Program livestreamed at facebook.com/garlandcountylibrary and youtube.com/garlandcolibrary

Join Marsalis Weatherspoon and his guests for Perceptions of Color, a monthly series that intends to both celebrate and educate about all facets of the African American experience. Weatherspoon, a musician, speaker, and public servant, currently serves as President of the local NAACP branch, Hot Springs Branch #6013.

Incorporated in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or the N.A.A.C.P., is the oldest Civil Rights organization in the United States. With over 2,000 units across the country, it champions the causes of justice, equity, and seeking an end to race-based discrimination.

This roundtable will explore the NAACP’s origins, where they are today, and what the future holds for this long-lasting American institution. Special guests will include Mr. Elmer Beard, the “Octo Griot” and former president and current advisor to the Hot Springs Branch, as well as Mr. Michael Ankton, a member of the Clark County Branch and a undergraduate student at Henderson State University.

Program livestreamed at facebook.com/garlandcountylibrary and youtube.com/garlandcolibrary

Join Marsalis Weatherspoon and his guests for Perceptions of Color, a monthly series that intends to both celebrate and educate about all facets of the African American experience. Weatherspoon, a musician, speaker, and public servant, currently serves as President of the local NAACP branch, Hot Springs Branch #6013.

June 2022 is Pride Month and marks the tenth installation in the Perceptions of Color Series! The Black and LGBTQ communities have both historically experienced oppression, discrimination and violence. Discussing what it means to be Black and LGBTQ, we will be joined by our guest Ms. Chrystal Seawood.

Her classrooms are engaged and center the experiences of Black lives and cultures. She is a native of Forrest City, Arkansas, and has taught at the high school level in both Forrest City and in alternative settings in Washington, D.C. With this perspective and experience, Chrystal is a founding member of Amateka College Prep in Washington, D.C. She is a collaborating author for “Teaching Language Variation in the Classroom” and will be beginning an MFA program in fall at Maryland Institute College of Art.

Program livestreamed at facebook.com/garlandcountylibrary and youtube.com/garlandcolibrary

Join Marsalis Weatherspoon and his guests for Perceptions of Color, a monthly series that intends to both celebrate and educate about all facets of the African American experience. Weatherspoon, a musician, speaker, and public servant, currently serves as President of the local NAACP branch, Hot Springs Branch #6013.

In the month of May, many prepare to don their caps and gowns. However, the story of Blacks in higher education in America has been filled with many highs and lows. Blacks are underrepresented in certain fields of study, study-abroad opportunities, and degree completion but overrepresented in reports of discrimination; victimization by predatory, for-profit institutions; and student debt. While African Americans have historically faced and continue to face unique challenges, they have also made important academic and cultural contributions in the higher education space. This episode of Perceptions of Color will feature a panel discussion on the importance of Black faculty and staff, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Black Greek-Letter Organizations (BGLOs).

Program livestreamed at facebook.com/garlandcountylibrary and youtube.com/garlandcolibrary

Join Marsalis Weatherspoon and his guests for Perceptions of Color, a monthly series that intends to both celebrate and educate about all facets of the African American experience. Weatherspoon, a musician, speaker, and public servant, currently serves as President of the local NAACP branch, Hot Springs Branch #6013.

April 20th marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark “Garland County School Desegregation Case Settlement Agreement,” known colloquially as the “deseg order.” For the month of April, Perceptions of Color will examine the impact of the deseg order and where we stand today vis-a-vis race relations in Garland County schools. This month’s guest is Ms. Jeri Maghoney.

Jeri D. Maghoney was born and raised in the San Joaquin Delta Valley of Northern California but has been a resident of Hot Springs for the last 16 years. A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a B.A. in History and double minor in Social Studies and Secondary Education, she is currently in her fifth year as a Social Studies educator at Hot Springs World Class High School where she teaches courses on Economics, Personal Finance and the History of the Americas. Ms. Maghoney is a dedicated educator who was selected as Teacher of the Year for HSWCHS for the 2020-2021 school year. In 2019 Ms. Maghoey was the recipient of the Hanamaki Sister City Exchange Program Scholarship and was a part of a delegation of teachers to visit Hanamaki, Japan. In 2017 Ms. Maghoney’s historical research paper on the desegregation of the Hot Springs School District was featured in a four-part installation in the Sentinel Record.

Program livestreamed at facebook.com/garlandcountylibrary and youtube.com/garlandcolibrary

Join Marsalis Weatherspoon and his guests for Perceptions of Color, a monthly series that intends to both celebrate and educate about all facets of the African American experience. Weatherspoon, a musician, speaker, and public servant, currently serves as President of the local NAACP branch, Hot Springs Branch #6013.

In March, we celebrate Women’s History Month. In this month’s installment of Perceptions of Color, we explore the contribution Black women have made to literature and to the world. From Phyllis Wheatley to Nikkole Hannah-Jones, we honor the legacy of women who have paved the way in poetry, prose, historiography and investigative journalism.

Special Guest Janis F. Kearney is an author, book publisher, and writing instructor. She was born to southeast Arkansas cotton sharecroppers, attended Gould Public Schools, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a B.A. in Journalism. She served nine years as a project manager and public affairs director in Arkansas state government. She served briefly as managing editor for civil rights legend Daisy L. Bates’ historic Arkansas State Press newspaper before purchasing and becoming publisher of the newspaper in 1988, upon Bates’ retirement.

Program livestreamed at facebook.com/garlandcountylibrary and youtube.com/garlandcolibrary

Join Marsalis Weatherspoon and his guests in “Perceptions of Color,” a monthly series that intends to both celebrate and educate about all facets of the African American experience. Weatherspoon, a musician, speaker, and public servant, currently serves as President of the local NAACP branch, Hot Springs Branch #6013.

February is a time to celebrate Black History as well as Black Love: romantic, spiritual, and civic. Join us as we explore Black Hot Springs, from Jim Crow to the present era. Our special guest is Cheryl Batts, founder and CEO of People Helping Others Excel by Example.

Special guest, author, historian, and P.H.O.E.B.E. CEO & founder Cheryl Batts will be interviewed.

People Helping Others Excel By Example became the arm of research and documenting the life of African Americans in Hot Springs through oral histories.  The youth in the community became as important in the process as the seniors and their oral histories.  The Uzuri Project Youth Institute was created out of a need to support both groups. An unlikely research tool, these two groups are responsible for “Remember When…” a series of oral histories on film.  These two groups spark encouragement, excitement, and education together.  Today there are over 1,500 photographs and 100 oral histories on film.

Batts was also responsible for the research for the designation of two houses for the National Register of Historic Places in the Jonestown Neighborhood of Hot Springs, The Webb Community Center of Hot Springs on the State Register of Historic Places and furnishing information that secured the designation of Arkansas largest African American historic district, The Pleasant Street National Historic District.