Joanne Woodward and I

I was seventeen when I met Joanne Woodward sitting under a tree on the grounds of Little Rock Central High when she was filming a movie based on the memoirs of Elizabeth Huckaby. She wouldn’t sign my yearbook with an autograph, but invited me to sit down.  Her signature meant nothing to her, but she graciously introduced me to the woman who had lived the story.

It was hot and I had just graduated from Central. I watched as the extras gathered in the streets to reenact the scenes of trying to prevent the nine African American children from coming into school. My brother was on the football field playing an extra for another scene.

Tears came to my eyes as I watched the scenes play out. Being a graduate of Central, I certainly knew the history, but they had transformed the streets of Little Rock that day to 1957.

I watched as the crowds gathered and the hatred was being played out all around me. I felt nauseous in the heat. I held within me the secret of my pregnancy. I carried within me the determined soul of child who would be born both white and African American.

I watched as rants were shouted and fists were raised and knew that my child was going to have a difficult task ahead. I no longer fit in the world I had grown up in.

The Director called for Ms. Woodward and she began to rise. I managed to get a few words of thanks out as she stood. Ms. Woodward was right, Ms. Huckaby was the one to sign my yearbook. She had lived a life to change history for myself and for the baby I carried.

I had met the “real” person and the person that had brought her character to life on screen. I believe Ms. Huckaby shared her story with the world to bring understanding and healing.

Memoirs bring to life the ability to walk in another person’s shoes. I wrote my memoir to share my journey of becoming whole. Please like and follow my “author” page on facebook to get updates on the release. It is found at Tina Louise Witcher.