The Long Shadow of Little Rock
The Long Shadow of Little Rock, written by Daisy Bates, was a very informative and descriptive book that is an excellent record of the turmoil of the civil rights movement. Bates is known for her involvement in the struggle to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. As an advisor to nine African American students trying to attend an all-white school, she was an essential figure in that determining moment of the civil rights movement. Her memoir of the conflict is a major text in the history of race relations in the US during the 20th century.
On May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court announced its decision that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." The decision effectively denied the legal basis for segregation in Kansas and 20 other states with segregated classrooms (Bates 47). This ruling, known as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, would forever change race relations in the United States. Despite all such legislative efforts by the segregationists to prevent the Little Rock Nine from attending Central High, the school's integration was scheduled to begin in the September 4, 1957 (Bates 5). Daisy Bates became their advisor and defender. In response, white mobs gathered at the school, threatening to kill the black students. Soon, Bates recollected, "The police have been routed, the mob is in the streets, and we’re close to a reign of terror (Bates 93-94)."
After the ‘battle for Little Rock’ began, the city council instructed the Little Rock police chief to arrest Bates and other NAACP officials. Bates surrendered voluntarily. She was charged with failing to provide information about members for the public record, in violation of a city ordinance. In such a violent environment, publicizing members’ information would have endangered their lives. Although Bates was only fined by the judge, NAACP lawyers appealed and eventually won a reversal in the U.S. Supreme Court. (Bates 110).
Despite such victories, the safety and lives of Bates, the students, and other activists were constantly threatened. "It took many weeks for me to become accustomed to seeing revolvers lying on tables in my own home," she remembered in The Long Shadow of Little Rock. "And shotguns, loaded with buckshot, standing ready near the doors (Bates 111)." The students endured constant intimidation, and Bates saw herself hanged in effigy by segregationists (Bates 153). She was later threatened in her car by a white man, and bombs were thrown at the Bates house. The US government answered her distressed telegrams by explaining that ‘such incidents were a matter for local authorities’.
Despite such horrific stories, the incident in the book that most caught my attention actually happened during Bates’ childhood, instead of in Little Rock. Daisy was born in Huttig, a small Arkansas town. "Huttig might have been called a sawmill plantation," she stated in The Long Shadow of Little Rock, "for everyone worked for the mill, lived in houses owned by the mill, and traded at the general store run by the mill (Bates 6)." Growing up there, Bates said "I knew I was a Negro, but I did not really understand what that meant until I was seven years old (Bates 7)." At that time, she went to buy some meat for her mother at a store and was rudely snubbed by the butcher. "Niggers have to wait 'til I wait on the white people. (Bates 8)" he harshly told her. When the butcher finally served her, he only gave her the fat part of the chops, instead of the center-cut he gave the white customers. The incident was very important in my view because this had been the first time Bates had really experienced racism firsthand. I think the fact that she was just an innocent child at the time made the occurrence even more powerful. The butcher was the man who began Bates’ journey towards the conflict at Little Rock. Until that point, Bates was a happy child, with few worries. Afterwards, she began to learn how violent and hating the world could be. After that fateful day, her innocence was lost and she started to embark on a lifetime equality struggle.
Another incident in the book that particularly struck me was the harassment and death of David Ogden. His father, a reverend, had been accused of “betrayed a race (Bates 192)” because he became the president of the Interracial Ministerial Alliance. As a result of his actions and words, other white members of his community withheld funding and constantly accused him of ‘race treason’. Because of this treatment, Ogden moved out of the city. However, his 21 year old son remained behind. The segregationists soon began to pick on David. Although David had only accompanied his father on the first day the Little Rock Nine had tried to enter Central, he faced taunts and persecution. David never fought back and instead took a job as a bookkeeper. However, soon a segregationist recognized him and turned his co-workers against him, eventually resulting in violence. Again David did not fight back. Instead, he resigned the next day. Then, on June 22, 1960, David Ogden committed suicide in a motel by taking a shotgun to his own chest. (Bates 193-195). This incident was especially touching because David was a sensitive and gentle man, who had done little to bring about such hatred. Instead of fighting back, David remained peaceful and quiet towards his attackers. He had the courage to not fight back.
Ultimately, the Little Rock Nine were able to attend Central High, and many of them went on to notable careers. The price for the L. C. and Daisy Bates was high. A well-planned boycott of advertisers caused the newspaper's profits to take a dive, and they were forced to shut it down in 1959. L. C. accepted an NAACP post the following year, which he held until his retirement in 1971. Daisy, in the meantime, traveled to New York and spent two years writing her book. It was published in 1962 with a foreword by former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. "This is a book which I hope will be read by every American," Roosevelt declared; adding that the book "should shock the conscience of America and bring a realization of where we stand in the year 1962 in these United States (Bates XXI)."
Although I agree with Eleanor Roosevelt’s assertion that all should read the book, it was difficult for me to relate to Daisy Bates’ problems and struggles. I was able to picture the scenes in my head, but because there haven’t been any major struggles in my time I was not able to understand how she was able to make such rough decisions. The struggles she endured seemed almost unreal.
As a student today, I don’t believe the book had as much affect on me as it would have during the civil rights movement. Most of my experience with racism has dealt with Affirmative Action and other non-major movements. It is hard for me to imagine the denial of such basic rights, or to understand the stark separation of the races. I also found it difficult to understand how the children could decide to go to a school where no one wanted them, and where they would face all kinds of harassment. Even the efforts of Daisy Bates and others could not lessen the struggle those kids had to endure.
I found Bates’ style of writing to be very well-constructed. She wrote from memory, giving me a clear picture of her emotions. That gave me great insight into how she could sacrifice so much. If the book had been strictly factual interpretations, the book would have been overly dry, and would not have had the emotional impact that it did on me. If another leader’s story had been included, I think the book would have been too watered-down. The way Bates wrote in such detail allowed for the story to almost come to life, even 45 years later. I believe that The Long Shadow of Little Rock shows an important chapter in US history, and should be read by every American in order that such atrocities never happen again.
"I hope that people will finally come to realize that there is only one 'race' - the human race
- and that we are all members of it."
-Margaret Atwood
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