Arkansas community with roots in slavery still fighting for its rights

Latest

 
McALMONT, ARKANSAS — The area around McAlmont is an agricultural community rich with African American history. It had been a slave quarter and later a land grant to African American sharecroppers to live in. The community is now threatened with gentrification.
Dr. Joycelyn Elders, a local hero, had practiced medicine at McAlmont’s Ruffin and Jarret Nursing Home. She later rose to the position of Surgeon General of Arkansas and then US Surgeon General under President Bill Clinton. Dr. Elders had a street named after her in McAlmont until somebody changed it without rights. The community wants it changed back.
Harris Elementary School was established in 1886. Originally named Holt Pulaski County Training School, it was later known as Pulaski County Special Training School and was instrumental in educating former slaves. Today it has after school programs for children, a community garden, adult education GED, computer literacy classes and a job placement center. The community continues to fight a never-ending battle against efforts to close the school. The Dallas Cowboy’s Running Back Derrick McFadden, and 2016 Olympic Long Jump Gold medalist Jeffrey Henderson, are notable Harris alumni.
For information contact: Vern Henderson at 501-410-3020.

+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

A Love Letter to Altadena

Our elected officials seem unable or unwilling to keep the financial vultures out of Altadena. We can only win if we fight together to ensure our future.

The Urgency of Unity to Tackle Climate Destroyers

As thousands remain homeless and vulnerable to the negative effects of global warming, Trump is doubling down on opening new leases to fossil fuel corporations.

Where’s Trump? America’s Poorest Counties Devastated by Historic Flooding Speak Out.

West Virginia people devastated by the flooding are crying out for help from the Trump administration. They speak on whether FEMA should be abolished, as Trump is proposing.

An All-American Nightmare

The machinery of mass deportation has been set up in a nightmarish fashion. It is meant to be impossible to stop — or to appear that way. But, like any machine, it can be brought to a halt, when understood.

As ICE Jails Palestinian Protester, Universities Must Commit to Academic Freedom

University faculty call on everyone, on behalf of Mahmoud Khalil, Columbia graduate detained by ICE, to organize on behalf of those who are today's targets, supporting academic freedom and free expression before it is too late.

More from the People's Tribune