Special Programs

A statue on the grounds at Central High entitled "United" depicts two figures with raised arms holding rings that almost completely interlock - a symbolic reminder of the work still to be done to ensure educational equality.

NPS Photo

National Park Service Speaker Series

Hosted by the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, the National Park Service Speaker Series is an inspiring initiative designed to promote awareness and dialogue on key issues of equality, justice, and human rights. The series features a diverse lineup of distinguished speakers, including activists, scholars, and leaders from various fields, offering a platform to share powerful stories and gain historical insights.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions on both historical and contemporary civil rights challenges. The series emphasizes the ongoing struggle for social justice and highlights the importance of collective action in building a more equitable society.

Launching in August 2024, each event is crafted to educate and inspire audiences, encouraging reflection on their roles in advancing civil rights. Through these compelling presentations, participants will gain a deeper understanding of systemic injustices and the intersectionality of civil rights issues. The Speaker Series fosters a space for learning and activism, empowering individuals to become advocates for change and champions of human dignity.

Accessibility

The Little Rock Central High School NHS is dedicated to ensuring the accessibility of its programs and facilities. If you require accommodations, please contact Brian Schwieger, Accessibility Coordinator, via email at e-mail us (include “Accessibility” in the subject line) or by phone at [phone].

Event Details

Each program in the National Park Service Speaker Series is free and open to the public. Below are the dates, times, speakers, and topics for upcoming events. All programs will take place at the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center, located at 2120 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive. Additional programs will be announced at a later date.

Stay tuned for more updates on this engaging and impactful series!

 

Upcoming Presenters in the NPS Speaker Series

 

Taylor Branch

photo courtesy - J. Brough Schamp

Saturday, January 18, 2025
11:00 a.m. CST
Taylor Branch - "A Conversation on the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

Taylor Branch will speak as part of the NPS Speaker Series on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. CST in Little Rock. The event, a partner program hosted at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, will highlight Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s lasting impact on American society. Open to the public, this presentation will provide a unique opportunity to hear from one of the leading chroniclers of the Civil Rights Movement, in advance of the 40th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.

Over his illustrious career, Branch has received numerous prestigious honors, including the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Critics Circle Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Lifetime Achievement Award, and the National Humanities Medal.

Branch is best known for his landmark trilogy, America in the King Years, which offers a sweeping narrative of the Civil Rights Era and illuminates both the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the transformative times in which he lived. The first book, Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954–63, earned Branch the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and a Christopher Award. Time hailed it as “a major accomplishment in biography as social history,” while President Obama included it in his list of 10 books recommended for future leaders.

The subsequent volumes, Pillar of Fire: America in the King Years, 1963–65 and At Canaan’s Edge: America in the King Years, 1965–68, also garnered critical acclaim. Branch also served as executive producer of the Emmy-winning HBO documentary King in the Wilderness, which provides a “searing portrait” of Dr. King’s final 18 months as he confronted the intertwined challenges of racism, war, and poverty.

Currently, Branch is working on a new book, Freedom’s Veil: Race in American History.

 

Previous presenters in the NPS Speaker Series

 

Saturday, August 17, 2024
Dr. John Kirk - "A Conversation on the Civil Rights Movement in Little Rock after the Central High Crisis"

Saturday, September 14, 2024
Joseph McGill, Jr. - "A Conversation on the Social History of Our Built Environment"

Saturday, October 26, 2024
Postponed for the Funeral of Thelma Mothershed Wair, a member of the Little Rock Nine

Saturday, November 9, 2024
Dr. Brian Mitchell - "A Conversation on the Elaine Massacre - Why It Happened, Why It's Hidden, and Where Do We Go From Here"

Saturday, December 7, 2024
Phyllis Brown - "A Brown Sister Speaks"