Author Tim Spofford will discuss What the Children Told Us, his sweeping biography of pioneering Black psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark (a Hot Springs native), at noon, Tuesday, March 21, at the Garland County Library. The Clarks developed the famous doll test, the path-breaking experiment that played a key role in the landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling against segregated school systems. For the Clarks, this was just the opening act in their struggle for justice and racial integration.
Spofford will also explore the Clarks’ connections to Hot Springs. The daughter of a prominent Black physician, Mamie Phipps Clark was born in Hot Springs and attended St. Gabriel’s School and Langston High School. The Clarks returned to Hot Springs to conduct half of their Doll Test research with students at Douglas School.
The Clarks’ decades of impassioned advocacy, their inspiring marriage, and their enduring work shine a light on the power of passion in an unjust world.
A reception for Spofford will be held from 4 PM – 6 PM the same day in Room 201-202 at the Hot Springs Convention Center. His appearances are sponsored by the Garland County Historical Society, the Gateway Community Association, and community partners. Visit Facebook: Garland County Historical Society for more historical information about Garland County.
