaking then and I wasn’t offended when asked my age. I am older now regardless of my youth, and I mourn those memories when I let my mind go back there to remember what it feels like to feel everything.
I don’t want to lose my mind in the long run, I have many more stories to live and clouds to watch.
Father Time
By Jimmy Warren
by Alexander King
The most amazing feeling I feel Words can’t describe the feeling, for real Baby, I paint the sky blue My greatest creation was you
- JAY-Z
”
I have to say that fatherhood is an adventure unlike any other. The moment you become a dad, your world is forever changed. Suddenly, you have tiny humans relying on you for everything. It can be overwhelming but also incredibly gratifying.
My wife, Shakira, and I have been navigating parenthood for 16 years with our two daughters, Amaya and Alivia. We were young college students when Amaya was born, and we had to learn on the go. I’ll be the first to admit that we don’t get it right every day, but we keep trying.
One of the things we’ve discovered is that being a good parent is about something other than giving your kids everything they want; rather, it’s about giving them what they need and teaching them to appreciate and be grateful for what they have. We want to give our daughters everything we didn’t have growing up, but we also understand that wisdom lies in not giving too much, too fast.
pride in themselves. We started collecting African American books for our daughters when they were young to help them identify with characters and stories reflecting their experiences. It started as a small thing but eventually spread to their school and community.
Now that our oldest daughter has turned 16, I’ve been reflecting on what I wish I had known as a young father just getting started. But most of all, what I have found is that being a father – being a parent – is is full of ups and downs. But through it all, I keep trying, learning and, most of all, loving.
Because Jay-Z had it right. The joy of fatherhood is unparalleled.
“The joy of fatherhood is unparalleled,” as Jay-Z beautifully rhapsodizes in his song, “Glory.” As a father of two daughters, I can attest to the indescribable love and pride that come from watching your children grow and learn. I have found parenting to be a continuously rewarding, yet challenging, journey of understanding, making mistakes, and striving to improve daily.
I’ve also come to appreciate my daughters for who they uniquely are. For example, I always envisioned myself and my daughters sitting courtside at a basketball game in our dope sneakers. But instead, I find myself picking them up from cheer practice. While I’m sarcastically disappointed that neither has taken an affinity to playing basketball, I am ecstatic that they have been able to chase the sport and passion they enjoy.
As parents, we also instill essential values in our children like love, honesty, discipline and
Photography
By Sericia Nelson
As publisher of the Arkansas State Press newspaper alongside her husband L.C. Bates, she helped push the boundaries of advocacy journalism , honing in on controversial issues around race relations and injustices in America and bringing news about education and criminal justice to the forefront. Daisy Bates believed that the cause of Blackness was worth championing and defending.
As a result, she spoke, wrote and published the indefatigable truth to lift up her people and challenge systems of inequality. As a torch bearer of her legacy, we are honored to be a mouthpiece and lens for Black Arkansans – amplifying our stories and magnifying our presence –emboldened by the inextinguishable flame lit by her example.
Unafraid and unbossed, noted civil rights activist, journalist and publishing icon Daisy L. Gatson Bates (1914-1999) paved the way for platforms today that speak to, for and about Black Arkansans.
An AI (Artificial Intelligence) tool was utilized to create this photo as a representation of modern times, showcasing its capacity to portray a contemporary image through advanced technology.
