02/25/2026
As comes to a close, we’re honored to recognize Black leaders from the states we serve. Their courage and leadership inspire people everywhere who stand up for justice and equality.
Missouri’s history includes powerful leaders in civil rights and labor advocacy. Frankie Muse Freeman, a St. Louis civil rights attorney, led the case that ended racial discrimination in St. Louis public housing and became the first Black woman appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. St. Louis labor organizer Ora Lee Malone helped unionize Black women garment workers and became the first Black international representative of her union, bridging labor and civil rights movements.
Arkansas is home to influential figures whose impact still shapes education and scientific progress. Samuel P. Massie, a pioneering chemist and the first Black professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, contributed vital research toward treatments for diseases such as malaria and meningitis. Charlotte Andrews Stephens, the first Black teacher in the Little Rock School District, devoted more than 70 years to public education, and her legacy lives on through the school that bears her name.
Oklahoma’s Black history makers include courageous voices in journalism and education. William Henry Twine, publisher of the Muskogee Cimeter, used his newspaper to challenge racial violence in the early 20th century. Ira DeVoyd Hall, an educator and entrepreneur, became the first public school superintendent of the all‑Black town of Clearview before founding a real estate company focused on expanding Black homeownership.
Kansas has been shaped by storytellers and advocates committed to representation and justice. Lucile H. Bluford, a journalist and civil rights champion, spent decades at the Kansas City Call fighting for school desegregation and increased political representation. Fort Scott native Gordon Parks became the first Black photojournalist at LIFE magazine before evolving into a renowned filmmaker and author, using his art to document Black life and expose racial injustice.
We are grateful to everyone who upholds equality and dignity for all, and we honor them today and every day.
