Why Does So Much of Little Rock's Recent History With Race and Racism Get Forgotten? How Does That Lack Of Awareness Impact The City’s Current Power Struggles And Continuing Turmoil?

A talk by Frederick McKindra – fiction writer, essayist, past president of Central High School, editor at Oxford American and journalist at Arkansas Times.

As Little Rock continues to grapple with the legacy of Southern racism's impact on our public schools, a hollowing city core and ongoing turmoil at City Hall, join us February 27 to hear the thoughts and reflections of Frederick McKindra who returned to Little Rock a few years ago after years of living in Washington, D.C., and New York City.  His essay “Becoming Integrated” from the Fall 2017 issue of the Oxford American was listed as a Notable Essay in Best American Essays 2018, edited by Hilton Als. A 2017 BuzzFeed Emerging Writer Fellow, McKindra has received support from the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference and the Lambda Literary Foundation. 

Don’t miss hearing McKindra’s unique perspective on life and times in the capital city and his approach in his recent reporting for the Arkansas Times and what he hopes to learn and accomplish with that reporting.    Last year, with the support of generous donors,  Arkansas Times was able to hire Frederick as a contributing writer and will be adding a full time journalist focused on racial equity in July. The  Times  is committed to deepening our community’s awareness and understanding of racial equity issues.

All proceeds from this event benefit the Arkansas Times Investigative Reporting Fund.

Event Details
Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025
Time: Lunch served at 11:30 AM | Lecture begins at 12:00 PM
Location: Copper Grill, Little Rock

About this Series
Our monthly speaker series brings newsmakers, policymakers, and seasoned political observers together for a behind-the-scenes look at the most pressing issues facing Arkansas. These lunch lectures raise money for the Arkansas Times Investigative Journalism Project. 100% of the proceeds will support expanding our newsroom, ensuring our capacity to hold leaders accountable and keep Arkansans informed.

With a shifting political landscape and critical decisions looming, the need for in-depth, unbiased reporting has never been greater. Your support enables us to grow our staff and strengthen our investigative capacity, making the Arkansas Times a vital journalistic watchdog.

In-person tickets are $100 and include lunch in the private dining room at the Copper Grill. Attendance is capped at 75, and previous events have sold out—so please don’t wait to secure your seat.

Doors open at 11:30, and the Copper Grill buffet begins immediately afterward. Frederick will start shortly before noon, followed by a Q&A session. We will wrap up by 1 p.m. Virtual tickets are $50, providing you with Zoom access to the event and the opportunity to stay informed, no matter where you are.