Ouachita County Courthouse celebrates Black History with door decorating contest

Photo By: Michael Hanich
Ouachita County Courthouse is adorned with portraits of famous Black Americans painted by Emily Moll Wood.
Photo By: Michael Hanich Ouachita County Courthouse is adorned with portraits of famous Black Americans painted by Emily Moll Wood.

The Ouachita County Courthouse received a glow up this month, courtesy of a door decorating contest in honor of Black History Month.

The lobby of the courthouse is adorned with portraits of famous Black Americans painted by Emily Moll Wood, an artist who resides in Little Rock, but grew up in Camden.

Additionally, the doors of various offices are decorated with photos for a contest to be judged later.

Shonekia Davis, a domestic clerk for Ouachita County, showcased the door of the Ouachita County Clerk's Office.

"It was a group effort. We all pretty much put our own little touches to it. We also wanted to honor women from the past, present and the younger generation coming up," she said of the decorations.

Davis said Black History motivates her in everyday life.

"It gives me hope. A chance to keep going, despite of all the things these ladies that paved the way for us endured. It makes you want to be better," she said.

Ouachita County Assessor Tonya McKenzie also chose to honor women's achievements with her doors that highlight Black "Her-story," one with famous entertainers and another with political figures.

"I have senators, I have poets, I have civil rights leaders, educators and that's the thing on my door. So both of these doors are connected with each other. This one is more on the political side," she said as she showed off the decorations.

McKenzie said that, like Davis, she also feels a deep personal connection with Black history.

"It's my heritage. It's everything. It's me. It's my roots. It's my drive. It's my legacy," she said.

McKenzie said Black History Month is important to her because it highlighted achievements many people might not know about.

"I think it's great. I think this is the first time, that I know of, that this has been done in the courthouse. A long time coming. It probably should have been done here way before now. I think it's really great that's its -- because it is part of our history, American History," McKenzie stated. "People need to know about the contributions that Black Americans have made throughout history because they have invented pretty much everything from lights to peanut butter to Zoom. A lady even invented the Zoom technology that we use for video conferencing. There are a lot of contributions that we have made in history and it needs to get out there. It shouldn't just be one day, or one month of the year. Like they say, it's every day --365 days a year."

photo Photo By: Michael Hanich Ouachita County Assessor Tonya McKenzie has two doors decorated, one highlighting Black American's contributions to entertainment and a second door with political figures.
photo Photo By: Michael Hanich The door of the Circuit Clerk focuses on past, present and future generations of Black history makers.

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