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A Mighty Long Way: My Journey To Justice At Lit...

A 2009 nonfiction book by Carlotta Walls Lanier with Lisa Frazier Page.

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Walking the walk in Montgomery with a true civil rights pioneer--- Carlotta Walls LaNier.

Jul 30, 2009

by drifter51
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

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When Carlotta Walls of Little Rock, AR was 8 years old she had a life changing experience. The year was 1951 and Carlotta's parents Cartelyou and Juanita Walls decided it would be a good idea for their young daughter to spend her summer vacation visiting an aunt in New York City.   It was a thrilling experience for young Carlotta. She visited Radio City Music Hall, saw a ballgame at Ebbets Field, and paid a visit to the Statue of Liberty. Perhaps more important than any of these experiences she befriended a young white boy by the name of Francis. Such a relationship was simply out of the question in her hometown of Little Rock. When young Carlotta packed her bags and returned to Little Rock in the waning days of August she was no longer the same little girl. Through her experiences that summer she suddenly realized that every place was not like the Jim Crow South that she and her family existed in. She could not have known it at the time but her new worldview would have a profound impact on a monumental decision she would make just a few years later.

In the 1954 decision "Brown v. Board of Education"  the U.S. Supreme Court declared that "all laws establishing segregated schools to be unconstitutional" and furthermore ordered the desegregation of all schools throughout the nation. By the time the State of Arkansas got around to complying with the Supreme Court ruling it was 1957. Governor Orval Faubus was a self proclaimed segregationist who fought integration tooth and nail from the get-go.  He was not happy about but plans were moving forward to integrate the schools including Little Rock Central High School. Nine courageous young black students registered to attend Little Rock Central High in the fall of 1957. One of them was Carlotta Walls. "A Mighty Long Way: My Journey To Justice At Little Rock Central High School" is Carlotta Walls LaNier's gripping first person narrative of the historic and painful events that took place in Little Rock back in 1957 and the effect that the experience would have on the rest of her life.  It is a compelling story.

While reading Carlotta's gut wrenching account of her days at Little Rock Central High one cannot not help but feel empathy for this smart, courageous and determined young lady. Carlotta and her 8 comrades put everything on the line in order to advance the cause of integration in her hometown. But I don't believe that any of these youngsters had any idea what they were up against. As is made clear in the pages of "A Mighty Long Way" the odds were clearly against them. The political establishment in Arkansas would do everything in their power to obstruct the process. Ultimately, President Dwight Eisenhower would be forced to send in federal troops to take control of the situation. It was an ugly time in Little Rock. Racial epithets were flying everywhere and the threat of violence lurked around every corner . One wonders how these young people garnered the courage to face this situation. Indeed, not all of them would make it to graduation.

After much heartache and pain Carlotta Walls did manage to graduate from Central Little Rock High in June of 1960. The very next day she left Little Rock and never looked back. She was tired of the notoriety and controversy and just wanted a fresh start elsewhere. She had never sought the spotlight.  "A Mighty Long Way: My Journey To Justice At Little Rock Central High School" goes on to tell the rest of Carlotta's fascinating life story. Although she went to great lengths to put the events of her past behind her Carlotta would eventually have to come to terms with it. One cannot help but admire what Carlotta and the rest of the group that history would dub "The Little Rock Nine" would ultimately achieve.  I found "A Mighty Long Way" to be a terrific read. Recommended.

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DonnaL1 July 30, 2009

Paul.....I know of this story and it's truly a fascinating one. What courage this young lady had, along with her comrades. Thanks for sharing and I'll put this read on my list. Glad to hear your mother-in-law is doing better.

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Quick Tip by DonnaL1. August 21, 2009

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Have been reading A Mighty Long Way- My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School- brillantly orchestrated, highly recommended!

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About the reviewer

Paul Tognetti (drifter51)
Ranked #3

I guess I would qualify as a frustrated writer. My work requires very little writing and so since 1999 I have been writing reviews on non-fiction books and anthology CD's on amazon.com. I never could … more

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About this book

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At 14, Lanier was the youngest of the Little Rock Nine, who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1951; she went on to become the first African –American young woman to receive a diploma from the school. Her memoir provides a firsthand account of a seismic shift in American history. She recalls the well-reported violence outside the school and daily harassment and ineffective protection from teachers and guards. Away from school, the Nine were honored and feted, but their parents found their jobs—even their lives—in jeopardy. Lanier's house was bombed, and a childhood friend, Herbert Monts, was falsely accused and convicted. Monts's account of his experiences, shared with Lanier, 43 years later, is historically newsworthy. Lanier's recollections of family history and her relatively pedestrian experiences after high school graduation (graduate school, job hunting, marrying, finding her new home in Denver) lack the drama of her historical moment. In a sense, Lanier didn't make history, history made her. Her plainspoken report from the front line is, nevertheless, a worthy contribution to the history of civil rights in America. (Sept.)
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