On Monday, Sept. 25, 2017, in the Roosevelt Thompson Auditorium of Little Rock Central High School, dozens of hands were outstretched with programs and pens seeking Gloria Ray Karlmark's signature and those of the other members of the Little Rock Nine as well as President Bill Clinton.
This was a marked contrast to the day in May 1958, when Gloria watched her Central High classmates signing each other's yearbooks and wondered who would sign hers. As she recounted during the 60th anniversary commemoration ceremony, one young lady (with whom Gloria had engaged in a secret friendship) did sign her yearbook. Then another girl offered to do likewise. The second girl wrote, "In a different age, we could have been friends."
After Gloria recounted that story, the auditorium was momentarily still and silent. The impact of her statement hung in the air.
As I reflected on this juxtaposition of 1957 and 2017, I felt a sadness but also hope. I was troubled that Gloria felt as isolated on the last day of that school year as she had been on the first. I was disturbed that she, Carlotta, Elizabeth, Ernie, Jefferson, Melba, Minnijean, Terrence and Thelma had been forced to fight for something that was a constitutional right. But as I looked at the eight surviving members of the Little Rock Nine basking in a room full of love, I was reminded, yet again, that people working together do make a difference.
As we know, there are people today who still feel excluded. They feel voiceless in debates on a wide variety of topics from local issues to international concerns.
Leading up to the Central High commemoration, there was discussion about the activities taking place against the backdrop of the lack of an elected school board. Even among those calling for the immediate return of local control to Little Rock schools, there had been dissension in reference to the 60th anniversary of 1957. Was keeping silent a form of acquiescence? Or was using the commemoration as a platform to discuss the state takeover being disrespectful to the courage of the Little Rock Nine?
No consensus emerged.
It seems that there is little room today for agreement or collaboration. But now, more than ever, we must look at each other. We must value each other. Elizabeth Eckford pointed out at the commemoration ceremony that reconciliation is only possible when all acknowledge a painful and shared past. The only way to accomplish this is to actually communicate with each other.
Despite our differences, or maybe even because of our differences, we must work together. The only way Little Rock will move forward is to have a united effort to improve the city. We each have a role to play.
Part of that role can be civil disagreement. One hundred percent agreement all of the time is not advisable. But neither is total discord. One option is only likely in a totalitarian state, but the other is emblematic of chaos. Neither alternative is desirable. Respect must be given to all sides, even when a deep chasm of disagreement remains.
We all want what is best for Little Rock, for our children, and for our schools. Different people may have widely dissimilar views on what "best" is, but they do want what they feel is the best. Our challenge is to listen to each other and to learn from each other. In contentious times, too often our mouths are open and our minds are closed. We need the opposite to be true.
In remarks throughout the commemoration weekend, the Little Rock Nine expressed diverse views on a variety of topics. They certainly do not agree on everything. Over the years (and that weekend) they have shared an assortment of different reasons for seeking to attend Central. Each student had her or his own personal reasons to attend and unique perspectives then and now.
As we seek to carry on the legacy and the lessons of the Little Rock Nine, we must all recommit ourselves to work--and to work together. To those in attendance at the commemoration ceremony, Dr. Terrence Roberts and Minnijean Brown Trickey each exhorted that the work was far from complete.
In his message at the interfaith service, Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock of Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church reminded us that America has unfinished business. So does Little Rock.
I keep thinking back to that young woman's note to Gloria, "In a different age, we could have been friends." Are we in that different age yet?
On one level, absolutely. Students who are African American, white, Asian, Latino, Native American, and many other backgrounds are friends with each other at Central High School. They have classes and participate in clubs together. The same can be said for the students at each of the Little Rock School District's five high schools.
But there is much work that still must be done. There are still too many things that divide us along racial and economic lines. As Ernest Green reminds us, "Progress is not a single action or moment. It is the small mundane everyday action."
Today, tomorrow, and every day, we must work together to ensure progress moves forward.
So yes, Gloria, I am encouraged that the Little Rock of today would be honored to sign your yearbook.
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Bruce T. Moore is city manager of Little Rock.
Editorial on 10/09/2017