Spring Break \’08: Arkansas

Good morning. Made it to Stephens, Arkansas Sunday evening, but not by the route planned. Actually, more like the scenic, route 1.

The plane delay at GSO airport was unreal. No snow. Chilly, but apparently Atlanta was still recovering from a day earlier blast of snow and ice. So the attendant, after a 75 minute stand in line, routed us to Cinnacinati (where there was a LOT of snow).

The Little Rock High School (where Gov. Fabus ordered the National Guardstood and where armed soldiers from the US Army airborne unit, ordered in by President Eisenhower, with bayonnetts attached to M-1 rifles, stopped little African American kids from attending school), is still standing in a broken down neighborhood. Sad. Sad, that so many had to fight for the right to go to school and from what I saw no one would send their kids their today. Pictures to follow.

Anyway, the Capital building of Little Rock is impressive. Will look for the Bill Clinton library on the way back.

The drive to Stephens from Little Rock is L O N G. About three hours. Nothing along the way except trailers, junk yards, abandoned cars and, of course, Confederate flags all over the place. (did, see, however, a billboard with notification that the place is the home of legendary Alabama coach ‘Bear’ Bryant). Picture will be posted.

Met with host Dr. Linda Tucker and her husband Russ at their horse farm around 6pm. What a nice set of colleagues (humanities, Southern Arkansas University).

And, as you will see in photographs I rode a BIG horse (1st time ever)!!!

OK, off to SAU for a Monday morning lecture and then over to Stephens High School to meet with officials there and then wait to greet the Wake students driving over to day from Starkville, Mississippi. Should be here around 2pm.

Sincerely,

Prof. Earl Smith