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 Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, the National Park Service Speaker Series is an inspiring initiative aimed at fostering awareness and dialogue about critical issues of equality, justice, and human rights. Featuring a diverse lineup of esteemed speakers, including activists, scholars, and leaders from various fields, the series will a platform for learning powerful stories and gaining historical insights. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking conversations on historical and contemporary civil rights challenges, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for social justice and the importance of collective action in creating a more equitable society.


Beginning in August 2024, each event in the series is designed to educate and motivate audiences, encouraging them to reflect 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. By fostering an environment of learning and activism, the National Park Service Speaker Series aims to empower individuals to become advocates for change and champions of human dignity.


Little Rock Central High School NHS is committed to the accessibility of our programming and facilities. If you have accessibility-related accommoation need for the program, please contact Brian Schwieger, Accessibility Coordinator, by email {[e-mail] (with Accessibility in the subject line)} or by phone at [phone].


Each of the programs in the National Park Service Speaker Series is free and open to the public; below are the dates, times and the corresponding speakers and topics. All programs will be held at the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site visitor center located at 2120 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive; more programs will be added at a later date:

 

Upcoming Presenters in the NPS Speaker Series

 

Joseph McGill, Jr.

Joseph McGill, Jr.

Saturday, September 14, 2024
11:00 a.m. CST

Joseph McGill - A Conversation on the Social History of Our Built Environment

Nations interpret their history through the buildings they preserve, highlighting both architectural significance and the lives of those who inhabited them. For the past 14 years, Joseph McGill has been sleeping in slave dwellings across the U.S. to draw attention to their preservation and interpretation. McGill, along with journalist Herb Frazier, co-authored the book Sleeping with the Ancestors: How I Followed the Footprints of Slavery.

This conversation will delve into their book and research, exploring the need to confront difficult history, ensure inclusive narratives, engage communities in preservation, and raise public awareness of the lives and contributions of enslaved people.

Mr. Joseph McGill, Jr., is the founder of the Slave Dwelling Project and a history consultant for Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, SC. Through the Project, he has organized over 250 overnight stays in slave dwellings across 19 states and Washington, D.C., raising awareness about these important, often overlooked structures. McGill engages with descendants of both enslaved communities and enslavers, and speaks to diverse audiences, including students and community groups.

He also founded Company "I" 54th Massachusetts Reenactment Regiment and participates in Civil War reenactments. McGill previously worked with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, served as Executive Director of the African American Museum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and directed History and Culture at Penn Center, SC. A former NPS Park Ranger at Fort Sumter National Historical Park, McGill holds a B.A. in Professional English from South Carolina State University and is a U.S. Air Force veteran.

 

Dr. Sybil Jordan Hampton

NPS Photo

Postponed - will be rescheduled

Dr. Sybil Jordan Hampton - A Conversation on Desegregation at Central High School after the Crisis

Dr. Sybil Jordan Hampton is a lifelong educator and advocate for social justice. As the first three-year African American graduate of Little Rock Central High School, Dr. Hampton regularly engages with students and the public, discussing her experiences and the importance of inclusivity.

She served as President of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and Contributions Manager at the GTE Corporate Foundation before retiring in 2006. Her 23-year academic career included roles at Iona College, the University of Wisconsin, and Southwestern University. Early in her career, she taught elementary school and worked at the Social Security Payment Center.

Dr. Hampton holds degrees in English Literature, Teaching, and Higher Education from Earlham College, the University of Chicago, and Columbia University's Teachers College. She has received numerous honors, including awards from the University of Chicago, Teachers College, Columbia University, and the Little Rock Central High School Tiger Foundation. She has held leadership roles with the Little Rock Aesthetic Club, the Little Rock Club, and various boards, and remains active in the community as a Life Member of several organizations, including the Girl Scouts of the USA and the Arkansas Symphony Guild.

After retirement, Dr. Hampton served as Interim General Manager of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and continues to consult on economic, educational, and social justice issues. A prominent speaker, she has addressed audiences on topics related to the American school desegregation struggle, including international presentations in Northern Ireland.

 

Previous presenters in the NPS Speaker Series

 

Dr. John Kirk

Dr. John Kirk

Saturday, August 17, 2024
11:00 a.m. CST

Dr. John Kirk - A Conversation on the Civil Rights Movement in Little Rock after the Central High Crisis


Dr. John A. Kirk is the George W. Donaghey Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He worked at the University of Wales and the University of London in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States in the summer of 2010. Kirk served for five years as chair of the UA Little Rock History Department and for four years as director of the Anderson Institute on Race and Ethnicity. He has held several grants and fellowships in both Europe and the United States, including as Roosevelt Study Centre Fellow (Middleburg, The Netherlands), John F. Kennedy Presidential Library Fellow, and Rockefeller Archive Center Scholar-in-Residence. From the Arkansas Historical Association, Kirk has received the Diamond Award for his work on the Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail, the Award of Merit for his work on the Arkansas Civil Rights History Tour App, the J. G. Ragsdale Book Award, and the Violet B. Gingles Award, the Lucille Westbrook Award, and the Walter L. Brown Award for best articles on Arkansas history. He received the UA Little Rock Faculty Excellence Award in Public Service in 2022 and the UA Little Rock inaugural University Faculty Excellence Award in Social Justice in 2023. Most recently, he received the 2024 Booker Worthen Literary Prize for his biography of Winthrop Rockefeller.