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A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School Audiobook
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(3.13) - 184 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
When fourteen-year-old Carlotta Walls walked up the stairs of Little Rock Central High School on September 25, 1957, she and eight other black students only wanted to make it to class. But the journey of the "Little Rock Nine," as they came to be known, would lead the nation on an even longer and much more turbulent path, one that would challenge prevailing attitudes, break down barriers, and forever change the landscape of America. For Carlotta and the eight other children, simply getting through the door of this admired academic institution involved angry mobs, racist elected officials, and intervention by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was forced to send in the 101st Airborne to escort the Nine into the building. But entry was simply the first of many trials. Breaking her silence at last and sharing her story for the first time, Carlotta Walls has written an engrossing memoir that is a testament not only to the power of a single person to make a difference but also to the sacrifices made by families and communities that found themselves a part of history.
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"This book was fascinating. I remember the news of the 9 black students who were the first to integrate Little Rock Central High School but I had never thought about what their experience would have been. Carlotta LaNier first described her growing up, a story which resonated with me despite the facts that my circumstances, as a Northern white girl in private schools, were totally different. I was surprised at the reasons Carlotta wanted to go to the white school. She wasn't trying to start a social movement or be a hero. She simply knew it was one of the best high schools in the state and education was important to her. She assumed that since the Supreme Court had ruled that schools must be integrated, it would simply happen. The account of the way those teenagers were treated that year is incredibly sad. It took Carlotta some 30 years before she could talk about it. The book is a very readable, very personal story of an historic event."
— Lucy (5 out of 5 stars)
A Mighty Long Way Listener Reviews
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" Amazing story that reminds me real people make history. Connections to Michigan were very interesting. "
— Courtney, 2/5/2014 -
" This is one of the best books I've ever read. I then had the privilege to meet the author. It is a hopeful and painful book about places near and dear to my heart, Little Rock and Little Rock Central High School. Ms. LaNier shows us the good and the bad of being one of the nine students to integrate LRCH. Her story is so reflective of her as a person brutally honest but not overly sentimental. This book helped me to understand why so many African-Americans left the south when they were able to. It expanded my understanding of what racism looked and looks like in daily life. It is so important that we as Americans seek to understand others and this book helps to do that. "
— Laura, 1/14/2014 -
" Really enjoyed reading this book and learning more about everything these brave teenagers went through just to be able to go to a public high school. We went to Little Rock over spring break in March and saw Central High School (an amazing building--not like your typical HS at all) and went to the visitors' center across the street. "
— Heather, 12/25/2013 -
" Very moving book. President Clinton summed it up in his introduction: "A Might Long Way will make you ashamed and proud, angry and hopeful, heartsick and happy. Carlotta tells it as it was, a story we all need to know." "
— Valerie, 12/2/2013 -
" I heard the author speak and she was very impressive. The book helps to bring the historic event to life and tells it from the perspective of one of the nine. "
— Shelly, 12/2/2013 -
" Balanced and thoughtful account of the Little Rock Nine from the perspective of Carlotta Walls. Inspiring! "
— Greg, 11/29/2013 -
" Good insight to how these teenagers reacted and triumphed over the years. "
— Danelle, 11/11/2013 -
" Excellent account of the horror of integration in Little Rock and the success of the author in future years. "
— Suzanne, 9/24/2013 -
" I really enjoyed reading this book. I got to work on processing the collection which was used to write the book. I got to meet her and look at her collection. This book is special to me. "
— Blitsterman, 1/26/2012 -
" Every American should read this book. These people were heroes in my own back yard. I will be interviewing Carlotta Walls LaNier for my blog, Aberration Nation soon. Watch for that! "
— Penelope, 7/27/2011 -
" I saw the author speak and was very intrigued by this story. A very detailed and informative account of how she came to be and cope with being one of the "Little Rock Nine". Great and intriguing story. "
— Emily, 6/13/2011 -
" I loved this book. I am so glad I got to meet the author at the KC Main Library. What an amazing story she has to share. "
— Becky, 5/21/2011 -
" Had to read it for school -- starts off slow and ends way after it should've in my opinion. After she graduated I just kind of lost interest. "
— Micaelyn, 10/17/2010 -
" I had read Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Patillo Beals a few years ago, so it was interesting to get another perspective. This should be required reading at the high school level. Have people forgotten how hard people fought (and with such dignity) for civil rights for people of color? "
— Christine, 4/28/2010 -
" Another book that exemplifies courage....Carlotta was one of those brave kids who endured a horrible year at Little Rock Central HS. I couldn't believe how children could be abused by other students and their parents. "
— Donna, 2/26/2010
About the Authors
William Jefferson Clinton was the forty-second president of the United States and the first baby-boomer to occupy the Oval Office. He became president at the end of the Cold War, serving two terms from 1993 to 2001 and leaving with the highest end-of-office approval rating of any president since World War II. Since then, he has been involved in public speaking and humanitarian work and has remained active in politics by campaigning for Democratic candidates.
Lisa Frazier Page, an editor and award-winning reporter at the Washington Post, is the coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Pact: Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream. A graduate of New Orleans’ Dillard University, she holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She grew up in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and lives in the Washington, DC, area with her husband.
About the Narrators
Lizan Mitchell has won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration as well as nine Earphones Awards. She appears frequently on episodic television and more recently in the feature film The Human Stain.
Peter Jay Fernandez is an accomplished audiobook narrator who has won three AudioFile Earphones Awards and an Audie Award in 2009. He has also appeared on television, film, and stage. His appearances include roles in Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and the musical Thunder Knocking on the Door.