The Multicultural Club at the University of Arkansas at Hope-Texarkana will hold two Black History Month programs in Hempstead Hall.
The first will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, and will include performances by the Beryl Henry Drum Ballet, a step presentation by Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and author Willy
Lee Jones will speak on the importance of music in African-American culture.
Jones grew up in Little Rock, and was a student at Central High School seven years following the integration. A track and football standout, he became the first black student to start on the varsity football team his junior year. He received a track and football scholarship to Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Ark, and also played baseball with the American Legion. Jones is now retired following a career in in community development, teaches Bible study and serves as a deacon at the St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Little Rock. He and his wife, Annette have four adult children.
The Pleasant Hill Quilting Ladies will present the second Black History performance at 1 p.m. Feb. 16. They tell the story of how quilts were used to pass messages to slaves along the Underground Railroad. In between explaining what the handmade squares meant, the ladies sing slave songs which also contained secret escape codes.
Admission to the programs is free and open to the public. For more information, call 870-722-8227.