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History of Sundown Towns: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTrxAKpVi3Q
Harrison, Arkansa is deemed the most racist town in America. Is the title warranted?
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Nestled in the Ozark Mountains,
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Harrison, Arkansas is home to
0:03
approximately 13,000 residents. Despite
0:06
its pictures setting, Harrison has long
0:08
been burdened with the label of
0:10
America's most racist town. This
0:12
reputation stems from a series of
0:14
historical events and the presence of
0:16
white supremist organizations in the
0:18
vicinity. Harrison was home to some
0:20
famous billboards that greet visitors
0:22
upon entering the town. I mean, you
0:24
probably have seen some of them. But
0:26
Harrison is also the hometown of Miss
0:28
Arkansas 2022, Ebony Mitchell. And she
0:31
also became the face of Harrison. So
0:33
what's the deal with this town? Does it
0:35
truly deserve the title the most racist
0:37
town in America? Hi, my name is Jared
0:39
and welcome to Black Excellence. We
0:41
explore where and how black people live
0:43
in America with some nods to noteworthy
0:45
moments in black history. In the early
0:48
1900s, Harrison experienced two
0:50
significant race riots that profoundly
0:53
impacted its demographic composition.
0:55
The first occurred in 1905 when economic
0:58
hardships exacerbated by the bankruptcy
1:00
of the St. Louis and North Arkansas
1:03
Railroad led to heightened racial
1:05
tensions. A white mob attacked the black
1:07
community, burning homes and threatening
1:09
residents, resulting in the expulsion of
1:12
nearly all African-Americans from the
1:14
town. A second riot in 1909 further
1:16
cemented this exodus, leaving Harrison
1:18
as a predominantly white community and
1:21
establishing its reputation as a sundown
1:24
town. I recently did a video on sundown
1:26
towns across America. If you missed that
1:28
video, I'll leave a link in the
1:29
description box below this video.
1:32
According to the 2020 census, Harrison
1:34
has a population of 13,000 people. 88%
1:38
are white. Guess the black percentage.
1:40
Less than 1% are black. That's
1:44
0.41%. I mean, the demographic breakdown
1:47
literally said there are just 53 black
1:50
people in the whole town. Decades later,
1:53
Harrison's proximity to the headquarters
1:54
of the Knights of the Klux Clan, as you
1:57
guys know, the KKK, further tarnished
1:59
its image. The presence of these
2:01
organizations perpetuated the town's
2:03
association with racism, overshadowing
2:06
the efforts of many residents who oppose
2:08
these ideologies. I mean, what Harrison
2:11
is most famous for is those billboards.
2:13
In 2013, a billboard appeared in
2:15
Harrison bearing the message, "At
2:17
anti-racist is a code word for
2:19
anti-white." This slogan, of course, is
2:22
associated with white nationalist
2:24
ideologies and has been linked to the
2:26
white genocide conspiracy theory.
2:28
Another billboard displayed the message,
2:30
"Diversity is a code word for white
2:32
genocide," reinforcing white supremacist
2:35
narratives. This sign further cemented
2:37
Harrison's association with racist
2:39
ideologies. In 2015, a billboard
2:42
promoting white pride radio was put up
2:45
along Highway 65 near Harrison. The sign
2:48
featured white nationalist imagery and
2:50
directed viewers to a website supporting
2:53
white supremacist views. A more recent
2:55
billboard displayed the message, "It's
2:58
not racist to love your people." A
3:00
phrase often used in white nationalist
3:02
circles to promote racial segregation
3:04
under the disguise of cultural pride.
3:07
National media outlets have highlighted
3:09
Harrison's struggles with these
3:10
billboards, often referring to the town
3:12
in the context of racism and white
3:15
supremacy. As of recent reports, some of
3:18
the offensive billboards have been
3:19
removed, reflecting ongoing efforts to
3:22
improve the town's image. Recognizing
3:24
the detrimental impact of this
3:26
reputation on the community's social and
3:29
economic well-being, then Mayor Bob
3:31
Reynolds established the Harrison
3:33
Community Task Force on race relations.
3:36
This group, comprising local clergy and
3:38
volunteers, aimed to address the town's
3:40
past and promote a more inclusive
3:42
future. Confronting the past, the task
3:44
force undertook various initiatives to
3:47
foster dialogue and understanding. They
3:50
organized events such as the annual
3:51
Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations
3:54
and educational programs to raise
3:56
awareness about the importance of
3:58
diversity. However, these efforts were
4:00
met with resistance from extremist
4:02
groups, highlighting the challenges of
4:04
changing long-standing perceptions. In
4:07
July 2020, amidst nationwide protest for
4:10
racial justice, filmmaker Rob Bliss
4:13
visited Harrison and stood with a Black
4:15
Lives Matter sign. The reactions he
4:17
captured, ranging from support to overt
4:19
hostility, garnered millions of views
4:22
online, reigniting discussions about the
4:24
town's racial climate. While the video
4:26
showcased instances of racism, local
4:29
leaders argued that it did not represent
4:31
the community's collective efforts
4:33
towards inclusivity. Despite these
4:35
challenges, Harrison continues to strive
4:37
for change. The community has hosted
4:40
events promoting unity and has worked to
4:42
counteract negative stereotypes.
4:45
Collaborations with organizations like
4:47
the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr.
4:49
Commission have brought programs to the
4:51
town, aiming to educate and inspire
4:53
residents towards a more inclusive
4:55
future. Like we talked about at the
4:57
beginning, Harrison also had a new face
4:59
representing it. Miss Arkansas 2022.
5:02
Ebony Mitchell, who hails from Harrison,
5:05
has been actively involved in efforts to
5:08
remove offensive billboards and improve
5:10
the town's image. Her involvement
5:12
underscores a community's desire to move
5:15
beyond past associations and foster a
5:18
more inclusive environment. Harrison's
5:20
history is undeniably marred by episodes
5:22
of racial intolerance. However, the
5:24
town's ongoing efforts to confront its
5:26
past and promote inclusivity demonstrate
5:29
a commitment to change. While the label
5:31
of America's most racist town lingers,
5:34
and maybe they shouldn't have it,
5:36
because I'm sure there's a lot of other
5:37
towns that would give this name a run
5:39
for its money, the action of many
5:41
Harrison residents reflect the desire to
5:44
build a community where all are welcome
5:46
and valued. That's it for this episode.
5:49
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5:50
subscribe and leave a comment. We love
5:53
to read your comments and respond back
5:55
to them and get your thoughts. We'll see
5:58
you on the next one.
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