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The Spirit of Black Philanthropy
Issue 8 | August 2022
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In August, we celebrate Black Philanthropy Month and take time to recognize the lives, gifts, and sacrifices of Black people who embody a love for humanity, a pursuit for social change, and advancement for equity for those less fortunate.
It’s important to celebrate as well as contribute to Black Philanthropy Month. When looking at the numbers closely and looking at the hearts of those giving – both past and present – it wasn’t simply to get a tax break or leverage political power. Black people give with the thought of surviving and thriving. Whether it’s collecting love offerings at the church, awarding scholarships to our youth, or funding the Civil Rights Movement and its leaders, Black communities understand the necessity of giving.
I believe the love of humanity and giving is not just a past notion; “Giving Black” and Black philanthropy is vigorous and vibrant. Arkansas has and will benefit from a collaborative effort of the Black community giving to the most strenuous needs of the state and affecting social change. When united, Black philanthropy can be used as a catalyst for change in all communities in the state, regardless of geographical location, race, or creed.
We celebrate you for being a constant reminder that we need to be living epistles to the gospel of giving. Happy Black Philanthropy Month.
Derek Lewis II
President, Derek Lewis Foundation
Chair, Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative
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HAPPY BLACK PHILANTHROPY MONTH! | |
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Thank you to Mayor Frank Scott Jr. for officially proclaiming August as Black Philanthropy Month in Little Rock! Pictured along with Mayor Scott (top image, third from left) are members of the ABPC team and advisory committee.
Dr. Jacqueline Copeland-Carson, with the support of Reunity, established the month of August as Black Philanthropy Month in 2011. Since its inception, Black Philanthropy Month has engaged 19 million people across 60 different countries. Additionally, the United Nations and more than 45 governmental bodies have recognized and proclaimed that August is Black Philanthropy Month
Keep reading for more ways to get engaged this month and beyond!
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Black Philanthropy Month Reception
Tuesday, August 25, 2022
5:30 - 7 p.m.
Hearne Fine Art Gallery
1001 Wright Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72206
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Join the Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative as we celebrate the 400-year tradition of Black giving. We also invite you to participate by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Give Black Arkansas Fund. All gifts this month will be matched by the Arkansas Community Foundation and funds will be used to provide resources to Black-led organizations and programs that support Black communities in Arkansas.
You can make your gift of $25 or more at giveblackarkansas.org or by mailing a check of any amount to the Arkansas Community Foundation (5 Allied Drive, Suite 51110, Little Rock, AR 72202).
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ABPC Give Black Donor Event Series:
Mid-Career Professionals
in partnership with Think Rubix
Thursday, September 22, 2022
5:30 - 7 p.m.
Little Rock Technology Park
417 Main Street, Little Rock, AR 72201
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Whether it’s through a monthly bank draft to your favorite nonprofit or a one-time contribution to support a pressing need, giving to charitable causes is always worthwhile. But is there a more effective way to give that leads to greater impact? Join the Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative as we discuss how to integrate charitable giving into your professional portfolio and how we can collectively support communities of color through strategic giving. | |
ABPC Give Black Donor Event Series:
Young Professionals
in partnership with The Urban League of Arkansas
Thursday, October 20, 2022
5:30 - 7 p.m.
Main Street Pocket Park
711 Main Street, Little Rock, AR 72201
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Would you like to give more to the causes you care about but don’t know where to start? Learn from the Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative and other philanthropic professionals about how to create a habit of charitable giving – even before you land your dream job. | |
SAVE THE DATE:
ABPC Convening
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Little Rock Marriott
3 Statehouse Plaza, Little Rock, AR 72201
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Join the Arkansas Black Philanthropy Collaborative in Little Rock on Giving Tuesday as we explore the legacy of Black philanthropy with our keynote speaker, award-winning scholar and teacher Dr. Tyrone McKinley Freeman. Dr. Freeman is the author of Madam C.J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving: Black Women’s Philanthropy during Jim Crow.
Danyelle Sargent Musselman – philanthropist, former sports broadcaster, and First Lady of Arkansas Razorback basketball – will deliver the opening address.
There is no cost to attend, but space is limited. Registration opens in September.
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PIONEERS IN ARKANSAS BLACK PHILANTHROPY | |
In each issue of The Spirit of Black Philanthropy, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center brings attention to the history of giving in our community by spotlighting a Black philanthropic pioneer in Arkansas history. | | |
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Pickens Black
It’s often said that the best way to wealth is land ownership and this for certain was the case for Arkansas leader and philanthropist Pickens Black.
Pickens was born enslaved around 1861 in Gadsden, Alabama. His mother, Mary Johnston, and her second husband (Pickens’ father) were the slaves of a white plantation owner named Black. They took his surname.
Pickens moved to Arkansas as a teenager and held many jobs, but working on the railroad is where he was able to begin to save enough money to purchase land and acquire wealth. He purchased 40 acres to start and began to amass a fortune, becoming one of the wealthiest landowners and agriculturists of color in northeast Arkansas at that time.
Pickens married Emma Henderson around 1878, and together they raised four children and built quite an estate. The Black family amassed more than 8,000 acres of land and employed 360 families (Black and white) as sharecroppers. Pickens and his sons ran a plantation that included a cotton gin, sawmill, and grain elevator.
Pickens founded the unincorporated all-Black town of Blackville (Jackson County), located about 15 miles southeast of Newport. Blackville was a self-contained community with a shop, restaurants, churches, and businesses; it had everything but a post office.
In the early 1930s, problems with the consolidation of Blackville School District with the Newport School District caused the people of Blackville to build a new school with minimum outside assistance. Pickens donated nearly seven acres of land for the site. The African American community borrowed $16,000 from the Arkansas revolving loan fund. Funding was based on the value of the school district, which consisted mainly of Pickens’ holdings. The building was valued at $150,000 when completed. Pickens was also a member and donor to the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization.
On May 9, 1955, Pickens died in a Newport hospital after several months of illness. He was an entrepreneur, community developer, philanthropist, and advocate for education in Jackson County.
For more information about Pickens Black and other historical African American leaders and communities in Arkansas, stop by and visit Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. Admission is free, and its hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. To schedule a tour, visit mosaictemplarscenter.com.
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GET TO KNOW THE ABPC ADVISORY COMMITTEE | |
In each issue of this newsletter, we introduce you to a member of the ABPC advisory committee. Get to know the people behind the scenes who help make our work possible. | |
Rev. Shantell Hinton Hill
Rev. Shantell Hinton Hill is Senior Equity Officer at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. A native of Conway, Arkansas, Shantell obtained a Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University. Shantell relocated back to Arkansas from Nashville, Tennessee, in 2019.
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What does Black philanthropy mean to you?
Black philanthropy is the outward expression of the ontological understanding of ubuntu, which means “I am because we are.” Everything that I am is because of my ancestors and my community. For that reason, I owe it to them and myself to invest everything I can into building thriving Black futures that are resistant to white dominant modes of destruction and scarcity.
What excites you most about the future of Black philanthropy in Arkansas?
I think Black people are leaning into the understanding that “we got us” and really exploring what that means to create systems of investment and support for our communities.
What causes are you passionate about and in what ways do you support those causes?
I am very passionate about the wellness and wholeness of Black women. I spend a lot of time writing and making content to help free Black women and girls from the dangerous ideology of misogynoir. I also serve on various committees that focus on Black women/girls and have a mentee that I enjoy working with at WRF.
What do you love most about living in Arkansas?
I love being close to my immediate family. They are our village of support as we raise our baby daughter.
What do you love most about what you do?
I absolutely love dreaming up new ways to be supportive of people that philanthropy often overlooks.
What is the best part of your day?
Best part of my day is spending time nursing my daughter. That bond is indescribable.
What do you hope to be remembered for?
I hope to be remembered for my kindness and my capacity to think and love deeply.
What person, past or present, do you admire most?
I truly admire the honorable Octavia Butler and Toni Morrison. Their writing liberated so much of who I am becoming, and I’m grateful.
Tell us a little more about yourself.
In my spare time, I am a freelance writer/author and curator of digital content that centers the wholeness and thriving of Black women.
Favorite quote to live by:
“Do the work your soul must have.” –Rev. Katie G. Cannon, Ph.D.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN PHILANTHROPY | |
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Mosaic Templars Cultural Center hiring a Development Director
Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, a museum of the Division of Arkansas Heritage, seeks a Development Director. This position is responsible for coordinating fundraising activities, including developing funding proposals and identifying sources, soliciting funds, maintaining donor and prospective donor files, organizing money-raising events and campaigns, and preparing grant applications. This position also guides publicity of the museum, assisting in the creation of printed materials, public presentations, media releases, and the museum website.
Learn more about this opportunity on the State of Arkansas’s careers website.
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