This photo was taken as Elizabeth Eckford walked to Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Eckford was part of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African American students who were sent to segregated all-white schools to test integration efforts in Arkansas. Although the Supreme Court already ruled this segregation unconstitutional, many southern states including Arkansas were still under Jim Crow laws and enforced segregation. Eckford is being followed by a white mob of students screaming slurs and threats. The girl directly behind her, Hazel Bryan became a symbol of racism and hate during the segregation and Jim Crow era in the south.
Not only was Eckford threatened by a mob on her way to school but after Eckford reached Little Rock Central High School, she was barred from entering by the governor from entering and could not go to school until the president sent military protection for the nine students. This photo also has a special story because Counts brought the two women together years later in order to reconcile their past.
This image, taken by Will Counts, was incredibly important to the civil rights movement because it captured the raw hatred towards Black people in the south, especially when steps were taken to desegregate areas such as schools. Even today the photo shows the immense hatred Black people faced when fighting for civil rights not long ago and is an important piece of history that can be used to teach about racism and bigotry today.
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