A Town Divided
By Daphne McKeefry
Underdogs of Little Rock
Their will for a difference in the wrongs of the world changes an entire community's views on segregation. The novel Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine is a story made to inspire. It starts with two best friends, Marlee is a thirteen year old girl who lives in Little Rock, Arkansas in the year 1958. Marlee has been quiet her whole life, she never speaks to classmates, teachers, or anyone besides family. The schools of Little Rock are segregated, and the high schools are closed as a result. With the arrival of Liz, everything changed. Liz is a new student at her school who acts different than anyone else she has known, and they quickly become good friends. Little did Marlee know, she was a lighter skinned African-American who was trying to pass as Caucasian for a better education. The two pair up for an oral presentation at school, and they bond as Liz teaches Marlee to speak her mind and how to speak in front of others. But when another student spots Liz holding the hand of a little African-American boy, her brother, things take a turn for the worst.
Liz’s ethnicity came to snowball into a cluster of issues. She was never seen at Marlee’s school again. And once Marlee’s parents decide to send her sister, Judy, to live with their grandmother so that she could attend school, she is alone more than ever. They decided to give their friendship another chance, a risky decision, although they both know it may cost their lives.
Every time they met, it became more dangerous for them. Unless they changed the way the town thought, they couldn't keep their friendship. There was an upcoming election in Little Rock for state education board members, there were six spots to fill with people either for or against integration. Marlee and her family, along with many others fought to get people elected who had better views on segregation, with a committee called STOP or Stop This Outrageous Purge. They battled another committee pushing segregation. After weeks of hard work, STOP won the election, and the high schools would be reopened and segregated. Although Liz and Marlee still wouldn’t go to the same school, their courage and indescribable friendship started an advance in the social laws of Little Rock. It may not be a lot, but it’s a really good place for a start.
What it takes to Change History
Liz Fullerton was courageous, far too courageous for her years. The author introduces Liz during the Civil Rights Movement, when she starts at a white school with the main character, Marlee. Liz is colored, but is so light skinned for an African-American that she tried to pass as white for a better education, as well as more respect. Southern citizens who were colored didn't have as many opportunities; the author states “For the first time I realized, not only were there no women among those scientists on TV, there weren't any Negroes either.” This was uncommon at the time and extremely dangerous; by doing this you could be putting yourself and your family in fatal danger. The education and respect Liz is given don’t last long, Liz’s ethnicity is discovered, and she may be expelled, but one thing remains. Liz and Marlee know that their friendship is too precious to waste, and they decide to stay in touch. In that time, people spotted race-mixing were headed to close to a death sentence. After they know the dangers are too large, Liz and Marlee knew they had to change Little Rock alone. The two convince everyone willing to elect education board members who favor integration, and just barely turn out victorious. They may not be able to go to the same school yet, but it’s a start, one that wouldn't be there if it weren't for one girl’s courage to affect others.
Church
This image of a church represents when Liz’s true ethnicity is unveiled while she is walking out of a church with her younger brother. Liz’s classmate was driving in the colored part of town when she saw her, and Liz was never seen at that school again. She had gone to the white school for a better education. Marlee feels abandoned at school after Liz’s disappearance, and the two try to give their friendship another chance, but this time in secret. Soon after this courageous decision was made, they were standing for Civil Rights in their community, and making a difference for something bigger than themselves.
Newpaper
This image represents when Marlee and her family read the newspaper to find out that their candidates for the election of Board of Education members had won! This is a turning point in the story because they had been fighting for these board members to be elected for weeks, and as a reward, the High Schools of Little Rock would be re-opened, and integrated. By integrating the schools, not only would Marlee and Liz be able to go to school together one day, but the state had taken another small step in becoming supportive of Civil Rights.
Microphone
This photo represents the speech that Marlee’s mother made in front of over four hundred Little Rock citizens supporting integrated schools in the town. This speech was one of the most powerful moments in the book. Marlee’s mother spoke about her frustration with the schools closing, how stubborn she was before against integration, and her daughter who turned her views around. She described Marlee’s bravery and friendship, and how passionate she was about the cause. This speech was the spark of a flame, that flame was the people of Little Rock who stood up for Civil Rights and integrated schools, inspired by the words of an honest mother.
Evidence in and Between the Lines
Timeline
1959
Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson, and Ritchie Valens are onboard a plane that crashes in Clear Lake, Iowa, there were no survivors.
1963
Martin Luther King gives “I have a dream speech”
1969
Neil Armstrong takes first steps on the moon, and plants the U.S flag.
1973
Vietnam War ended in an American defeat, the only in history.
1994
Nelson Mandela leads South Africa to an end to Apartheid.
2001
Terrorist plane hits twin towers in New York, killing 3,000 citizens.
2008
First African-American President, Barack Obama wins election.
2012
NASA lands the Curiosity rover on to the planet Mars.