ABOUT US
NWA Black Heritage is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to addressing and correcting the inequalities Black communities face in Northwest Arkansas. We do this by preserving, documenting, and promoting the rich heritage and culture of Black communities in the region. Our mission is to fill gaps in our recorded history while revealing what has guided the racist practices embedded in the American social construct.
To correct this racist culture, we conduct research, document histories, and educate our community on the often overlooked and intentionally suppressed contributions and experiences of Black individuals in Northwest Arkansas. Our focus is on charitable, scientific, and educational purposes. We collaborate with organizations and individuals to reveal the stories of our ancestors and bolster our community's sense of pride and place.
The organization was co-founded in 2008 by the late Melba Lene Smith and Sharon Killian. Melba Smith was a distinguished advocate for Black life both at home and abroad, working to end apartheid, supporting women in developing countries, and writing the history of her ancestors who were enslaved in Washington County, AR. Her grandfather, James Hoover, was a leader in the Black community at Spout Spring/Willow Avenue in Fayetteville, which is the only remaining African American community of the vast number that began throughout the region after the brutal and racist system of American slavery. Sharon Killian now serves as president of the Board and continues to uplift regional communities by centering their art, creating public murals, and teaching gallery practices. She is an essential thought leader in matters of diversity for Crystal Bridges and the Momentary and positively impacts the arts ecosystem in our region.
Melba Lene Smith, 1945 - 2014
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Acknowledgments
Our Board of Directors
Sharon Killian is an award-winning artist, community advocate, and educator. Sharon is passionate about filling in and correcting the historical record of Black history and heritage in Northwest Arkansas where she visited for 14 years before relocating in 2005 as an “empty nester”. She understands that Black history and heritage in the region has suffered the system of erasure immediately set into place in 1865, that it is challenging work to undo or mitigate, and that it must be done by everyone with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in mind. Her work as president of both NWA African American Heritage Association (NWA Black Heritage) and Art Ventures NWA melds culture with art and promotes culturally and historically informed conversation and creative engagement locally, regionally and nationally.
Sharon Killian
Caree A. Banton is an Associate Professor of African Diaspora History and Director of the African and African American Studies Program at the University of Arkansas. Her research focuses on movements toward freedom, particularly abolition, emancipation, and colonization. Her book, More Auspicious Shores: Barbadian Migration to Liberia, Blackness, and the Making of the African Republic, explores continuities and mutability in Black experiences of freedom, citizenship, nationhood, and race across the Atlantic world. In addition, Banton hosts a podcast called "Undisciplined" that examines African and African American studies in everyday life.
Caree Banton, Ph.D
Phil Deffebaugh is a lifelong Fayetteville resident and a proud member of the historic Black community east of the Square. His late mother, Lodene Fisher Deffebaugh (1922- 2004), played a pivotal role in the desegregation of Fayetteville's middle schools in 1965, a legacy that continues to shape the city’s progress today. Phil began his education at Lincoln Elementary for Black students before attending Woodland Junior High and graduating from Fayetteville High School in 1970. He later attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, before pursuing professional and travel opportunities that ultimately led him back to Fayetteville. During his 28½-year tenure at Tyson Foods, Phil served as a trustee on the board of the Donald W. Reynolds Boys & Girls Club, where he played an instrumental role in developing the state-of-the-art community facility that continues to serve Fayetteville families. In 2016, he also contributed to NWABH’s efforts to interview community elders, helping preserve vital local history—a role he held until stepping back to focus on family.
Phil Deffebaugh
Joann L. Goodley is an independent business owner and professional hairstylist with over 25 years of experience in Fayetteville. She has a deep interest in the history and heritage of the Black historic neighborhood in the Spout Run/Willow Avenue area, where her childhood home is located. Her family has held onto the house as a record of their persistence and existence. Goodley attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1977. She joined the Historic District Commission of the City of Fayetteville in October 2021.
Joann L. Goodley
Wendell Scurlock has over 9 years of experience in technology and digital services at Walmart and Sam's Club. He is a Staff Technical Program Manager at Sam's Club, specifically for Fresh Merchandising and End of Life Infrastructure. Wendell started his career with Walmart in 2013 as part of the Rotational Leadership Program, which allowed him to gain knowledge in security, business analysis, and support/ops areas. He has also worked on mergers and acquisitions with Jet/Moosejaw/Hayneedle and Walmart Pay. Wendell previously served in the United States Airforce from 2006-2010 as an F-15 and F-10 Crew Chief. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Information Systems/Management and many certifications related to agile methodologies and data science. Wendell is also interested in social responsibility, human rights, veteran assistance, community enrichment, fitness, music, and art.
Wendell Scurlock
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