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  • © 2015

The Little Rock Crisis

What Desegregation Politics Says About Us

Palgrave Macmillan

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Table of contents (12 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
  2. Introduction: A Meeting of Histories

    1. Introduction: A Meeting of Histories

      • Ravi K. Perry, D. LaRouth Perry
      Pages 1-12
  3. Ideas, Institutions, and Interests in the Little Rock Era of School Integration

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 13-15
    2. Perceptions: Black and White Views on Race Relations

      • Ravi K. Perry, D. LaRouth Perry
      Pages 17-26
    3. A Life of Courage: Mrs. Daisy Bates’s Motivations and Leadership

      • Ravi K. Perry, D. LaRouth Perry
      Pages 27-33
    4. Sacrifice: Profiles of the Little Rock Nine

      • Ravi K. Perry, D. LaRouth Perry
      Pages 35-78
    5. Duty to Re-election: Governor Orval Faubus and Political Racism

      • Ravi K. Perry, D. LaRouth Perry
      Pages 79-92
    6. Acquiescence: School Leadership Reluctance on Brown

      • Ravi K. Perry, D. LaRouth Perry
      Pages 93-102
    7. Redemption of (Their) History: Voices of Active Segregationists

      • Ravi K. Perry, D. LaRouth Perry
      Pages 103-134
  4. Contemporary Proceeds: Telling the Story

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 149-151
    2. Witnessing the Crisis at Forty: Reflections of D. LaRouth Perry

      • Ravi K. Perry, D. LaRouth Perry
      Pages 153-165
    3. Personal Stories: Little Rock Residents’ Oral Histories of the Crisis

      • Ravi K. Perry, D. LaRouth Perry
      Pages 167-187
    4. Impact: Examining the Post-crisis Political Behavior of Little Rockians

      • Ravi K. Perry, D. LaRouth Perry
      Pages 189-206
    5. Us and the Crisis City: Engagement with Community for Improved Democracy

      • Ravi K. Perry, D. LaRouth Perry
      Pages 207-210
  5. Back Matter

    Pages 211-255

About this book

The Little Rock Crisis frames the story of the Little Rock 1957 desegregation crisis through the lens of memory. Over time, those memories – individual and collective – have motivated Little Rockians for social and political action and engagement.

Reviews

“The book explores the implications of the Little Rock Nine, and how that movement was part of a larger social phenomenon for blacks in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. … The book is successful in its mission and serves as a wonderful contribution to the fields of political science, public policy, social policy, and related fields. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.” (L. T. Grover, Choice, Vol. 53 (7), March, 2016)

"Everyone knows about the nine people who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957. This remarkable book documents the rest of the story: how the crisis at Central High touched the lives of ordinary people in the eye of the storm. The Little Rock Crisis is probing, intelligent, moving, inspiring and highly recommended for both activists and scholars." - James A. Morone, Brown University, USA, Author of Hellfire Nation and The Devils We Know

"One of the many strengths of this book is directly traced to the deep familial roots the authors have with the people and town of Little Rock, Arkansas...Using a mixed-method approach, careful attention to detail, and respectful engagement with Little Rock residents, the authors craft a compelling analysis of whether and how being in the shadow of a national event affects the politics of local citizens." - Valeria Sinclair-Chapman, Purdue University, USA

"The authors have delivered to us a wonderful book on the politics of memory. They show that as a local memory that had national implications, the 1957 Little Rock crisis influenced a generation of black folk decades later...This book is a must read for those interested in memory studies and the legacies of the Little Rock crisis." - Fredrick Harris, Columbia University, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  • Starkville, USA

    Ravi K. Perry

  • Tampa, USA

    D. LaRouth Perry

About the authors

Ravi K. Perry is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Mississippi State University, USA. His previous books include 21st Century Urban Race Politics (as editor) and Black Mayors, White Majorities.

D. LaRouth Perry is an independent scholar and native of Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. She holds a PhD in American Culture from Bowling Green State University, USA.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access