The Delta Grassroots Caucus (DGC) is a broad coalition of grassroots leaders in the eight-state Delta region. DGC is also a founding partner of the Economic Equality Caucus,
which advocates for economic equality across the USA.

Hays Award for Civil Rights Champions Annie Abrams, C.C. Mercer, James Powell

Posted on October 06, 2007 at 02:31 AM

“Brooks Hays Award Honors Champions of the Civil Rights Movement: Annie Abrams, James Powell and C.C. Mercer on 50th Anniversary of Central High Crisis”

The Mississippi Delta Grassroots Caucus partners have a deep interest in and appreciation for those people who stood up for racial justice and equality during the historic years of the civil rights movement. We congratulate the three recipients of the Brooks Hays Award, presented by Second Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas: James Powell, editor of the old Arkansas Gazette from the late 1950s to the late 1980s; C.C. Mercer, an attorney and long-time civil rights leader in Arkansas; and Annie Abrams, who has been a community leader in Little Rock for nearly fifty years. During the Little Rock High school crisis, she was a friend and confidant of Daisy Bates, the woman who spearheaded the drive for integration of public schools in Little Rock.

This is a prestigious award named after the famous Congressman Brooks Hays, who stood up against the demagogical actions of Gov. Orval Faubus in trying to block desegregation in Arkansas. Previous winners of the Brooks Hays Award include former US Sen. Dale Bumpers.

I make no pretense of being objective in the case of James Powell, who is my father. He has been retired for many years and is getting on up there in age, and it was deeply gratifying to see him recognized by so many good people.

In 1982, Second Baptist Church of Little Rock, Arkansas established the Brooks Hays Memorial Christian Citizenship Award to recognize and encourage the application of the gospel in public service. This award also provides an ongoing memorial to Brooks Hays, United States Congressman for 16 years, past president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and former member of Second Baptist Church. This award is given annually to persons who have applied their Christian faith in the arena of public service in a profound way.

Second Baptist Church made the following statement about the award: “On September 30, 2007, Second Baptist Church marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Little Rock High school crisis by presenting the Brooks Hays Memorial Christian Citizenship Award to three inspiring and courageous individuals who stood on the side of equality during the tide of unreason that was sweeping the South in resistance to school desegregation. Our 2007 recipients were C.C. Mercer, James Powell, and Annie Abrams.”

C.C. Mercer is an attorney in Little Rock who was one of the first African-American graduates of the University of Arkansas Law School and drove one of the vehicles that took the Little Rock Nine to school as the crisis began. He also has a long history of involvement in issues of racial justice.

James Powell was editor of the old Arkansas Gazette in the years that followed the original crisis in 1957. The Arkansas Gazette was by far the largest newspaper in the state over those decades, and that great old newspaper was always a steadfast opponent of Gov. Orval Faubus’ demagogy and a stalwart friend to such enlightened leaders as Congressman Hays, Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller, Gov. and Sen. Dale Bumpers, Rep. Bill Alexander, and Gov. and President William Jefferson Clinton. James Powell has been a long time champion of civil rights, and helped influence public opinion on such vital issues for decades. We are also delighted that he is a member of Second Baptist Church.

Annie Abrams has been a community leader in Little Rock for nearly fifty years. During the Little Rock High school crisis, she was a friend and confidant of Daisy Bates, the woman who spearheaded the drive for integration of public schools in Little Rock. During the decades since that moment, she has chaired numerous councils and committees, and served on the boards of such organizations as the YWCA and the NAACP. She also served as the very first African-American president of the Little Rock Central High School PTA.

We commend Pastor Matt Cook for continuing in Second Baptist’s long tradition of support for racial justice and harmony.

The event in Little Rock last Sunday was attended by a large group of distinguished leaders in Arkansas including Ray Higgins, head of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Arkansas and also a former pastor for many years at Second Baptist Church. As many of you know, Ray has been a stalwart supporter of the Delta Grassroots Caucus and we appreciate all he does for the Delta and Arkansas in general. Thanks very much. Lee Powell, Executive Director, MDGC (202) 360-6347