Nine Who Changed History: Carlotta Walls Lanier
posted 11:09 pm Fri September 07, 2007 - Little Rock
Fifty-years after their contribution toward and influence on the civil rights movement -- those who helped pave the way for students across racial barriers to attend school together are being remembered. It's part of the anniversary commemorating the desegration of Little Rock Central High.
The story of Carlotta Walls Lanier is the focus in this edition of our profiles of the "Nine Who Changed History."
When educators asked for volunteers to desegrate public schools -- nearly 70 black students said "sign me up" -- but after all the legal maneuvering from the capitol to the courthouse -- by the time it was actually decided they would be attending Little Rock Central High. The number had dwindled to nine. Carlotta Walls Lanier was one of them.
Public transportation and state universities in Arkansas were integrated in 1956. The goal was to do the same for education the following year.
(Carlotta Walls Lanier, Little Rock Nine)"In the spring of 1957, when my homeroom teacher had a bulletin to pass around the room, she said any of you have any intentions of going to Little Rock Central in the fall, I was in the 9th grade, please sign this sheet of paper."
But Carlotta Walls Lanier had no idea what she was signing on for. Having been a product of a segregated school system she says she had had a limited experience -- and knew there had to be something more.
(Lanier)"I passed that school everyday going to Dunbar High School. It was about having access to an opportunity. Dunbar was an excellent school, we had excellent teachers, but we didn't have the facilities as they did at Central and I knew what they had because I played softball with the white kids during the summer, they talked about what they had."
That included first-run school supplies.
(Lanier)"I was always happy when they talked about what they had because they would tell me they were getting new books in the fall because their old books were coming down to me."
Her desire for equal educational footing also fueled by something she'd learned about in Birmingham, Alabama two years before: a weary black seamstress named Rosa Parks who challenged the legal system because she simply wanted a seat on the bus. Walls Lanier and 8 black students -- wanted a seat in the classroom.
(Lanier)"It was an opportunity for me to get the best education possible in terms of supplies and the institution itself."
It would unleash a riot -- these were the images of staunch resistance by those who wanted to preserve a way of life. And the anger wasn't just directed at the 9 students -- it included others in the mob's path. This man was one of three members of the black press.
(James Hicks, Executive Editor Amsterdam News, ‘Eyes on The Prize’)"Somebody had a brick in his hand and instead of throwing the brick, because he was too close he hit Alex Wilson up beside his head with this brick, of course Wilson was more than 6 feet tall an ex-marine, he went down like a tree."
Shockwaves reverberated throughout America.
(Lanier)"It awakened the country where the President had to do something. And President Eisenhower had to uphold the constitution and that's when the 101st came in."
(Lanier)"In my mind, there was a lot of ignorance there that people didn't understand we were all human beings and lived under one constitution, just like them, just the difference was the color of our skin."
But Walls Lanier says she never took her eyes off the ultimate prize -- even when -- to avoid integration, Little Rock high schools were shut down during her junior year.
(Lanier)"Jefferson and I came back in our senior year and graduated from central and that diploma validated all that took place in 1957 and I really needed that."
Now, as President of the Little Rock Nine foundation -- w
hich raises scholarship funds -- she focuses on future generations.
(Lanier)"The children are really what matters and helping them understand why they are in the position they are in today and whose shoulders they're standing on and hopefully they will then reach back and help the next group."
(Lanier)"Carlotta Walls Lanier was the only female of the Little Rock Nine to graduate from Little Rock Central. Today she has a successful real estate practice in Colorado.
Tuesday, we’ll tell the story of Terrence Roberts.
© 2008 KATV, LLC
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The 'RUNNING MAN' icon is a registered trademark of America Online, Inc.
Channel 7 News to leave comments on news stories.