‘All In’: Freedom Fund Banquet calls for action in democracy

PHOTO: Vivian Flowers, mayor-elect of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, was the keynote speaker for the 2024 Freedom Fund Banquet held in Arkadelphia. | Courtesy photo

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Pine Bluff Mayor-elect Vivian Flowers was the speaker for the 33rd annual Freedom Fund Banquet hosted by the Clark County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). An estimated 250 attendees were present for the November banquet, held in the Garrison Ballroom on the campus of Henderson State University.

Flowers’ speech centered around the banquet theme “All In.” She set the context by explaining how she lost her third election for high school class president, when she got comfortable with her success after being told by her classmates that she had her third election “in the bag”. As a result, she failed to campaign as aggressively as she had in her previous two campaigns, despite having a challenger in her third. 

The moral of the story is that you must be all in — when it comes to voting, when it comes to preserving our democracy, when it comes to teaching our youth and getting them involved in the community. 

Flowers talked about the many excuses that keep us from being involved, which in effect is our way of failing to be all in. When you are not all in, you cannot hope for results that reflect that you were. It was an inspiring and encouraging message that will take the community and members of the Clark County Branch NAACP into the new year.

Bell honored for helping charter Malvern chapter

Next, Jimmie Lea, president of Malvern’s NAACP branch, gave a tribute to Clark County NAACP president Bruce Bell. Lea said Bell had been a major source of information and support when the Malvern NAACP Branch was chartered on Feb. 2, 2024. Lea also mentioned that Bell was a tireless worker who would eventually fight tooth and nail against a divisive 1/2-cent economic development sales tax that ultimately led to a Blue Print initiative intended to promote and grow small businesses.

In closing remarks, Bell encouraged the new president-elect, Earnestine Hatley, that his efforts and support would be there for her as she takes over her official duties at the beginning of the year. Bell also thanked the Clark County Republican Party for being supportive of the annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet, also challenging the local Republican party to push back on any legislation that would terminate Diversity Equity Inclusion policies, an issue currently being discussed in the state legislature.

Bell had special recognitions for his initial secretary, Janice Turner, as well as current secretary, Leslie Bohn; and Rosboro Hendrix Jr., who has served as branch treasurer for approximately 20 years. The annual President’s Award went to John Ware.

See more recognitions in the gallery below. To navigate, simply click the arrow at either side of an image.