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

Grade Band 6-8 Reading Level 4.7

Adapted Book Usage

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Prologue: Remembering Central High – Fifty Years Later

Carlotta was the first black woman to graduate from Central High School. For a

long time, she did not talk to anyone about it. It was too upsetting to think about.

Then, she decided to write her story.

Chapters 1-2

Carlotta lived in the South in a place called Little Rock, Arkansas. It was the 1950s.

Black people and white people could not be in the same places together in the

South. The schools were segregated. Black students went to one school. White

students went to another school. In the South , black people could not do the

same things as white people.

One summer Carlotta went to visit her aunt and uncle. They lived in the North in a

placed called New York. In the North, white and black people could be in the

same places together. Carlotta could play with white children. People of different

races spoke nicely to each other In the South , black people could not do the same

things as white people.

Carlotta loved school. She wanted to go to Central High School. This was an all-

white school. The government decided that segregation was unfair. Central High

School was going to let black and white students go to school together. They

would be the first school to integrate in the South. In the South , black people

could not do the same things as white people.

Chapters 3-4

Carlotta and eight of her black friends would go to Central in the fall. The

governor and other white people did not want them there. The principal made

unfair rules for them. They could not do the same activities as the white

students. White people tried to keep the black students out of Central.

The night before school started, white people threatened the black students. The

first day of school was cancelled. The next day, the black students went to the

school. There was an angry crowd there. The crowd called the students mean

names. White people tried to keep the black students out of Central.

The governor told soldiers to keep the black students out. He would not let the

black students go to school. The news that students could not go to school spread

all over the country. The nine students were famous. A judge said the school had

to let the black students in. White people tried to keep the black students out of

Central.

Chapters 5-6

A few weeks later, the students went to school. There was a loud crowd outside.

The black students had to leave early because the crowd was too dangerous. The

President of the United States wanted to help Carlotta and the other students. He

sent the best soldiers to Central. The soldiers drove them safely to school. Many

white students were mean to Carlotta and her friends.

A soldier walked everywhere with Carlotta at school. Students yelled and spit at

her. They put glue and ink on her. Most of them did not get in trouble. Carlotta

could not stop them. Many white students were mean to Carlotta and her friends.

Carlotta learned how to take care of herself. She still worked hard to get good

grades. She tried not to cry at school. She only laughed at lunch with her friends.

Carlotta hoped that things would get better. Many white students were mean to

Carlotta and her friends.

Chapters 7-8

That summer, Carlotta and the other black students went to many different cities.

They were given civil rights awards. They were called brave heroes. Carlotta was

given money for college. School was important to Carlotta.

The summer ended and Carlotta had to go back to Central High School. It was

Carlotta’s junior year. The governor of Arkansas closed Central High School. He

did not want the school to integrate. Carlotta worried that she would not get into

college. School was important to Carlotta.

In January, Carlotta moved to Cleveland. She lived with a family and went to an

integrated school there. Carlotta was accepted into college her junior year, but

she wanted to finish high school at Central. Just in time for her senior year,

Central High School reopened. School was important to Carlotta.

Chapters 9-11

Students and teachers were still mean to Carlotta at Central High School. She was

very lonely. Carlotta decided to go to Michigan State for college. She only had

four months of high school left. Things were unfair for people in Arkansas.

One day, the people against integration bombed many buildings in town. They did

not want the black students to go to school with the white students. The men

responsible were sent to jail. The people against integration also bombed

Carlotta’s house. Carlotta would not let the bomb keep her away from school. She

wanted to show that black students could do as well as other people in school.

But her grades went down because she was so worried. People from all over the

world encouraged the family to keep going. Things were unfair for people in

Arkansas.

The police questioned Carlotta’s friends and family about the bomb that hit her

house. They arrested two of Carlotta’s friends. Both of them were found guilty.

The police made them say that they bombed Carlotta’s house. The people who

really blew up the house were never caught. Carlotta wanted to get out of Little

Rock. Things were unfair for people in Arkansas.

Chapters 12-13

Carlotta was afraid that the people who were against integration would ruin her

graduation. The day of graduation, Carlotta walked proudly across the stage. She

was the first black woman to graduate from Central High School. That night,

Carlotta and her friends celebrated. Carlotta went to college.

At the end of the summer, Carlotta went to college in Michigan. She was

welcomed there. She had a lot of fun, but it was hard to focus on her school

work. Carlotta went to college.

After her second year of college, Carlotta decided to leave college in Michigan.

She went to live with her aunt and uncle in Colorado. She worked during the day

and took college classes at night. After two years, Carlotta decided to go to school

full-time again. Carlotta went to college.

Chapters 14-15

Carlotta lost a lot of important people in her life. Her grandpa and dad both died.

Carlotta graduated from college. She got a job at a YWCA. Later, she got married

and had two children. Carlotta had to tell her story so that others could learn

from it.

Carlotta never told her husband and children that she was one of the nine black

students to go to Central High School. A movie came out about her and the other

students. They were known as the Little Rock Nine. She shared her story with her

husband and children. Carlotta had to tell her story so that others could learn

from it.

The Little Rock Nine met for the thirtieth and fortieth anniversaries of the

students attending Central High School. These were the only times Carlotta came

back to Central. It was hard for her to remember high school. Carlotta started

sharing her story with many groups of people. The Little Rock Nine created a

foundation. The foundation helps kids learn about the importance of education.

Carlotta had to tell her story so that others could learn from it.

Chapters 16-17

Carlotta didn’t go to Central because she wanted to be one of the few black

students. She went because she wanted the best education. Today, students need

to learn about her life so they can understand the history of civil rights. Students

need to be grateful for their education. Americans should learn from the

discrimination of the past.

The country will always remember the Little Rock Nine. In the Arkansas state

capital, there are statues of the nine students. Americans should learn from the

discrimination of the past.

A Mighty L ong Way Vocabulary Definitions *This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words

and/or create additional words based on student needs.Essential VocabularyImportant Vocabulary

South- lower region of the United States

Segregate- to separate by races

North- upper region of the United States

Race (i.e. classification)- a group of people with common ancestors

Integrate- to come together; to form into a larger group

Governor- someone chosen to act as the head of a state

Unfair- not fair, not honest

Threaten- to show an intent to hurt someone

Soldiers- people in the military

Judge- a person who makes decisions in a court of law

Crowd- a large number of people close together

Dangerous- something that may cause injury or harm

President- the leader of a country

Mean- purposefully unkind, not nice

Trouble- getting punished when one does something wrong

Civil Rights- the freedoms of every person in a country

Brave- not feeling or showing any fear

Heroes- people admired for doing great things that help others

Adapted from http://www.wordcentral.com/

College- school higher than high school

Important- something that matters, something meaningful

Lonely- sad because of separation from others

Bomb- a weapon that explodes

Encourage- to help someone feel hope or keep going

Police- people that keep order and enforce the law, investigate crimes, and make arrests

Guilty- having done wrong

Graduation- the ceremony marking a student completing school

Celebrate- to observe in a special way

Welcome- received gladly

Focus- to concentrate, to think about something

Work- the tasks done as one's regular job

Die- to stop living

Anniversary- a day when something special or important happened

Remember- to bring to mind or think of again

Foundation- money given to help a group

History- a written record of important events that happened in the past

Grateful- thankful

Discrimination- treating some people better than others without any fair reason

Capital- a city that has the offices of the state government

Statue- a sculpted work of art Adapted from http://www.wordcentral.com/

A Mighty Long Way Vocabulary and Object List* This list is a vocabulary reference tool.

Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Vocabulary ObjectSouth Compass; Textured compass rose pointing down on a mapSegregate Separate ingredients North Compass; Textured compass rose pointing up on a mapIntegrate Put ingredients into a pot (e.g., trail mix)Unfair Give different amounts of money/objects to different studentsSoldiers Boots; HelmetJudge GavelCrowd People (barbies)Dangerous Caution TapePresident FlagCivil Rights Paper chain of people holding handsBrave MedalHeroes Super hero action figureCollege Heavy TextbookBomb Danger/Flammable Sign (tactile)Encourage Pom-poms; High fivePolice Toy Police Car; Whistle; Police CostumeGraduation Cap and GownBreak (summer) Lean back with hands behind head; Student’s sign for breakStruggle Hard task for the student; Tug of war with ropeWork ToolsDie Miniature tombstone (Halloween decoration)Anniversary CakeRemember Tie string onto fingerHistory TimelineGrateful Thanksgiving

Discrimination Remove different object from group of similar objects (e.g., 5 circles and 1 triangle)

Capital Textured star on a mapStatue Small Statue

Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures: A Mighty Long Way*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs

South

Segregate

North

Race (i.e. classification)

Integrate

Governor

Unfair

Threaten

Soldiers

Judge

Crowd

Dangerous

Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures: A Mighty Long Way*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs

President

Mean

Trouble

Civil Rights

Brave

Heroes

College

Important

Lonely

Bomb Encourage Police

Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures: A Mighty Long Way*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs

Guilty

Graduation

Celebrate

Welcomed

Focus

Work

Die

Anniversary

Remember

Foundation

History Grateful

Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures: A Mighty Long Way*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs

Discrimination

Capital Statue

Public Domain Vocabulary Pictures: A Mighty Long Way*This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs

A Mighty Long Way Comprehension Questions

Grade Band Extensions: RL HS.1 (Factual and Inferential Responses), CS HS.4 (See Vocab List) HS.5 (Text Structure), RI HS.1 (Cite Text to Support Factual and Inferential Responses), RI HS.2 (Connect Details to Main Idea), RI HS.3 (Analyze Order of Events)

Chapters 1-2

Where did Carlotta live? (in the South, in Little Rock, Arkansas) What parts of the country were segregated? What parts of the country were integrated? (South,

North) How did segregation impact Carlotta? (She went to an all-black school; She couldn’t go to the same

places as white people) Why did Carlotta go to Central High School? (it was integrating, she wanted to receive a better

education-she loved school) When did this story take place? (the 1950’s)

Chapters 3-4

Who did not want black students to go to Central High School? (the Governor, Principal, angry crowd, some white people)

What was unfair about Central High School? (The black students had unfair rules; they could not do activities like the white students)

What did the crowd do? (Stood outside the school; Called the students mean names) Why were the nine students famous? (They were some of the first black students to attend a white

school in the south) What would it be like to go to a school where you were not welcome?

Chapters 5-6

How did the president of the United States help the black students at Central High School? (He sent soldiers to protect them)

Name something mean that the white students did to Carlotta. (Spit on her, Put ink and glue on her; Yelled at her)

How did Carlotta feel about Central? (She hoped things would get better; She tried not to cry; She was only happy with her friends)

Chapters 7-8

What did the nine black students do over the summer? (Visited different cities; Won a civil rights award; Got money for college)

What were the students called? (brave heroes) Where did Carlotta want to go after high school? (College) Why was Carlotta worried about not getting into college? (Because they closed Central High School) Where did Carlotta go to high school her junior year? (in Cleveland)

Chapters 9-11

A Mighty Long Way Comprehension Questions

Grade Band Extensions: RL HS.1 (Factual and Inferential Responses), CS HS.4 (See Vocab List) HS.5 (Text Structure), RI HS.1 (Cite Text to Support Factual and Inferential Responses), RI HS.2 (Connect Details to Main Idea), RI HS.3 (Analyze Order of Events)

What happened to Carlotta’s house? (It was bombed) Why did Carlotta’s grades go down? (because she was worried) Who was arrested for bombing Carlotta’s house? (Her friends) Who blew up Carlotta’s house? (The people against integration)

Chapters 12-13

What was Carlotta the first to do at Central? (She was the first black woman to graduate) Where did she go to college? (Michigan) Compare and contrast Michigan State and Central High School. (Both schools; Carlotta was

welcomed at Michigan State, and she had a lot of fun there; Carlotta was treated badly at Central) Why did Carlotta leave Michigan? (She needed a break from college, it was hard to focus on

schoolwork)

Chapters 14-15

What did Carlotta do after college? (She got a job, got married, had kids) When did Carlotta tell her family that she was one of the Little Rock Nine? (When a movie came out) Why was it hard for Carlotta to go back to Central? (Because she didn’t want to remember high

school) What does the Little Rock Nine Foundation do? (Helps kids learn about the importance of education)

Chapters 16-17

Who is Carlotta? (Author of the book; One of the Little Rock Nine) CS HS.6 (Point of View) Where are there statues of the students? (Arkansas state capital) Why is Carlotta’s story important? (To learn from the discrimination of the past and the history of

civil rights)