Eckford, Elizabeth (1942–)

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Eckford, Elizabeth (1942–)

One of the Little Rock Nine. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1942; served in army as a journalist; earned history degree from Central State College in Ohio; married with 2 sons, including Erin Eckford (killed by police in Little Rock, Dec 2002, who claim he pointed a rifle at them).

Backed by a court order imposing integration, was allowed to attend the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, a defining moment in the civil-rights battle (1957); on arrival at the school, with 8 other black students, was halted by a menacing crowd; 3 weeks later, was escorted into the school by the 101st Airborne paratroopers; became a social worker in Little Rock.

See also Women in World History.

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