From one pioneer to a different: An endorsement of Chris Jones

My pal, Dr. Sybil Hampton, herself a pioneer of college desegregation in Arkansas, shared a letter from a pal endorsing Democrat Chris Jones’ candidacy for governor of Arkansas.

It touched me. The letter is from a 1963 graduate of Central Excessive Faculty. Hampton was a 1962 graduate, the primary African-American to attend tenth by means of twelfth grades at Central. She was recruited in 1959 to be a part of the second group of Black college students to go to Central. The letter she shared:

Good morning:

As a product of the Civil Rights period my greatest dream was simply to have the ability to get by means of every day as a Black scholar on the newly desegregated Little Rock Central Excessive Faculty within the early 60’s with out being always harassed and threatened. I used to be pushed by hopes that the day would come when those that got here after us would have extra alternatives! My soul rejoices! The day has come!

Once I see this man operating for Governor of Arkansas, my residence state, I’m delivered to tears as I fall on my knees in prayer. That is monumental, and I want my dad and mom, and grandparents, and great-grandparents, all of the generations earlier than them who sacrificed a lot might witness this election. I envision them being with us in spirit!

Dr. Chris Jones, when elected will grow to be the First Black Governor in Arkansas Historical past! This election is historical past within the making on so many ranges! We’re working arduous to encourage folks to vote for him and to help and be part of this history-making marketing campaign.

I hope you’ll be able to open this link and browse all about Chris Jones candidate for Governor of Arkansas – An HBCU (Morehouse) Alum from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Please seize this second in historical past and encourage all people to donate to his marketing campaign! All of my kin, associates, colleagues, and many others residing in Arkansas please vote for Chris Jones for Governor of Arkansas and encourage all in your community to do the identical. …Writing a brand new chapter on this state by which I used to be born and raised, by which my ancestors had been enslaved, and by which my dad and mom and numerous others fought so arduous only for the fitting to vote. We’ve got that proper now! Let’s train it

Gloria J. Willingham-Toure’ PhD (ne: Gloria Nelson)
Little Rock Central Excessive Faculty-graduating class of 1963!
“Mine eyes have seen the glory…”

The author is one other of the pioneering Central college students with a distinguished profession. Her biography from Goddard Faculty, the place she is chair of the Board of Trustees:

Gloria J. Willingham-Touré, PhD, is the chief government officer of Afram International Group Inc., a nonprofit charitable group primarily based in Southern California, and the founding father of its Village P.r.o.j.e.c.t.s., which seeks to create environments by which individuals from various circumstances and experiences can come collectively and co-learn with one another in a manner that bridges the chance gaps, retains the respective cultures, and in the end advantages society. Instantly previous to this function, she was the interim provost and senior vice-president at Fielding Graduate College. In her first profession, nursing, Willingham-Touré retired because the chief nursing schooling and analysis officer on the Lengthy Seaside Depart­ment of Veterans Affairs Healthcare Techniques. She later turned a member of the college at California State College-Lengthy Seaside, the place along with classroom and community-based educating she led processes which resulted in will increase within the integration of service-learning alternatives for undergraduate and graduate nursing college students. Willingham-Touré has a PhD in Training from the Claremont Graduate College.

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