The Lasting Impact of Elizabeth's "Worst First" Day

Back-to-school can be a very exciting time. While parents scramble for school supplies, young people anticipate a great year filled with new friends and learning adventures. However, students bullied in years past may be reluctant to once again place themselves in harm's way. Similarly, adults can dread returning to work environments made toxic by former school bullies who torment unbridled on the job just as they did in grade school.

Elizabeth Eckford understands the angst of the bullied. She was only 15 in 1957 when she donned a new dress made with her sister Anna for her first day of school. She was a member of the Little Rock Nine, a group of brave African American students who would be the first to desegregate Central High, a formerly all-white school in Little Rock, Arkansas. A photograph taken by Will Counts of Eckford attempting to attend Central High went viral before such a phenomenon existed. The world saw the "face of racism" and did not like what it saw.

Eckford shares insights from her experiences in her first autobiography, The Worst First Day: Bullied While Desegregating Central High. Eckford felt compelled to share her experiences because of the increased number of students and adults committing suicide due to bullying. As someone who was tormented for a year at school, she hopes to provide perspective and encourage those contemplating hurting themselves. Eckford wants readers to value their own opinion more than the jaded view of outsiders and hopes to provoke bystanders to have the courage to speak up rather than watch silently from the sidelines. She speaks from experience and wants those in toxic environments to remain steadfast with their eyes on their goals. 

The Worst First Day provides an in-depth analysis of history in an accessible manner. The content was designed to appeal to readers of all ages. Middle school students enjoy the book's historical insights shared in verse and Rachel Gibson's captivating graphic artwork. High school, college students and adults are intrigued by Will Counts' award-winning photography and the book's documentation, to include presidential correspondence, student artwork and military reports from "Operation Arkansas". Most importantly, readers note the ease in which they can understand the complexities of the Central High Crisis.

It was an honor to co-author The Worst First Day with my friend of 20 years and my 15-year-old daughter Grace. We are grateful for the opportunity to share the bravery of teens who became civil rights icons due to their sheer determination to enforce the Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision with the next generation. We hope this book not only inspire readers, but also increase their personal resilience.

Before Elizabeth's first day of school, Governor Orval Faubus ordered the Arkansas National Guard to surround Central High to prevent the Little Rock Nine from entering. Unaware the other students were contacted to travel together, Eckford arrived alone with seemingly nowhere to turn. She was blocked by armed soldiers who prevented her entry into school and surrounded by a mob of angry segregationists who threatened her life, a very real threat given the lynching of Emmett Till that took place only two years prior.

Eckford was engulfed by hate. Despite her fear, she kept moving. Her resilience serves as an important lesson for us all.

Weeks later, President Dwight D. Eisenhower intervened by sending in the 101st Airborne to ensure the Little Rock Nine's safe passage. Many assume the Nine's troubles ended the day the soldiers arrived, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Throughout the year, the Nine were harassed, demeaned and even physically assaulted by students, teachers and Little Rock citizens. School administrators did nothing to protect the unwanted students, but they remained steadfast because they knew the significance of their efforts.

In The Worst First Day, Eckford shares personal insights as well as analysis from years of Central High Crisis research. Although issues such as racism, segregation and discrimination are discussed at length, the book's primary focus is to speak out against bullying, a terror Eckford experienced daily. She notes, "The act of bullying can never be justified. It is more a reflection of the attacker than the person being attacked."

Eckford wants readers to recognize the power in their words and know they can support someone being harassed. She speaks fondly of the only two white students who showed her kindness in school, Ken Reinhardt and Ann Williams. Every day, Eckford endured a gauntlet of racial slurs, attempts to push her down the stairs, punches and even being scalded in gym class to before her last class of the day, Speech. It was the only class where she was treated like a human being. Ken and Ann's kindness and empathy made a world of difference. She hopes readers will follow suit and be the difference for someone else.

On September 4, 2018, the Little Rock Central High Memory Project will dedicate a replica of the bus bench that served as Eckford's place of refuge her first day of school as she attempted to escape the crowd and return home. On that bench she was shown compassion by several brave souls who tried to help, to include four white newspaper reporters who stood behind Eckford to protect her back and three individuals who risked the crowd's wrath to help Eckford evade the enraged mob, Terrence Roberts, L.C. Bates and Grace Lorch. Of the nearly 300 people in attendance that day, few stood up for what was right.

The efforts of the courageous further condemns the apathy of bystanders.

Elizabeth Eckford is a modern-day heroine and a true inspiration whose message is more important today than ever. She wants readers to realize the power of their words and understand their ability to make a difference. Join her effort to raise awareness against the impact of bullying, apathy and racism by reading her book The Worst First Day and following her lead. Together, we can #WalkPastHate.

The Worst First Day: Bullied While Desegregating Central High is available on Amazon at bit.ly/worst1st. For an unforgettable presentation, forward speaking requests to [email protected].