Little Rock Girl 1957 by Shelley Tougas

Author:Shelley Tougas [Tougas, Shelley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: 978-0-7565-4440-9; 978-0-7565-4512-3; history; rock girl; african american; arkansas; photography
Publisher: Capstone
Published: 2019-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

THE AMERICAN DREAM

Will Counts’ photo of Elizabeth Eckford told the story of segregation in an instant. But it did more than tell the facts—it provoked a reaction.

Americans were stunned by the depth of racial hatred suggested by the photo. The twisted, snarling face of Hazel Bryan hinted at racism’s deep roots in American culture. In contrast, Elizabeth’s resolute appearance in the face of such hostility suggested that African-Americans were determined to use and defend their basic constitutional rights—rights taken for granted by most Americans.

The idea that every person should be able to get a basic education, paid for by taxpayers, arose early in the history of the United States. The nation’s early leaders agreed that to succeed, a democratic form of government needs educated citizens, so they set up public schools.

Throughout the world, a good education had usually been reserved for a small group of people, typically boys from wealthy white families. In some cultures, girls, members of minority groups, and poor people didn’t get formal educations at all. Many lived their whole lives without knowing how to read or write.

But in the United States, public education became a cornerstone of community life. Many white children attended elementary school in the 1800s. Still, only 2 percent of the population in 1870 had finished high school. During the ensuing years, high school graduation rates soared. Graduation became the ticket to a decent job and entry into the growing American middle class.

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