In September 1957 nine black children tried to integrate Arkansas’s Little Rock Central High School in accordance with the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Claiming he was acting to keep the peace; Gov. Orval Faubus used the Arkansas National Guard to keep them out of the school. After a lengthy standoff; President Eisenhower called in the 101st Airborne and reluctantly; slowly; but forcibly began to integrate the school. The standoff became a rallying cry for Southern segregationists and a marker of the country's shame. The accounts that have been so mythologized over the years leave people embarrassed and angry; yet the myth is a cardboard cutout of the full story. Turn Away Thy Son; told from the point of view of sixteen key participants; brings the nine students; their tormentors; the school administration; the governor; and the press to vivid life. It shows the truth about Little Rock; beyond the caricatures to the fundamental driving forces that made school desegregation the hottest of hot-button issues in the Jim Crow South.
#203389 in Books Free Press 2005-03-07 2005-03-07Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.44 x 1.10 x 5.50l; .95 #File Name: 0743245164464 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Without the millions of great women working back in the States during those yearsBy Gerald A. CurtinBrings many subjects involving the effect to womens' works in the period 1942-1945 and beyond into discussion and consideration. I found it one of the most interesting and enlightening books about WWII that I have read; particularly with regards to those "left behind". Those "left behind" were invaluable to winning the war. Without the millions of great women working back in the States during those years; we may all be way too fluent in speaking German and Japanese; without our desire of doing so.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. but Yellin does a beautiful job revealing what has been hidden and telling stories ...By parallelFrom WACs to Rosies to traitors to spies and beyond; Emily Yellin spans the scope of women's roles in WWII. Research of this kind is difficult because it isn't the main focus of the war years; but Yellin does a beautiful job revealing what has been hidden and telling stories that illuminate the lives of half the American population. The personal connection is deftly woven into the larger context and makes for a satisfying whole. Well-worth the read.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great job by some brave womenBy USMC SniperThis is a real history book. My own mother worked in the Norden Bomb sight factory during WWII while neighbors looked after me. In those days most Americans looked after each other while the fathers; sons; uncles; brothers and the husbands were off at war. Mine father was in Europe. The newer generations are not aware of the sacrifices of the women during WWII. Had it not been for them joining the effort we would have used many more men and many would not have survive. Great job by some brave women.
