The Little Rock Crisis : What Desegregation Politics Says About Us

The Little Rock Crisis frames the story of the Little Rock 1957 desegregation crisis through the lens of memory. Over time, those memories - individual and collective - have motivated Little Rockians for social and political action and engagement. The Little Rock Crisis describes the power of direct and learned memories of the 1957 desegregation crisis in Little Rock, Arkansas. Personal, dramatic experiences of Little Rockians - known and unknown - reflect on the impact of the crisis on their lives in the 21st century. Linking individual memories to collective action through the lens of social appropriation, the book explores how the crisis has impacted the political behavior of Little Rockians. Oral histories and survey research show how the events from the tumultuous 1950s in Little Rock school politics, inform and direct the national political engagement and local community involvement of diverse residents Cover 1 The Little Rock Crisis 4 Contents 8 List of Figures 10 Preface 12 Overview of the Chapters 14 Acknowledgments 16 Introduction: A Meeting of Histories 18 Scholarship on Little Rock 19 Defining a Desegregation City 25 Methodology 25 Of Personal Significance by D. LaRouth Perry 28 Part I: Ideas, Institutions, and Interests in the Little Rock Era of School Integration 30 Institutions 31 Mores 31 Chapter 1: Perceptions: Black and White Views on Race Relations 33 Little Rock’s White Community 36 Little Rock’s African American Community 38 The Business Community Reacts to the School Closing 41 Chapter 2: A Life of Courage: Mrs. Daisy Bates’s Motivations and Leadership 43 Chapter 3: Sacrifice: Profiles of the Little Rock Nine 50 Preliminary Note by D. LaRouth Perry 52 Models for Analysis 54 The Nine, Collectively 55 Minnijean Brown Trickey 58 Elizabeth Eckford 67 Ernest G. Green 71 Thelma Mothershed 74 Melba Pattillo 76 Gloria Ray 79 Terrence Roberts 82 Jefferson Thomas 85 Carlotta Walls 88 Epilogue by D. LaRouth Perry 91 Chapter 4: Duty to Re-election: Governor Orval Faubus and Political Racism 94 Faubus: The Masterful Panderer 95 Situational Demagoguery 100 Epilogue by D. LaRouth Perry 106 Chapter 5: Acquiescence: School Leadership Reluctance on Brown 108 The Board of Education at Little Rock 109 Superintendent Virgil T. Blossom 114 Chapter 6: Redemption of (Their) History: Voices of Active Segregationists 118 Escalation Theory 120 Elected Officials 121 Individuals 129 Amis Guthridge, Lawyer 130 Bruce Bennett, Arkansas Attorney General 132 Curt Copeland, Publisher of Arkansas Faith 132 Rev. Wesley Pruden of the Broadmoor Baptist Church 133 Dr. Dale Alford, Ophthalmologist 133 Jimmy Karam, Clothing Store Operator 133 Summary of Individual Self-appointed Leadership 134 Institutional Supporters 135 Mobs 135 The First Mob 136 The Second Mob 137 The Third Mob 139 Smiles 139 Frowns and Tears 140 Status Quo Gatekeeping 142 Parental Influence on Students 145 Summary 148 Chapter 7: A Chance at Forgiveness for Little Rock: Media Coverage of Central High’s Integration 150 Little Rock as a Test-case of the Supreme Court Decision 151 Threat of Mob Rule 152 The Military Presence 154 Little Rock as a Microcosm of America 155 International News 157 Biased Reporting 157 Popular Culture 160 Photography 161 Electronic Media 162 Part II: Contemporary Proceeds: Telling the Story 164 Forever Changed 165 Chapter 8: Witnessing the Crisis at Forty: Reflections of D. LaRouth Perry 167 The Purpose of the Celebration 167 Three Anniversary Events 171 President Clinton’s Presence 173 African Americans’ Perspectives 174 No Redemption 176 Merits of the Celebration 177 Chapter 9: Personal Stories: Little Rock Residents’ Oral Histories of the Crisis 180 Lottie Shackelford 181 Alice Barnes McKay 181 Mamie Battle 182 Gwendolyn Strong Zeigler 183 Anonymous 185 Nanette Edgeston-Green 185 Serita Holmes 186 Karen Broadnax 186 Anonymous 188 Annie Abrams 190 Alice Abson 190 Anonymous 192 Dan Shelton 192 Edward Moore, Jr. 193 Lupe Peña-Valadez 196 Mary Alice Fitzpatrick 198 Mary Mitchell-Davis 198 Mary Givens 199 Summary 200 Chapter 10: Impact: Examining the Post-crisis Political Behavior of Little Rockians 201 Communities of Memory 203 Studying Memory, Action and Community 204 Surveys of Racial Attitudes in Little Rock 207 Findings of the UALR Race Relations Survey 210 Testing Specific Hypotheses 211 Discussion 217 Chapter 11: Us and the Crisis City: Engagement with Community for Improved Democracy 219 Personal Reflections by D. LaRouth Perry 219 Opposing Viewpoints 220 Beyond 1957 221 Appendix 223 Juneteenth Festival and Online Survey Questionnaire 223 Survey and Direct Interviews Marketing Flyer 229 INFORMED CONSENT 230 Notes 232 Preface 232 Introduction: A Meeting of Histories 233 Part I Ideas, Institutions, and Interests in the Little Rock Era of School Integration 235 1 Perceptions: Black and White Views on Race Relations 235 2 A Life of Courage: Mrs. Daisy Bates’s Motivations and Leadership 237 3 Sacrifice: Profiles of the Little Rock Nine 238 4 Duty to Re-election: Governor Orval Faubus and Political Racism 242 5 Acquiescence: School Leadership Reluctance on Brown 243 6 Redemption of (Their) History: Voices of Active Segregationists 244 7 A Chance at Forgiveness for Little Rock: Media Coverage of Central High’s Integration 248 Part II Contemporary Proceeds: Telling the Story 249 8 Witnessing the Crisis at Forty: Reflections of D. LaRouth Perry 249 9 Personal Stories: Little Rock Residents’ Oral Histories of the Crisis 250 10 Impact: Examining the Post-crisis Political Behavior of Little Rockians 250 11 Us and the Crisis City: Engagement with Community for Improved Democracy 251 References 252 Index 259 Review: "Everyone knows about the nine people who integrated Little Rock Central High Hchool in 1957. This remarkable book documents the rest of the story: How the crisis at Central High touched the lives of ordinary people in the eye of the storm. The Little Rock Crisis is probing, intelligent, moving, inspiring and highly recommended for both activists and scholars." - James A. Morone, Brown University, USA, Author of Hellfire Nation and The Devils We Know "One of the many strengths of this book is directly traced to the deep familial roots the authors have with the people and town of Little Rock, Arkansas...Using a mixed-method approach, careful attention to detail, and respectful engagement with Little Rock residents, the authors craft a compelling analysis of whether and how being in the shadow of a national event affects the politics of local citizens." - Valeria Sinclair-Chapman, Purdue University, USA "The authors have delivered to us a wonderful book on the politics of memory. They show that as a local memory that had national implications, the 1957 Little Rock crisis influenced a generation of black folk decades later...This book is a must read for those interested in memory studies and the legacies of the Little Rock crisis." - Fredrick Harris, Columbia University, USA Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Introduction: A Meeting of Histories....Pages 1-12 Front Matter....Pages 13-15 Perceptions: Black and White Views on Race Relations....Pages 17-26 A Life of Courage: Mrs. Daisy Bates’s Motivations and Leadership....Pages 27-33 Sacrifice: Profiles of the Little Rock Nine....Pages 35-78 Duty to Re-election: Governor Orval Faubus and Political Racism....Pages 79-92 Acquiescence: School Leadership Reluctance on Brown....Pages 93-102 Redemption of (Their) History: Voices of Active Segregationists....Pages 103-134 A Chance at Forgiveness for Little Rock: Media Coverage of Central High’s Integration....Pages 135-148 Front Matter....Pages 149-151 Witnessing the Crisis at Forty: Reflections of D. LaRouth Perry....Pages 153-165 Personal Stories: Little Rock Residents’ Oral Histories of the Crisis....Pages 167-187 Impact: Examining the Post-crisis Political Behavior of Little Rockians....Pages 189-206 Us and the Crisis City: Engagement with Community for Improved Democracy....Pages 207-210 Back Matter....Pages 211-255 "The Little Rock Crisis describes the power of direct and learned memories of the 1957 desegregation crisis in Little Rock, Arkansas. Personal, dramatic experiences of Little Rockians - known and unknown - reflect on the impact of the crisis on their lives in the 21st century. Linking individual memories to collective action through the lens of social appropriation, the book explores how the crisis has impacted the political behavior of Little Rockians. Oral histories and survey research show how the events from the tumultuous 1950s in Little Rock school politics, inform and direct the national political engagement and local community involvement of diverse residents. Their commitment to political and social participation is linked to their crisis experience"-- Provided by publisher "This book frames the story of the Little Rock 1957 desegregation crisis through the lens of memory. Over time, those memories - individual and collective - have motivated Little Rockians for social and political action and engagement"-- Provided by publisher