Two monuments honoring historical African American figures were stolen from an Arkansas town just days after its first black mayor took office making people think the crimes were race related.

In a town where there was a black president before there was a black mayor, it's kind of hard to believe otherwise.

Mayor Brenda Davis became the town of Stamps' first black mayor. An act that took steps forward for the town took a few steps back when historical markers were snatched last month from a park right after Davis took office.

One stolen monument was a bronze marker that honored three African American state legislators. Two of the pioneering lawmakers were born slaves and represented the surrounding Lafayette County in the state legislature after the Civil War. The other stolen monument was a temporary marker in a park that honored the late, great Dr. Maya Angelou who was a native of Stamps.

“She’s a black female, the first in this town’s history,” City Hall clerk Laurie Gaines told HuffPost about the timing of the theft. “We don’t know if that had anything to do with the theft, but that’s just an odd thing to happen because they’ve been out there, the permanent one had been out there for maybe a year, or a year and a half.”

The theft was very discouraging to Mayor Davis and reportedly brought tears to her eyes.

“I don’t understand,” Davis said. “I don’t know if it’s a message because I’m the first African American woman as mayor. It makes you wonder, but I wouldn’t speculate.”

The Arkansas Historic Commission has agreed to replace the stolen bronze monument, which will cost about $2,000 and should be finished in January.

Despite the act of cowardice, black folks have a role in history that won't be replaced.

Brenda Davis

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