Listening and Learning

I appreciated and value the opportunity I had to visit the Elaine Legacy Center in July 2024. I have been involved in advocacy work long enough to know the truth and importance of the statement, “nothing about us without us.”

As anti-racism advocates, what do we need to know about Elaine, Arkansas? Elaine, Arkansas, was the site of the Elaine Massacre on September 30, 1919. “The Elaine Massacre was by far the deadliest racial confrontation in Arkansas history and, possibly, the bloodiest racial conflict in the history of the United States” according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas website. There have been, and must continue to be, numerous conversations to increase the awareness of the systemic racism that continues to impact this rural community.

The Elaine Legacy Center (ELC) has been working directly with descendants and current residents of Elaine since 2019. A recent site visit helped me gain a deeper understanding of their goals and accomplishments as they continue to educate people about the traumatic history of Elaine, Arkansas, and the need for restorative justice.

The story of Elaine is about more than the massacre. The statistics about the region fail to capture the heart of the people. The people I met may be living below the poverty line, but they were not poor in spirit. During our conversations, they talked about numerous ways to continue to inspire and empower themselves. The ELC physical space is a major asset. It provided a welcoming place for the listening session.

There are tremendous systemic problems in Elaine. They need basic resources such as clean water, schools, housing, healthcare facilities, and grocery stores. As dire as these needs are, I felt a spark of energy in the room as they discussed resuming some of the pre-pandemic programs to promote health and wellness, including dance and fitness classes, gardening to increase availability of fresh produce, and operating a Soul Food Cafe to generate jobs and share profits with the community.

The people of Elaine are still finding ways to support one another and work for change. The historical narrative is extremely complicated. I know they may grow tired of repeating the stories but I pray they will not grow too weary. We know there is danger in having a single story. I believe it is important to keep working to expand the circle of people who are talking, teaching, and preaching to ensure the stories of the Elaine Massacre become more widely known and that efforts for healing and restoration advance.

Ending Racism USA pledges to help lift up the voices of Elaine and promote transformative justice as we go forward knowing, as Lenora Marshall, president of the Elaine Legacy Center, puts it: “We may not change the world but we will be a model for how the world can change.”