Ouachita to host Melba Pattillo Beals of the Little Rock Nine on April 2 for Birkett Williams Lecture
March 13, 2019
- Abby TurnerOuachita Baptist University will host Melba Pattillo Beals, who is widely known as
a member of the Little Rock Nine, for a lecture on Tuesday, April 2, at 7 p.m. in
Jones Performing Arts Center. The lecture is free and open to the public and is part
of Ouachita’s Birkett Williams Endowed Lecture Series. Following the lecture, Dr.
Beals also will have a book signing from 8 to 10 p.m. in Walker Conference Center
on Ouachita’s campus.
Beals is an American journalist, college educator and member of the Little Rock Nine,
a group of African-American students who integrated Little Rock Central High School
in 1957. Beals is also a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the country’s
highest honors, is an award-winning author and has published two books: “Warriors
Don’t Cry” and “I Will Not Fear.”
“We are extraordinarily pleased to have Dr. Beals come to campus and meet our students
and let them hear what she has to say,” said Dr. Jeff Root, dean of Ouachita’s Huckabee
School of Education and School of Humanities. “She has lived through some important
experiences in American history, and we’re thrilled that she is coming to speak.”
The Huckabee School serves as host for this Birkett Williams lecture.
Beals attended San Francisco State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree;
she went on to earn her master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. She
is a retired university professor and holds a doctorate in international multicultural
education from the University of San Francisco.
“Her bravery, faith and commitment to education have made a tremendous impact on our
students, especially those who are majoring in the field of education,” said Dr. Rachel
Pool, assistant professor of education at Ouachita.
“Our university’s theme this year is ‘Lives of Meaningful Work,’” Pool continued.
“Dr. Beals’ life is a testimony for all of us to learn from, and we will have an opportunity
to express our appreciation and humble gratitude for what she had to persevere in
order for every student to have a chance to receive a free and appropriate education.”
Ouachita’s Birkett Williams Endowed Lecture Series was established in 1977 through
a gift from the late Birkett L. Williams, a 1910 Ouachita graduate. His generous endowment
established the lectures as an opportunity to extend the concepts of a liberal arts
education beyond the classroom by bringing renowned scholars and public figures to
Ouachita’s campus.
For more information, contact Ouachita’s Huckabee School of Education at (870) 245-5154.
By Abby Turner // Ouachita will host Melba Pattillo Beals, a member of the Little
Rock Nine, for a lecture on Tuesday, April 2, in Jones Performing Arts Center. Beals
is an American journalist and author. Photo by Frankie Frost. Download full size image.
March 13, 2019
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