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tblue37

(68,460 posts)
6. Here is an excerpt from an article about them:
Sun Jan 20, 2019, 01:54 PM
Jan 2019
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2011/10/elizabeth-eckford-and-hazel-bryan-what-happened-to-the-two-girls-in-the-most-famous-photo-of-the-civil-rights-era.html


snip

. . . Two years after they’d first met, the pair even appeared on Oprah. Winfrey hadn’t bothered hiding her incredulity, even disdain, that day: Of all people, these two were now friends? But as rude as both felt her to have been, she’d been on to something. The improbable relationship had already begun to unravel.

A student of, and stickler for, history, Elizabeth looked for—and, she thought, spotted—holes in Hazel’s story. How, for instance, could Hazel have undertaken something so cruel so casually, then remembered so little about it afterward? And why, after all these years, did she absolve her parents from any blame? At their joint appearances, Elizabeth could treat Hazel impatiently, peremptorily. Meantime, others in the Little Rock Nine either shunned Hazel or complained of her presence at various commemorations.

But resentment came as well from whites, particularly whites who’d attended Central, particularly those from better families, who’d thought that, even by always looking the other way, they’d done absolutely nothing wrong during those dark days and, truth be told, considered Hazel and her ilk “white trash.” Forty years earlier she’d given them all a black eye; now, she was back, more conspicuous, and embarrassing, than ever. At a reunion she foolishly, or naively, attended, she felt their cold shoulder, and could hear their snickers. None of them had ever apologized for anything they’d done or not done, and, as far as Hazel could tell, they’d been none the worse for their silence.

Ultimately, it grew too much for Hazel. She cut off ties with Elizabeth—for her, Sept. 11, 2011, marked another anniversary: 10 years had passed since they’d last spoken—and stopped making public appearances with her. Her interviews with me—granted only with great reluctance—will, she says, be her last. When I asked the two women to pose together one last time (Elizabeth turned 70 last Tuesday; Hazel will in January) Elizabeth agreed; Hazel would not. Hazel was poised to vote for Obama in 2008; after all, even her own mother did. But so deep was her hurt that she found some excuse not to.

So the famous photograph of 1957 takes on additional meaning: the continuing chasm between the races and the great difficulty, even among people of good will, to pull off real racial reconciliation. But shuttling back and forth between them, I could see that for all their harsh words—over the past decade, they’ve only dug in their heels—they still missed one another. Each, I noticed, teared up at references to the other. Perhaps, when no one is looking—or taking any pictures—they’ll yet come together again. And if they can, maybe, so too, can we.

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He represents: Kentucky, March For Life, and Catholics RainCaster Jan 2019 #1
No, he represents MAGat pukes CountAllVotes Jan 2019 #2
Wrong. SunDrop23 Jan 2019 #14
Nope. He's a face of America. WhiskeyGrinder Jan 2019 #18
and Bin Laden represented Muslims texasleo Jan 2019 #26
It was MFL & CovCath chaperones in charge of those kids RainCaster Jan 2019 #29
The young lady who was yelling @ the African American woman is now one of her best friends Botany Jan 2019 #3
They tried to reconcile, but after a while (and some joint public appearances) that tblue37 Jan 2019 #4
+1. Bryan was never honest and wanted Eckford to normalize what happened dalton99a Jan 2019 #7
Here is an excerpt from an article about them: tblue37 Jan 2019 #6
Very revealing dalton99a Jan 2019 #10
Thank you for this. Nice "Oprah" moments don't always translate into reality. erronis Jan 2019 #19
There's no reason the victim has to star in Hazel's redemption tour MaryMagdaline Jan 2019 #28
Like in 1957, the mother is defending him tooth and nail and saying 'fake news' dalton99a Jan 2019 #5
She is also claiming that Nathan Phillips was the aggressor, deliberately drumming right up tblue37 Jan 2019 #8
Yep. Racists - and bots - are pushing that meme hard dalton99a Jan 2019 #9
Yeah a frail old man and a vet to boot vs workinclasszero Jan 2019 #11
Excellent point dalton99a Jan 2019 #12
Its not just FOX news Separation Jan 2019 #35
Apparently the kid has some kind of physical impairment pazzyanne Jan 2019 #17
More like a genetic impairment. Being spawn of his trolling RW parents. erronis Jan 2019 #20
His teaching moment will be this photo following him around for the rest of his life. Vinca Jan 2019 #13
I hope he matures into a kind, respectful person Harker Jan 2019 #16
Agree. If my childhood actions were recorded for the world to see, I'd be --- erronis Jan 2019 #21
It seems to me that a lot of repellent behavior Harker Jan 2019 #27
I see your point. I didn't grow up with constant video, thank gods! nt erronis Jan 2019 #32
Nor did I. Harker Jan 2019 #33
Isn't "the mother" source an unnamed email? griloco Jan 2019 #23
Serves him right. Paladin Jan 2019 #15
K&R. Agree. I'm thinking that image of the kid..... KY_EnviroGuy Jan 2019 #24
I'd like to think that would have some effect on them. But I'm doubtful. Paladin Jan 2019 #30
Likewise, my hopeful viewpoints have been smashed many times.... KY_EnviroGuy Jan 2019 #34
All those smug, leering & jeering little MAGAts in the background are just as bad. catbyte Jan 2019 #22
Roughly, and without consent. n/t Harker Jan 2019 #31
One of numerous others Stargleamer Jan 2019 #25
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