Journalism Student Neba Evans to Present 'A Song of the Bluff' Today

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Neba Evans

Neba Evans, a graduate student of the U of A's Journalism and Strategic Media master's program, will present her work on a documentary about Pine Bluff at 11 a.m. today, Sept. 7, via Zoom. Those interested in viewing the presentation live or watching the recording after the event can register online. This presentation is part of the Graduate Student Speaker Series, a collaborative project between the Graduate School and International Education and the University Libraries Special Collections Division. 

'A Song of the Bluff' will share local historian Jimmy Cunningham's journey to transform the city's reputation from decay to excellence. Once a location of prominence, the rural town of Pine Bluff is now considered by some to be one of the most "dangerous" cities in the state. The economic wealth has decreased, crime and poverty have soared and the population continues to migrate elsewhere. Cunningham, a Pine Bluff native, aims to change that. In this documentary, he will have to team up with local organizations and produce a compelling exhibit to show that this land, where Elvis Presley and Bobby Rush lived, should not be forgotten, but reborn. 

"I utilized the Special Collections materials as an outset of my research about the city," Evans said. "The documents gave me invaluable insights to the creation and life of residents in Pine Bluff when the town was first erected. I want this presentation to embody hope. I want this to change some perspectives about what people know about the city and show the wonderful work that Pine Bluff residents are doing to excel their town."  

Materials Evans used in her research include Pine Bluff and Jefferson County, a Pictorial History (J.W. Leslie, 1981) and Pine Bluff: The Metropolis of Southeast Arkansas (G.C. Merkel, 1936).  

The Graduate Student Speaker Series debuted in fall 2018 as a platform for students to share the research they have conducted using Special Collections materials. Graduate students from all majors who are interested in presenting on the research they have done using Special Collections materials are encouraged to visit the speaker series webpage to learn more and apply to present.