Central High School is one of the first schools in American history to integrate black and white students. Nine students, known as “The Little Rock Nine,” are chosen to be the first black students to enter that high school. Elizabeth Eckford is one of the nine students who entered Central High School all alone on September 4th 1957. This day was a nightmare for Elizabeth. After being denied entry by the Arkansas National Guard and being harassed by a shouting crowd who are opposed to integration, Elizabeth managed to stay calm. Hazel Bryan was one of the tormentors in the crowd in front of Central High School. Many cameras were clicking that day trying to capture history being made, but one photo that was widely published would unintentionally …show more content…
Although she is wearing glasses, her brows are slightly furrowed in a sorrowful way. With her lips curved downwards, Elizabeth appears emotional but composed. Behind Elizabeth, Hazel is the only one from the crowd angled towards Elizabeth. Her eyebrows are furrowed angrily and her eyes look cold and filled with animosity. Hazel is captured shouting with words of hate spewing from her mouth. Both girls are the same ages in the picture yet have to carry themselves differently. As described by Keith Beauchamp, Jim Crow laws were in action and images of Emmett Till were still fresh in black peoples mind. Blacks had to be cautious in the way they acted in public for their own safety meanwhile whites could get away with almost anything, such as the brutal murder of Emmett Till (Beauchamp 88). Elizabeth is peacefully walking, knowing that as a black girl, any wrong move can harm her. Hazel can act in an absurd manner and not be condemned for it because she is …show more content…
In the book Elizabeth and hazel: Two Women of Little Rock by David Margolick, it’s stated that Hazel remembers shouting hateful words just for fun. Margolick mentions that Counts took several photos that day, but in the photo that became famous, Hazel was caught saying “ Go home nigger! Go back to Africa!” (37). That is just some of the few hateful comments that Elizabeth heard that day. It is as though the people around her do not care that she is bashing Elizabeth. The crowd seems to approve Hazel’s hateful acts towards Elizabeth. When people see injustice, they are likely to help out others and defend them. However, since Elizabeth is black, very few cared to stand up against the injustice surrounding her during her walk into school. Rarely would whites speak up for a black people. Grace Lorch, a white American stood up for Elizabeth, but is abused by many other whites afterwards (55). In that moment it did not matter if the girls are young teenagers or if they are American, all that mattered was skin
It got to the point where they took Hose’s body parts and used them as souvenirs and trophies for people. Another example of African Americans being mistreated was the case of the then 16 year old African American female, Claudette Colvin. Author Danielle McGuire introduced Colvin in the story “ At the Dark End of the Street” when Colvin refused to give up her on the segregated bus. McGuire said that Colvin was then called a “ whore” by the officers and later manhandled by the both by getting jerked and then dragged off the bus. While she was in the police car she was terrified because she thought they were going to rape her or maybe even kill her because they could ( McGuire, 86).
The over eight remained at Horace Mann High School, an all-black high school. On September 25, 1957, nine African American students known as the “Little Rock Nine” attended Central High School. Enrolling nine African Americans named Melba
Elizabeth was one of the nine first African American students who were to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. Elizabeth was abused throughout her high school years for being black; she faced daily verbal and physical assault which led to depression and anxiety in her adult years. Meanwhile, Hazel, who also attended Central High School, was a racist white girl who shouted out racial slurs to the black students around her. Although Elizabeth and Hazel are very different from each other, one might identify with Elizabeth and Hazel about getting bullied, making mistakes, and social pressure.
At the time in which segregation was a law, the door of opportunity was shut and it was African American students who opened it. These students were the Little Rock Nine. When they integrated, segregationists did anything they could to prevent it, even breaking the law. As the Little Rock Nine arduously entered Central High, they had no idea their lives would be turned completely upside down. This flip in their lives allowed them to have a voice.
As shown above, Lily and Scout have had different ranges of exposure to African Americans, however they both eventually developed mature thoughts involving race and represented strong female characters in the midst of male-dominated societies. Similarities and differences between Lily’s and Scout’s many beliefs, spread throughout The Secret Life of Bees and To Kill a Mockingbird, creating two striking and intricately woven characters, who will continue to amaze me for years to
“ Niggers, go home, Niggers go back where you belong” (48). These were the words that were used by white people towards black students in the book Warriors Don't Cry . Elizabeth Eckford was one brave girl that passed through a angry crowd. The purpose of the picture is for us to have a better look at Elizabeth Eckford as she begins her journey to Central High with the rest of the little rock nine. Both the picture, as some of the reading, show how frighten and nervous she was as she walked.
Altogether, the elements of historical context, facial features and body language of the subjects in the photo, and the relevancy of this issue continuing in today’s society conveys that the anger and resistance of the white students is the issue, not the young African American student now legally attending an integrated school. The historical context conveys why the students in this time were treating Eckford this way. First, Elizabeth Eckford arrived to Central High, a previously all whites school in Little Rock, Arkansas , in the fall of 1957. According to Facing History.org, she and other eight students were told to report to Central High after integration of black and white students in public schools was passed.
In 1957, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas’s decision, segregation in public education violated the Fourteen Amendment, but Central High School refused to desegregate their school. Even though various school districts agreed to the court ruling, Little Rock disregarded the board and did not agree to desegregate their schools, but the board came up with a plan called the “Blossom plan” to form integration of Little Rock High despite disputation from Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus. Desegregating Central high encountered a new era of achievement of black folks into the possibility of integrating public schools, and harsh resistance of racial integration. Although nine black students were admitted into Little Rock harsh violence and
For many people school is something they take for granted, but for Elizabeth Eckford it wasn’t that easy. When Elizabeth got to Central there was a large mob of protesters trying to keep her from entering Central. Even though she felt helpless there was a large group of news reporters who captured the event. Benjamin Fine who was a New York news reporter said, “It’s one of these almost incredible things, to see normal people, many of them-most of them-churchgoers, and if you’d get them in their homes, they would be the kindest, nicest people, but in a mob group, something happens when that group gets together” (LRG 1957 7). The news reporters showed the world how bad Little Rock had gotten which made many people aware of the events in Little Rock.
The Bravery of the Little Rock Nine “It was” she said “the longest block I ever walked in my whole life.” The Little Rock Nine, used continued effort to achieve difficulties they faced. They had a strong feeling about something they wanted to do, and they accomplished this by not giving up and pushing forward. The Nine students used perseverance, passion, and bravery to become the first black students to go to an all-white school in 1957.
Both in the real world and in the Red Queen you find people put down in one form or another. The relevance of this towards the story deals with how many fought to overcome this segregation just how Rosa Parks and Martin sought for their
Everyone in the town thought of Emily has a wonderful person. Some people even described her as, “a tradition, a duty and a care.” (#) The town admired her wealth and her social status. After the civil war, there is still a lot of racism.
Black women are treated less than because of their ascribed traits, their gender and race, and are often dehumanized and belittled throughout the movie. They are treated like slaves and are seen as easily disposable. There are several moments throughout the film that show the racial, gender, and class inequalities. These moments also show exploitation and opportunity hoarding. The Help also explains historical context of the inequality that occurred during that time period.
The discrimination against the white race begins with a gradual distinct treatment of the African Americans who appear to have a trace of the white race. Helene proves to have a more formal dialect as she asks for “the bathroom” (23) and the black woman cannot understand until Helene finally refers to it as “the toilet” (23). The difference in word choice distinct Helene from the African Americans in the Bottom. The fact that Helene also has fairer skin than the African Americans gives the black woman a reason to believe Helene has a trace of white. Therefore, when Helene approaches the black woman on the train, “[the woman fastens her eyes]…on the thick velvet, the fair skin, [and] the high tone voice” (23), as if surprised and shocked to see an African American women appear in such a manner.
It is the mother’s vulnerability to the racial standards of beauty that is transmitted to the daughter and ultimately leads to her victimization. In fact, the reason of Pauline’s vulnerability to the racially prejudiced notions of beauty lies in her relationship with her own mother. The relationship between Pecola Breedlove, the protagonist, and her mother, Pauline Breedlove, is ironically characterized by lack of love, and emotional attachment, indifference, frustration and cruelty. Set in a small town in Ohio, during the Depression, The Bluest Eye is the story of eleven year old Pecola Breedlove, who, victimized by the racist society, yearns for blue eyes, which, she believes, will make her worthy of love, happiness and acceptance in the