It was no coincidence that the release date for David Margolick’s new book, “Elizabeth and Hazel: Two Women of Little Rock,” coincided with Elizabeth Eckfort’s 70th birthday celebration. Margolick specifically chose that date as a tribute to the Little Rock Nine member.
An audience at the Clinton School was on hand Tuesday night to help celebrate both milestones. Introduced by Clinton School student Yana-Janell Scott (’13), Margolick shared with the audience memories of his 12-year quest to research the relationship of the two women captured in one of the most prolific photographs of the Civil Rights Movement.
Often asked when was the first time he saw the photograph of Little Rock Central High School student Hazel Massery screaming at Eckford during the historic 1957 desegregation crisis, Margolick cannot pinpoint the exact moment; he simply says that you only need to see it once to have it stick with you.
“What picture better captures the attitude of the South towards integration in 1957?” Margolick said,
Margolick reminisced about his time in Little Rock in 1999, on assignment for the New York Times, when he saw a poster of Elizabeth and Hazel, taken years after the integration of Central High, that showed them embracing rather than shouting. It was that poster that spurred Margolick’s quest to find out all that he could about the two women.
Margolick discussed how he saw the relationship between Elizabeth and Hazel evolve and fracture over time because of the public reaction to their situation. He expressed remorse that Hazel has retreated from the public eye and was not present at the event on Tuesday.
Margolick expressed his gratitude for the welcome he received in Little Rock during his many trips to conduct research and interviews. He said he hopes the people of Little Rock are happy with it as well, and he is still hopeful that Elizabeth and Hazel can reconcile once again.
A video of Margolick’s Clinton School speech will be posted soon at www.clintonschoolspeakers.com.
This post was written by Clinton School student Veena Rangaswami (’13).