Hoxie The First Stand

08/08/2026

Sharing the Story of Hoxie

On Wednesday, August 5, Ethel Tompkins and Frances Green visited with the monthly community senior meal group at Seventh and Mueller Church of Christ in Paragould. The meal was held in the church’s Family Room and sponsored by the senior adult group, the SM Evergreens.

At the invitation of Karan Summitt, Ethel gave a short presentation about the 1955 Hoxie School Integration and the mission of the Hoxie: The First Stand Museum. Karan previously interviewed Ethel for an article about Hoxie’s historic school integration that appeared in NEA Premiere Magazine.

It was a wonderful opportunity to share Hoxie’s story with members of the community and to continue conversations about the people and events that made this important moment in civil rights history possible.

Pictured:
📷 Ethel Tompkins with Jim Powell, Seniors Minister, who served as emcee for the event.(top left)
📷 Frances Green with Linda (Lawson) Carter, whose sister was one of Frances’s classmates during the 1955 integration. (bottom left)
📷 The Hoxie Colored School in 1955.
📷 Guests gathered for the community meal.

07/11/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the Hoxie Schools integration and celebrate the first anniversary of the museum! We were grateful to see many longtime supporters, meet new friends, and spend the day sharing the story of Hoxie.

Days like this remind us that preserving history is a community effort. Every visit, conversation, and show of support helps us continue telling the story of Hoxie's First Stand and why it still matters today.

A special thank you to everyone who became a Friend of the Museum with a donation. Hoxie: The First Stand is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization, and our work is made possible by the generosity of people who believe this history should be preserved and shared.

If you'd like to support the museum, you can become a Friend of the Museum with a donation of as little as $5 and have your name added to our donor wall. Stop by the museum or send us a message to learn more.

Thank you for helping us preserve Hoxie's story for future generations.

07/11/2026

We are excited! Drop-in any time from 11:00 to 1:00 to visit with students who were in school during the integration—71 years ago today!!

Celebrate the 71st Anniversary of the Integration of Hoxie Schools

Commemorating a Landmark in American History

Saturday, July 11
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Hoxie First Stand Museum
Stop by for a drop-in reception and help commemorate the 71st Anniversary of the Integration of Hoxie Schools, one of the most significant moments in the history of public education in the South.

Meet Former Students
Visit with former students, including Ethel Tompkins, and hear firsthand memories of this historic event.

Learn More About the Museum
Mica Knight and Leslie Reed will be available to visit with individuals and businesses interested in becoming a Friend of the Museum.

Become a Friend of the Museum
As little as a $5 donation makes you an official Friend of the Museum and demonstrates your support for preserving the story of how a small Arkansas town chose to do the right thing—helping change the course of public education across the South.

Your support helps preserve this remarkable chapter of American civil rights history for future generations.

Everyone is welcome!

Hoxie First Stand Museum
Saturday, July 11 • 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

07/10/2026

Congratulations to Ms. Ethel Tompkins, who was honored this spring with the President’s Award at the Ozark Gateway Region’s 2026 Annual Banquet for her leadership in tourism and persevering Hoxie’s history! Her beautiful award is now on display at the Hoxie: The First Stand Museum.

We invite you to stop by tomorrow for a drop-in reception to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the Hoxie Schools integration and visit with Ms. Tompkins and others who were students during this remarkable moment in 1955.

The reception will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and museum tours will be available from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome. We hope you'll join us to hear these remarkable stories and celebrate this important chapter in Hoxie’s history.

07/08/2026

Celebrate the 71st Anniversary of the Integration of Hoxie Schools

Commemorating a Landmark in American History

Saturday, July 11
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Hoxie First Stand Museum
Stop by for a drop-in reception and help commemorate the 71st Anniversary of the Integration of Hoxie Schools, one of the most significant moments in the history of public education in the South.

Meet Former Students
Visit with former students, including Ethel Tompkins, and hear firsthand memories of this historic event.

Learn More About the Museum
Mica Knight and Leslie Reed will be available to visit with individuals and businesses interested in becoming a Friend of the Museum.

Become a Friend of the Museum
As little as a $5 donation makes you an official Friend of the Museum and demonstrates your support for preserving the story of how a small Arkansas town chose to do the right thing—helping change the course of public education across the South.

Your support helps preserve this remarkable chapter of American civil rights history for future generations.

Everyone is welcome!

Hoxie First Stand Museum
Saturday, July 11 • 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

07/01/2026

Stop by this Saturday!

06/20/2026

06/19/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first annual Juneteenth Celebration, Hoxie: The First Stand! 🎉

We were honored to hear an inspiring keynote address from Dr. Carmen Lanos Williams and to learn from Darlene Moore as we reflected on the importance of preserving and celebrating our local heritage.

A special thank-you goes to Moore’s Rentals for sponsoring this year’s event and helping make the day possible.

We are grateful for the community’s support and enthusiasm and look forward to continuing this meaningful tradition for years to come. ❤️🖤💚

06/19/2026

Today’s celebration is in full swing! The first screening begins at 11:00 followed by our featured speakers around noon!

Don’t worry if you can’t make it right at the scheduled start time. The presentations are being held in the Ethel Tompkins Exhibit Hall, just beyond the lobby, so you won’t be walking into an audience if you arrive late. 🙂

The day's programming begins at 11:00 a.m. with a screening of Hoxie: The First Stand, Dr. Applebee's award-winning documentary exploring the story of the 1955 integration of Hoxie Public Schools and the community's role in one of the earliest successful school integration efforts in the nation.

Following the film, attendees will hear presentations focused on the history of Juneteenth, local and national civil rights movements, and the importance of historical artifact preservation in protecting and sharing our stories for future generations.

The program will also feature a special screening of Right in the Sight of God, the award-winning documentary by museum board member Terrence Ward that examines the events surrounding the integration of Hoxie Public Schools and their lasting impact on civil rights history.

The museum will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., providing visitors the opportunity to explore exhibits that preserve and interpret the story of Hoxie's role in advancing educational equality.

✨Admission is free and all are welcome!!✨

Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
Museum Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Program Begins: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Hoxie: The First Stand Museum, 602 SW Lawrence Street, Hoxie, Arkansas 72433

Come celebrate freedom, honor history, and reflect on the enduring legacy of those who helped shape a more just future.

06/19/2026

Today is the day! 🎉 Happy Juneteenth! ♥️🖤💚

We’d love to see you at our celebration today! Feel free to stop by whenever it works for you—whether you can stay for the entire event or just a few minutes. Every visit means a lot, and we look forward to celebrating with you!

The day's programming begins at 11:00 a.m. with a screening of Hoxie: The First Stand, Dr. Applebee's award-winning documentary exploring the story of the 1955 integration of Hoxie Public Schools and the community's role in one of the earliest successful school integration efforts in the nation.

Following the film, attendees will hear presentations focused on the history of Juneteenth, local and national civil rights movements, and the importance of historical artifact preservation in protecting and sharing our stories for future generations.

The program will also feature a special screening of Right in the Sight of God, the award-winning documentary by museum board member Terrence Ward that examines the events surrounding the integration of Hoxie Public Schools and their lasting impact on civil rights history.

The museum will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., providing visitors the opportunity to explore exhibits that preserve and interpret the story of Hoxie's role in advancing educational equality.

✨Admission is free and all are welcome!!✨

Date: Friday, June 19, 2026
Museum Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Program Begins: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Hoxie: The First Stand Museum, 602 SW Lawrence Street, Hoxie, Arkansas 72433

Come celebrate freedom, honor history, and reflect on the enduring legacy of those who helped shape a more just future.