ARKANSAS AUTHOR WRITES BOOK ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY FROM PINE BLUFF

By Rick Joslin/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

Judith Kilpatrick had never heard of the late Wiley Branton nor authored a book when she was first encouraged to write a biography of the famed civil rights attorney and Pine Bluff native a decade ago.

Kilpatrick, a professor and associate dean at the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville, decided to explore the possibility and began researching Branton, one of the first black graduates of the institution. An initial spark of interest turned into a flame, and the result is her book, “There When We Needed Him: Wiley Austin Branton, Civil Rights Warrior,” recently published by the University of Arkansas Press.

Here Saturday for a book signing at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Kilpatrick said the effort has become one of her proudest achievements, not only from a standpoint of personal accomplishment, but also because she’s introducing Branton to new generations that “need to know about this amazing man who did so much in so many areas of life with an endless energy.”

She said the notion of a Branton biography was generated by a complaint from Branton’s daughter-in-law on the 40th anniversary of the integration of Little Rock Central High School. Stephanie Branton was upset because her father-in-law wasn’t receiving what she considered due appreciation for his role in the 1957 integration.

Beth Motherwell of the UA Press agreed that Branton’s contributions to the Central milestone weren’t being given proper regard, and neither were his many other deeds. Motherwell then urged Kilpatrick to pen Branton’s biography.

Kilpatrick contacted Branton’s family, and in 1998 received permission to initiate the project.

“The family has been very helpful,” said Kilpatrick.

“It’s great to be able to get the book out for the 50th anniversary of Central’s integration.”

Kilpatrick has discovered that she enjoys researching and writing, and the work on Branton has stirred her into considering a second book.

As did Branton, Kilpatrick has “a lot of Indian blood.” She believes putting together a book on early Indian lawyers in Arkansas might be “an interesting challenge.”