A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School

Written by Carlotta Walls LaNier, Lisa Frazier Page and Bill Clinton

Narrated by Lizan Mitchell and Peter Jay Fernandez

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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 15, 2010
• ISBN: 9781440773822

Reviews for A Mighty Long Way

[citizenjoyce · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Lanier has escaped the family's Southern chauvinism and tells the story that we all knew about but didn't know this much about. Her Black family actually voted for Governor Faubus because they thought he worked well for people. How well they, and we, learned their lesson. By the way, this was one smart teen-aged girl. She valued her education, she had the opportunity to go to the 40th best ranked high school in the nation, so she took it. In this case, it was her society that was off the rail

[csmith0406-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gave me a new appreciation for the day to day realities of growing up and living in pre-integration South, as well as the toll racism takes on individuals and society. An inspiring story of courage and perseverance.

[mjspear_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Carlotta Walls Lanier was a member of the original Little Rock Nine -- a group of young people who integrated Little Rock (Arkansas) Central High School. Her memoir joins several others in recounting the prejudice, fear, and violence of that time. Unlike "Warriors Don't Cry" Carlotta takes a slightly wider angle to the subject. She actually spent two years (most only passed one) at the high school and, in addition, tells of her life after the event. While she suffered only minor scrapes and humiliations, her parents' house was bombed and, most tragically, a family member was blamed (all evidence suggests it was local segregationists). Unlike her colleagues, Lanier has mixed feelings with her role in the event and often kept her past a secret. While articulate and thoughtful, Lanier's tone is amazingly dispassionate. Her objective voice makes the horrifying abuse she endured all the more credible. At the same time, this reader wanted a bit more emotion, at times. She is not very forthcoming of her inner-most feelings (e.g., she talks about a girl stepping on the backs of her heels -- months of abuse -- with little rancor; she introduces her husband-to-be almost as an afterthought.) "Warriors...", in contrast, churns with emotions. The person truly interested in this dark hour in American history should read both books.