Perception of Little Rock

[Stormcrow]

Good reference to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas piece on Hillbillies. One really damaging book not mentioned in the Encyclopedia was "On a Slow Train Through Arkansas", by Thomas W. Jackson. This book, published around the turn of the last century, was a collection of stories which made fun of the state and its residents. Everyone was presented as either a fool, lazy or a crook.

[skirby]

The crisis at Central High stunted the development of Little Rock. But why? I blame the leadership of Little Rock for not facing the problem and dealing with it for years and years. I think it was a perception problem for those outside of Little Rock more than for those living in Little Rock. For a long time the leaders used the crisis as an excuse instead of facing problems the city had.