The Black History Commission of Arkansas (BHCA) and the Arkansas State Archives (ASA) hosted their annual workshop on Saturday, June 9, at the Mosaic Templars Cultural
Center in Little Rock.
The event, “Arkansas’s Early Black Fraternal Organizations,”
featured five dynamic speakers, who focused on multiple historical perspectives
and unique characteristics of African American fraternal organizations in
Arkansas.
Dr. John Graves, professor of history at Henderson State
University, was the first speaker. He discussed the national history of the
Mosaic Templars. Dr. Blake Wintory, assistant director at Lakeport Plantation,
spoke on the history of Arkansas’s black fraternal organizations. Cleveland
K. Wilson, grand master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, talked
about the history of the Masons, and Flora Simon, grand matron of the Eastern
Star, discussed the history of her organization.
Tamela Tenpenny-Lewis wrapped up the day with a presentation
about gravestones and the symbols that can be found on them. “There are countless
stories hidden within the pages of the histories of the African American benevolent societies,” said Tenpenny-Lewis. “They speak to us from thousands of
headstones in countless burial grounds. Some stand mightily in our midst today.
Our awesome task is to find them.”
