| ...“There was a vacuum, there was a void… people in Arkansas
have an inferiority complex, people of color needed to identify with people with Arkansas
roots to change the world.” When I asked him what is the primary role or purpose of
the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame Foundation, he replied, “health, education, youth
development, economic development, and other underserved communities across the
state.” |
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| The Program |
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After about ninety minutes of mixing and mingling out in the main reception area the event
finally got underway around 7:45 p.m. Stewart opened the ceremony with the presentation of
the evening’s honorees. Then Ms. Delya Chandler sang the national anthem to the sold
out crowd of an estimated 700 distinguished guests. A greeting was then delivered by C.J.
Duval, a distinguished and high ranking African-American male Alltel executive. A dance
troupe performance by the Tidwell Project, Michael Tidwell, Director, led the dinner
course. The soulful group of skilled dancers moved the crowd to the old southern
spiritual, “Mary Don’t You Weep,” which I found both peacefully resolving
and entertaining. Original Tuskegee Airman, Jerry Hodges then presented inductee, Milton
Crenshaw, followed by inductee |
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