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In this essential autobiographical account by one of the Civil Rights Movement's most powerful figures, Melba Pattillo Beals of the Little Rock Nine explores not only the oppressive force of racism, but the ability of young people to change ideas of race and identity. ... Read Full Overview

In this essential autobiographical account by one of the Civil Rights Movement's most powerful figures, Melba Pattillo Beals of the Little Rock Nine explores not only the oppressive force of racism, but the ability of young people to change ideas of race and identity. In 1957,... Read Full Overview

In this compelling autobiographical account by one of the Civil Rights Movement's most powerful figures, Beals explores not only the power of racism, but also the ideas of justice and identity. In 1957, well before Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, Melba Pattillo... Read Full Overview

In this compelling autobiographical account by one of the Civil Rights Movement's most powerful figures, Beals explores not only the power of racism, but also the ideas of justice and identity. In 1957, well before Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, Melba Pattillo... Read Full Overview

Using news accounts and the diary she kept as a teenager, Beals relives the harrowing year when she was selected as one of the first nine students to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.

In 1957, Melba Pattillo became one of the nine African American students chosen to attend an all-white high school, and endured daily hateful attacks. Years later, Melba reconstructs the events of that year with diary entries and newspaper stories.

Using news accounts and the diary she kept as a teenager, Beals relives the harrowing year when she was selected as one of the first nine students to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957.