MIDWEEK MUSINGS: 1/534

One out of 534 Central High graduates was black and her name was Sybil we we met this afternoon as Dr. Sybil Jordan Hampton. Not one of those 534 white students ever dared to befriend her/even speak to her during her high school years there. It was a tumultuous time for racism especially in this all white Southern high school. 

Soft spoken Dr. Hampton read to us from her forthcoming memoir, A Guest in a Strange House.

In the Q&A we heard about Dr. Hampton's neighbors read about community affairs in the NAACP newspaper. 

 Dr. Hampton grew up where on opposite sides of the street of one block there were 2 grocery stores, one for the whites and one for the blacks. Little Rock was a very segregated city in the '50s. 

We heard about a lot of praying, especially when the National Guard descended upon the high school in 1957. The school was closed due to the violence (58-59). 

Forgiveness and grievance helped Dr. Hampton survive her past. Yet, race relations are still an issue in our country and sitting idly by is not helping anyone. Change is possible.  May we all have the patience and calmness Dr. Hampton exemplifies... We are all one race- humans. Let's share accountability.

Thanks to UALR's English department for sponsoring these readings.