Pioneering Attorney and Civil Rights Leader W. Harold Flowers dedicated his life to improving the lives of all Arkansas. Many of the civil liberties that Black Arkansas enjoy today were made possible by his pioneering efforts and contributions as a civil rights attorney and community activist.

Born October 16, 1911 in Stamps (Lafayette County), Arkansas, William Harold Flowers Sr. graduated from the Robert H. Terrell Law School in Washington, D.C. He was admitted to practice in Arkansas on October 21, 1935, after which he opened his law office in Pine Bluff.

In 1938, W. Harold Flowers be...(more)

Educator and Musician Extraordinaire Hazel Shanks Hynson is a renowned educator and an extraordinary musician who through the years has trained many accomplished musicians including the late jazz musician Art Porter.

Hynson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music, with a major in piano, from Atlanta University. She completed further study in piano, including advanced theory and harmony, with master musicians and instructors hailing from Oberlin College, the University of London and the Julliard School of Music, to cite a few When she moved to Little Rock, Hynson joined Mt. Zion Baptist Ch...(more)

Noted Educator, Author and Humanitarian Dr. Patricia Washington McGraw is a retired University of Central Arkansas professor of English and African/African American Studies. Recognized for her outstanding achievements as an educational/civic leader and social advocate, she has received over 300 teaching excellence and community service awards on the local, state and national levels.

McGraw graduated from San Francisco State College in 1957 and received her master's degree in special studies in American literature from the college in 1967. In 1982 she earned her Ph.D. in sociolinguistics and...(more)

World Renowned Dancer and Choreographer As a critically acclaimed dancer, choreographer and director, Fatima Robinson is the woman behind the moves for some of today's top music artists including OutKast, the Black Eyed Peas, Will Smith, Mary J. Blige and the late Aaliyah. Her eclectic, fluid, urban style has made her one of the hottest choreographers in the field.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Robinson moved to Los Angeles at the age of four with her mother and two younger sisters. After completing high school at the age of 16, Robinson became a certified cosmetologist and worked for a ti...(more)

Internationally Renowned Jazz Musician One of the greatest jazz impresarios of our time, Pharaoh Sanders, was born Ferrell Sanders on October 13, 1940 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Born into a musical family, he learned to play the saxophone as youngster and honed his skills performing behind 1950s headliners in the R&B clubs on Little Rock's legendary Ninth Street during its zenith.

After graduating from Scipio A. Jones High School, Sanders moved to Oakland, California, to study art and music and quickly became a fixture on the Bay Area Jazz Scene. It was during this time, in early 1961, that ...(more)

Distinguished Civil and Political Leader A committed public servant, leader, volunteer and family man, John H. Stroger Jr. is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all the residents of Cook County in Chicago, Illinois. In 1994 he became the first African-American president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and was re-elected to a third term in November 2002.

Born May 19, 1929 in Helena, Arkansas, to Ella and John Stroger Sr., he attended Eliza Miller High School and graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration....(more)