Little Rock and Central High School, even 50 years later, are indicative of the racism we are still trying to deny today.  Many of us were born and raised in a society where institutional racism is alive and flourishing still.  As a white woman, I carry white privilege everywhere I go.  This is something I am not proud of by any means.  I was born in Germany and grew up in a multi-racial family.  When we moved to the United States, my family HAD to live in a segregated community.  I received only a small “taste” of racism, but because I am Caucasian, it was something I did not have to live 24/7.  I came to this country just about 50 years ago, so I have grown up with racism all around me.  This country that I now call my own was born and grew up espousing that not all are created equal, even though it is clearly stated so in our Constitution.  I have had the privilege of confronting my own racism and am still learning to move past such uncalled for violence.  To denigrate another and silence their voice because that individual does not reflect me physically and culturally is, in my opinion, the most damning of the kind of violence that is still persuasive in our country.  To deny this is going on is ludicrous.  When I do not speak up I am just as responsible as the person who acts on their racist beliefs.  Out of sight is certainly NOT out of mind.  Racism equals violence, period.  How many of us caucasians would have had the courage to do what the Little Rock Nine students did, not just that day but throughout that school years and all of the school years which followed?  

What I have learned is that I must confront my own racism, and acknowledge the eternal harm which is caused by my actions and inactions to another before I can make the necessary changes within myself.  Ignorance is certainly not bliss, not for those who are on the receiving end of this type of ignorance.  I can only hope and pray that each of us will acknowledge the irreparable harm racism does to another.  It has been said when we do not learn from our mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them.  What will it take for us to learn?

Rose McCormick
Memphis, TN

In looking at the pictures of white students yelling and protesting the LRN...how many of those young people do you think considered themselves "good Christian folk"? I wonder if they look back now and feel any shame at all.

Melba Patillo Beals (one of the Little Rock Nine) has an outstanding book, Warriors Don't Cry, which, without question, forces us to admit that not speaking up in defence of another, is just as bad as throwing the stones.

As a caucasian American, I feel so ashamed to be caucasian, even though I was raised that everyone is the same regardless of skin color.  It's amazing how ignorant people were in the past.  It is better, but still has a long way to go. I hope during my lifetime I can see a time when African Americans are able to heal from the treatment they received.

The lady mentioned about being still scarred from the Central High experience.  Many people also had their lives permanently changed to support her and the eight other members' enrollment.  A company of ARNG from Pine Bluff was activated to assist.  Many members were enrolled in PBHS, attending our junior and senior years.  We experienced chaos in re-establishing our lives after being release from active duty.

In this mornings local paper, they had an interview with a gentleman who was a Sr. at Russellville Ark. high school, and a member of the Army Nat'l Guard during the Central High crisis.  He plainly stated that when they were "called up" to Little Rock, that they were not informed of exactly why they were going, other than to "maintain order".  He said that as a 17 year old, he and his peers were confused as to why integration was such an issue because it wasn't really a "big deal" to kids of his age at that time.  They just, pretty much, wanted to play football and be, well... just kids.  He said that the exceptions were very few, i.e., a handful of people, (nay-sayers)upon  which the media focused.  What I find sad, is that we can't all just "move on".  I don't deny the scars these kinds of experiences have left, but for a vast majority of us, we were not even BORN when these events took place. We had no control over it, but to this day, are made to feel guilty and somehow responsible for the actions of our grandparents. Let the blame for these things lie where it should, in the past, and not continue to be revisited on the next 20 generations. A wound won't heal if its constantly gouged and reopened.

A few points I'd like to make.  First, has anyone every identified the young lady behind Ms. Eckford?  She obviously had very strong feelings about another girl just like herself (albeit a different color) getting an education.  Where is SHE today?  Probably in a trailer park somewhere.  Second, CMoore talks about the poor ARNG members that were mobilized by the governor, and the chaos he endured.  Are you telling me that the Arkansas National Guard was made up of high school junior and seniors?  It's no wonder your state was as messed up as it was.  Third, the current mayor says that Little Rock didn't deserve the racist label it received.  Is he smoking drugs?  Look at the picture - it doesn't look like an open, progressive society to me.  For him to say something so ridiculous make him either sound blatanly confrontational or amazingly uneducated.  Last, as for the captain of the football team who said that the reputations of many were tarnished by the actions of the few, he should have said, "Our reputations were tarnished because we were simple minded, ignorant, racist cowards.  Some of us spoke our minds, while the rest of us were even too cowardly to do that."  What is it with the south?  

Oh move on for crying out loud!!!!!!!!!!!!

Juli- Dont be ashamed to be Caucasian. God made you who you are for a reason.  Instead of feeling ashamed, do something to help bring about change.
Help support the Jena Six.

To C. Moore:
Not intending to denigrate or minimize anyone's experience, but certainly being trained to control chaos (with the powers invested by the government and ammunition to enforce) is not the same as being the innocent and clearly outnumbered target of hate and chaos.  To be so young and being the object of such hate is something no one today can imagine. Furthermore, kudos to the photographer who captured the soul of the oppressors in that area of the country.  Look at the young girl behind her:  pure hatred in a so-called Christian.  What culture existed for that kind of hate?

In reading the past history and seeing the proliferating present history taking place, no "we" especially the majority of those of color have not learned from the past.  I live in New Orleans, La., and see the dynamic uncontrolled reversicsm which plagues this area.  The low-income welfare patrons have chosen to forget the past and made it essential to lift themselves by utilizing generational welfare to stay afloat, denying their children the right to go to school and present a palatable future, neighborhoods are over saturated with drug dealers, thieves, black-on-black crime, totally appalling.  The urban dynamic here is disgusting.  The state and local governments which are mostly run by blacks allow their own immoral content to be the playbook of the day by taking bribes, stealing from those in need, abusing their positions in a continuum which seeds the pallor of racism, which in fact it's reversicsm.  The school system here in the N.O. area is and always will be the dirge of education.  There is no truancy laws upheld.  The leaders do not enhance their status in the community by demanding betterment and educational prosperity.  The social stratum here is placated with those who can and do, and a majority of those who do not and will not do a thing to make a difference in their lives nor their children's.  I worked in this cities shelters and see the blighted mentality, which is abhorring to know that a whole dimension of folk are too lazy and too deep in the loop holes of social gratis to become a fighting force worth reckoning with; profound heartache and people wonder why there is a division in helping the less fortunate.  At least those who fought for a right to be equal in the 50s and 60s, for the most actually took the bull by the horns and acclimated to society and came to results achieving educational windfall and a less stressful demand on life.  But, then you have ignorant individuals who incite the race card at every chance such as Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who do NOTHING for their peers, but rape them of their shortcomings financially.  People like the two mentioned above make equality in all aspects of life hard to swallow they are merely out to covet their own self-worth.

Reality Sucks, N.O., La.

There is not much to discuss here. Racism was wrong back then, it is wrong now and it will continue to be wrong as we move forward. Anyone still perpetuates this kind of behavior is a complete moron and should move to another planet.

Who is the "angry" white girl in the background of the picture of Elizabeth Eckford walk to Central High School in Little Rock??

In this mornings local paper, they had an interview with a gentleman who was a Sr. at Russellville Ark. high school, and a member of the Army Nat'l Guard during the Central High crisis.  He plainly stated that when they were "called up" to Little Rock, that they were not informed of exactly why they were going, other than to "maintain order".  He said that as a 17 year old, he and his peers were confused as to why integration was such an issue because it wasn't really a "big deal" to kids of his age at that time.  They just, pretty much, wanted to play football and be, well... just kids.  He said that the exceptions were very few, i.e., a handful of people, (nay-sayers)upon  which the media focused.  What I find sad, is that we can't all just "move on".  I don't deny the scars these kinds of experiences have left, but for a vast majority of us, we were not even BORN when these events took place. We had no control over it, but to this day, are made to feel guilty and somehow responsible for the actions of our grandparents. Let the blame for these things lie where it should, in the past, and not continue to be revisited on the next 20 generations. A wound won't heal if its constantly gouged and reopened.

Some of the hypocrisy on here really kills me...how dare anyone make sweeping generalizations of the South being all racist?  My grandmother lost friends during the intergration because she supported desegregation and spoke her mind.  I went to a completely integrated high school in the South and still have black, white and asian friends to this day.  Do we still have a long way to go?  You bet! Does the South have a bad history?  Certainly!  But making accusations against a whole people just because of their geography is no better than judging them by the color of their skin.  Believe it or not, there are many people like myself who find all types of discrimination abhorrent, even in Little Rock. We're proud of the progres we've made, but we realize we still have a long way to go. Mr. Sherman, East St. Louis and Clayton are no more integrated than areas in the South.  Bias follows no geographical boundaries.

Seems like the only way racism is perpetuated anymore is by the backwater hicks who still teach it to their children, and the media in stories exactly like this. I firmly believe that stories like this promote the continuation of racism by making people feel like they are discriminating, or being discriminated against. It is a fact racism does still exist, but stories like this are just a soapbox platform for the hatred, cruelty, and the hurt to continue to fester.

What absolutely blows my mind is the logical disconnect that many people have when studying history and racism.  People, there is a connection between the overt racism of the pre-1950's and the social stratification by race in the U.S. today!!  No one is asking anyone to feel guilty or ashamed, we're only asking that people recognize that racism has had a HUGE impact on the overrepresentation of blacks in the lower class today.  Additionally, learning how to "empathize" is something that evidently isn't taught enough in today's schools, either....

That is actually a really sad picture.  Thank god it is in the past.  Makes you wonder if that girl yelling is still alive today or how she would cope seeing herself in the picture in this decade. I went to school in a very small community in NW New Mexico where there were only 2 Native Americans in the class.  A little girl used to name call one of the Native  girls "Indian" when she was upset. Later, she found out she herself is 1/2 Native American after she found out she was adopted and found her biological parents.        

I am sorry but no, we can not "just move on". So many people are plagued with the "ostrich mentality". The same injustice that went on in 1957 goes on today. It may be true that your grandparents, not you, are responsible for the ignorance of the past. However, you are just as responsible if you turn a blind eye to what goes on around you. It is easy to say "move on" when you aren't affected by inequality; whether it be race, religion or even sexuality. It is simply easier to say move on when it it doesn't affect you or your family.

Two simple quotes both by Dr MLK, Jr.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

"History will record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition, was not the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people – but the appalling silence and indifference of the good people. Our generation will not only have to repent for the words and acts of the children of darkness, but also for the fears and apathy of the children of light."

To DeeAnn and anyone interested, here is a touching story. The girl in the photo - the one screaming at Elizabeth Eckford - her name is Hazel Massery. At the 40th reunion this was posted in the Arkansas Democrat - Gazette.
"One of the fascinating stories to come out of the reunion was the apology that Hazel Bryan Massery made to Elizabeth Eckford for a terrible moment caught forever by the camera. That 40-year-old picture of hate assailing grace--which had gnawed at Ms. Massery for decades-can now be wiped clean, and replaced by a snapshot of two friends. The apology came from the real Hazel Bryan Massery, the decent woman who had been hidden all those years by a fleeting image. And the graceful acceptance of that apology was but another act of dignity in the life of Elizabeth Eckford."

The story mentions a black student who was expelled from school for being involved in a brawl she did not perpetuate.  The Jena six comes to mind.  How can we say things have changed.

William T. Sherman:  The young white woman screaming at Elizabeth Eckford has indeed been identified.  She was reunited with Ms. Eckford several years ago and apologized for her ignorance and prejudice.  Ms. Eckford was very classy and accepted the apology.  The young, white woman was a product of her upbringing and environment.  

It is very easy for you and many others to look back 50 years and imagine yourselves to be the "white knight" and champion of the downtrodden, when in fact the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of the fact that you would have reacted just as most of the other students did.  Even today, it is the rare adolescent that is willing to "take on" his/her peers.  Of course, I'm sure you're made of sterner stuff.

The current Mayor, Mr. Stodola, in defending his city is correct in asserting that Little Rock does not deserve to be singled out for its history of segregation and racism.  Even then, northerners were quick to point and laugh at the ignorant southerners, just as you do in your post, when in fact the violence and hatred demonstrated in Boston soon afterward made the happenings in Little Rock pale in comparison.  I've been to a lot of places and trust me, neither Little Rock nor the South in general possess a monopoly on ignorance, racism or stupidity.

Many of us have grown up with extreme difficulties and hardships we had to endure.  And tho I am caucasian I am not without sympathy to any body of ANY color, it's just that we don't whine as much. And I am tired of hearing trailer trash, some of us work full time, it's just a less expensive way of living without needing the government to support us with food stamps, and getto housing.

We should all be blinded. Then our eyes would not give sway to our racial prejudice.  I think this would be true. I grew up in 'sheltered' community. I did not have a chance to interact with ppl of another 'race' til i was in my early 20's. I hated the way I subconsciously felt when I 'went out' in to the world and found myself being prejudice with out any knowledge of why I was 'hating'. I had this racial 'crap' poured in to me growing up. This is a poison that will never receive an antidote.

This message is to any young black person who is reading this.  I read somewhere that someone said, let the past stay in the past, and lets move forward and not rehash the events of the past.  I say lets do move forward, BUT, lets remember the past in a sense that many young peaple like yourself, went through the same challenges you are going through, but yet they rose above their situation. We know as a people we have come a long way, but let the past help move us forward. lets take control of our lives and not let other pull or drag us down.  As bad as we want to blame the "White Man" for our troubles, lets rise above our troubles and prove to OURSELVES, that we can acheive greatness.  So let us remember those that blazed a trail for us so their sacrifice will not be in vain.            peace to you all

It was just a few naysayers?  It was the official policy of the government of the state of Arkansas that the Little Rock Nine be barred from attending Little Rock Central High School.  That policy was enforced by the Arkansas National Guard.  Only after Eisenhower sent in federal troops and nationalized the Guard did things change.  Orval Faubus, the segregationist governor of Arkansas, was reelected (by the all-white electorate) after he closed the schools the following year to prevent further integration.

"A few naysayers"??  Wow.

The 50th anniversary of the desegration nightmare should have been celebrated with medals to the "nine".

The attention brought today has brought up raging anger at the injustices I have endured for 73 years. When I think of specific incidences I wonder why I am not a raving maniac. (and the entire race. Whites are saying "...get over it..." Have they ever gotton over a deep hurt aimed specifically at them.

Yes, I am a well educated Black woman with degrees but education hasn't prevented discriminatory acts and racism from entering my life. I cam understand the flashbacks.

Writing this short reaction still does not rid society of ignorant racist people. I am not a racist but,I personally have never cared forignorant people and never will.

So my reaction to those think history has no place today, think again because today is history. I invite Black parents, etc, to continue to teach Black history because it continues to be relevant.

There are two problems here, not one. The first, racism, is both acknowledged and acted upon. The second, racisms supposed antithesis, the so called "anti-racism", is not.

Just as ugly as the scenes of hateful whites, are the scenes of soldiers with rifles "promoting" integration. It shouldn't surprise us, president Eisenhower, although of German sock himself, made sure to slowly starve hundreds of thousands of Germans after the WW2 was over. A decent person wouldn't do that. Neither would he send soldiers to "integrate" people.

Today, instead of KKK lynchings and white mobs screaming out their hatred towards blacks, we have instead caucasians who are ashamed of their skin color and supposed privileges. I wouldn't call that much of a progress.

If we are the least observant we can already now see what our future will be like. There are countries in the world today where the abhorrent racisms of older times have been replaced with, not brotherhood and love, but revenge and chaos.

Anyone heard of Rhodesia-Zimbabwe?

This is ridiculous....ashamed to be white???plays
out good on the web but I dont believe you. Much
of the racisim is due to FORCED integration. It has
to be natural...you cannot FORCE people to blend and
get along with each other. That is one reason why it
has taken so long. It is like forcing children who
cannot get along to play with each other. There are
some fundemental socital differences between the
black and white race that makes it very slow. It
is happening and has already happened in the work
place,churches. and schools...the remainder of the change must happen naturally. Forced integration
is wrong and leads to violence.

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