Next
year marks 100 years since one of the worst violent events in Arkansas history,
the Elaine Race Riot. Over the space of a few days, hundreds of African
Americans were killed or injured, becoming one of the darkest days in the
history of the state.
Writer
and historian Guy Lancaster edited "The Elaine Massacre and
Arkansas: A Century of Atrocity and Resistance, 1819-1919," a book
containing a collection of articles that examine the
history of race relations in Arkansas and what led to the events of 1919. The
book, which was published in June, was funded in part by a Curtis Sykes grant.
“I
wanted to broaden the story and show the larger context for what happened in
Elaine,” Lancaster explains. “There is a lot of interest in the topic and I
wanted to show through this book that there is an even larger story behind it
than most people might consider.”
Lancaster
is thankful for the Sykes Grant and the opportunities it brought. “It certainly
made publishing the book a lot easier and we did not feel stressed when it came
to the publishing budget,” said Lancaster. “It also helps keep the price of the
book low enough that it might appeal to a larger audience.”
The
Black History Commission of Arkansas is glad to have been involved in this
important book and welcome others who might have African American history
projects to apply for upcoming grants. For more information on grant
guidelines, visit
http://archives.arkansas.gov/about-us/bhca/curtishsykesmemorialgrantprogram.aspx.
