UA Libraries Special Collections Graduate Student Speaker: Whitney King

365 North McIlroy Avenue,Fayetteville AR 72701

03 March, 2022

Description

BAD‐ The history of Black Americans for Democracy at The University of Arkansas Photo credit: Black Americans for Democracy News, May 7, 1973 issue, Ark Coll OV-FLAT LH1.A7 B2 Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, AR. About the Series: In collaboration with the Graduate School and International Education, the University Libraries hosts a Graduate Student Speaker Series during the academic year. This series provides graduate students the opportunity to present research or creative works they have done using materials from Special Collections, and get feedback from our community as they continue their professional development. All graduate students are welcome to apply, and we encourage applications from across disciplines. About this Presentation: This research was conducted to shed light on a Registered Student Organization (RSO)  at the University of Arkansas, which was active during the late  1960s through the 1970s-- the Black Americans for Democracy (BAD). BAD has evolved over the years and today the organization that began as Black Americans for Democracy is now the Black Student Association.  The fight for equal representation that was occurring at the national level was also happening in the campus ecosystem and still continues today.  It is the speaker's hope that this presentation will open the audiences'  eyes to the history that took place on the grounds we walk today.  Many students do not know of  BAD  and what  BAD represented,  even what it still represents today.  Special Collections has preserved this history,  but a lot of the material was undated and included unidentified persons.  It is a  reminder that some details are lost,  but special collections can give us a  glimpse into the past that is otherwise forgotten.  About the Speaker: Whitney King is a recent graduate of the Master of Arts in Journalism program at the University of Arkansas.