The names Elizabeth Eckford and Hazel Bryan Massery may not be well known; but the image of them from September 1957 surely is: a black high school girl; dressed in white; walking stoically in front of Little Rock Central High School; and a white girl standing directly behind her; face twisted in hate; screaming racial epithets. This famous photograph captures the full anguish of desegregation—in Little Rock and throughout the South—and an epic moment in the civil rights movement. In this gripping book; David Margolick tells the remarkable story of two separate lives unexpectedly braided together. He explores how the haunting picture of Elizabeth and Hazel came to be taken; its significance in the wider world; and why; for the next half-century; neither woman has ever escaped from its long shadow. He recounts Elizabeth’s struggle to overcome the trauma of her hate-filled school experience; and Hazel’s long efforts to atone for a fateful; horrible mistake. The book follows the painful journey of the two as they progress from apology to forgiveness to reconciliation and; amazingly; to friendship. This friendship foundered; then collapsed—perhaps inevitably—over the same fissures and misunderstandings that continue to permeate American race relations more than half a century after the unforgettable photograph at Little Rock. And yet; as Margolick explains; a bond between Elizabeth and Hazel; silent but complex; endures.
#940175 in Books 2015-01-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.70 x 1.00 x 6.20l; .0 #File Name: 0300178646280 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great revelations.By Murray GeneeVery satisfied with purchase and delivery. The book is very interesting and tells the story of immigrant peddlers and the ability to adapt to their new home. The story is well written and keeps your interest.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Take this RoadBy JudeAnother contribution to the growing number of comparative studies that allows to understand Jewish developments in a global perspective. The economic history is enlivened by the colorful stories and lively writing.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Take a hike!By Bob SalzmanFar too repetitive. The author makes the same points over and over again. The content is interesting; but should have been the subject of an extended essay; rather than an entire book.
