  | Mighty long way : my journey to justice at Little Rock Central High School Author: LaNier, Carlotta Walls | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
When 14-year-old Carlotta Walls walked up to Little Rock Central High School on September 25, 1957, she and eight other black students only wanted to make it to class. But the journey of the "Little Rock Nine" would lead the nation on an even longer and much more turbulent path, to challenge prevailing attitudes, break down barriers, and forever change America. The teenager volunteered to be among the first black students--she was the youngest--to integrate nearby Central High School.
Reviews:
School Library Journal (+) (12/01/22)
Booklist (+) (12/01/23)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 12/01/2022 Gr 5 Up—"Why am I just learning about this now?" a student asked Carlotta Walls LaNier when she was speaking about her experience as one of the Little Rock Nine. The 1957 integration of Black students into an all-white high school (a result of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education desgregation order issued by the Supreme Court) was a challenging and daunting time, but the nine students who took that risk made history and broke barriers for future Black children. This book conveys all the emotions and ups and downs Walls LaNier and her friends, family, and community endured. The Little Rock Nine thought going to a new, well-known school in Arkansas would be a great opportunity and open more doors for their future. Instead, they endured mental and physical violence daily from both students and adults in the community. Alongside its incredible historical value, teachers could use this title to teach empathy and respect; it's what all students deserve at any school. VERDICT A compelling account of one of the Little Rock Nine, and the first Black woman to graduate from Central High School. A must-purchase for nonfiction collections and required reading for U.S. history classes.—Cassandra Bland - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 01/01/2023 *Starred Review* This memoir records the experiences of Carlotta Walls LaNier, one of the Little Rock Nine. In 1957, she and eight other Black students integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, despite fierce vocal and sometimes violent opposition by segregationists. Initially, the Nine could not enter the school because the governor had ordered the National Guard to keep them out. President Eisenhower sent in troops from the 101st Airborne to ensure that the nine students could enter the building and attend classes. The Nine were not protected from other students harassing them between classes by bumping, kicking, punching, spitting, and shoving. Outside of school, racist attacks became increasingly violent. LaNier’s home was bombed one night in 1960, but she returned to school and graduated. Decades later, she began speaking to students about her experiences. Adapted for young readers from LaNier’s A Mighty Long Way (2009), this book records her experiences and emotions as well as her admiration and gratitude for her parents and for civil rights activist Daisy Bates, who advised the Black students, mentored them, and acted as their spokesperson. LaNier offers a well-organized, vividly detailed, and often riveting account of everyday courage and tenacity in the midst of the twentieth-century civil rights movement. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.
