Little Rock officials will honor Black History Month with a program today at City Hall that will focus on two of the city’s former black teachers.
From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, the rotunda inside City Hall at 500 W. Markham St. will be transformed into a makeshift theater, hosting a dramatization about the Little Rock School District’s first black teacher and speakers telling about other retired black teachers who have left their stamp on the city and its youth.
“This brings life to some of the history that we have right here locally,” said Ericka Benedicto, program manager of the city’s Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission, which is hosting the event. “We have a lot of local legends that we just need to know more about. I think as we know more about our history and our heroes, we come to appreciate our city that much more. It’s a rich, rich history that I think we can all be proud of.”
Gwendolyn Twillie, a retired professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, will take the audience back to 1869 when 15-year-old Charlotte Andrew Stephens began her career as an educator by substituting for her own teacher who became ill. Little Rock organized its public school system the next year and hired Stephens and three other black teachers.
Stephen’s career spanned 70years until she retired in 1939. Both Stephens Elementary and the Stephens Community Center are named for her. She was born to two prominent, educated slaves in 1854 and died in 1951 at the age of 97.
“The purpose of this program is to really help the community to understand the significance behind her namesake,” Benedicto said.
After Twillie’s performance, students from Dunbar Middle School will give a presentation on Sue Cowan Williams, who represented black teachers as the plaintiff in a 1942 lawsuit against the Little Rock School District that challenged the lower salaries given to black teachers.
The Sue Cowan Williams Library was named for Williams, who taught at Dunbar Middle School. A friend of Williams will tell the audience stories about the educator.
The event will wrap up with former students remembering other black teachers who have taught in the Little Rock School District. To be honored are: Maud Webster Woods, who retired in 1996 after 42 years of teaching; Eddyce Lofton, who retired in 2001 after 42 years of teaching; and Louie Lewis, who retired in 2007 after 33 years of teaching.
The city’s Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission hosts an annual black-history program at City Hall, each with a different theme. Refreshments will be provided. Benedicto usually about 75 people attend.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 02/27/2014