Special Report Transcript Episode 19, Section 5, Time 34:40

When we finally got in we had armed escorts, we had people with guns standing outside the classroom. // The first day we got in we went in with the 101st Airborne. I remember the click clack of the soldiers’ boots on the stairs and I thought OK this is why we hoist the flag. This is going to work out. If these soldiers just walk with us this first day into this school, it’s going to be OK. So we went in with armed guards with kids standing in the rafters just screaming. At one point it was totally silent and then all these children standing and bending out of the windows screaming ‘boo, boo!’ // It was an atmosphere of hostility and war. // That’s why my heel hurts because of people walking on the back of my heels, I carry scars on my legs from people kicking me; we all carry these scars in one form or another. // The boys all shared gym together and that was hell. That was hell week rolled up into an hour every day either locker rooms that get steamed with hot towels with glass on the floor or some sort of harassment. You knew when you were going into gym it was battle, so you put on your armour, turn your face into your game face and got ready to go to war. I mean it was that way every day and it was…

Notes: Terrence Roberts; Melba Pattillo Beals; Ernest Green; Melba Pattillo Beals; Ernest Green

References: there are no references for this transcript