OUR MISSION
To unapologetically share the beauty and rich heritage of amazingly diverse Black Arkansans and to better foster cooperative and collective advancement of the people.
OUR VISION
To inspire all to a deeper collective love and appreciation for the contributions of Black Arkansans to the culture of Arkansas.
WHAT IS NOIRE®?
NOIRE® is the premiere publication and online space for news and culture for, by, and about African-Americans in Arkansas. NOIRE® is the voice of black folk desperate to see, hear and share stories from our perspective. And we show and tell these stories, beautifully. NOIRE® fills the void for rich, beautiful content in written and pictorial form in both print and online mediums and is a work of art everyone will be proud to display.
Established in 2023 and published quarterly by communications and media executives Stephanie Bass Jackson and Myron Jackson through Jackson and Jackson Publishing, LLC, NOIRE® brings us stories of triumph, heartache, celebration, grief, hope, and aspiration, and always leaves us wanting more. Each issue, NOIRE® features content that’s hot and relevant for the culture, of course. And we always keep the content fresh, thought-provoking, and exciting at NOIRE. This is our news, our culture, our time.
We Take Pride in Our Impact
Historical
Arkansas has a rich history of African American contributions to civil rights and culture. Notably, the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine Black students, played a significant role in the desegregation of public schools in the United States when they integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957.
Cultural
African American community in Arkansas has a vibrant cultural heritage, which includes music, dance, and cuisine. Innovative musicians, for example, have deep roots in the state, with the likes of Pharoah Sanders and Louis Jordan, Florence Price, Al Green and Sister Rosetta Tharpe hailing from the area.
Civil Rights
Arkansas was a focal point for the civil rights movement. In addition to the Little Rock Nine, figures like Daisy Bates, who was an activist and mentor to the Little Rock Nine, played a vital role in the fight for racial equality.
Religious
The Black community in Arkansas has a strong presence in the church. The state has many historically significant Black churches and religious leaders, including Charles Harrison Mason (COGIC), who have been influential in the spiritual and civil rights aspects of the state and country.
Our Partners
LABOR
OF LOVE
Uniting forces to create a masterpiece requires many things: vision, creativity, commitment, planning, alliances, patience, participation and execution. These ingredients, and more, were certainly in the mix during the making of this inaugural issue. Publishers Stephanie and Myron Jackson began assembling their editorial team at the end of 2022 and the rest, as they say, is the history you hold in your hands. We will not soon forget the moments that led to our launch – so check out a few of our behind-the-scenes memories that helped take NOIRE from dream to reality.