How full/accurate an account of white reaction to desegregation of schools is given by sources 7,8,9 and 10?

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How full/accurate an account of white reaction to desegregation of schools is given by sources 7,8,9 and 10?

In 1954, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) challenged the right of school boards to run segregated schools. In the case of Brown V Board of Education, Topeka, the Supreme Court ruled that segregation in schools was illegal under the constitution. This ruling was bitterly opposed by most Southern Whites. Six Southern states had refused to desegregate schools by the end of 1956. President Eisenhower was forced to use troops to make sure that the court’s ruling against segregated schools was enforced.        

        By looking at sources 7,8,9 and 10, I have found that to an extent the sources have a fair amount of reliability. On the other hand, in certain areas the reliability may be questioned.

        In source 7 we are shown the hostile reaction of some Whites. We see that men, women and children all had a reaction to desegregation of schools. We can presume from the source that the white people are territorial. The fact that the newspaper from which the extract has been taken is reliable and there may be a high degree of accuracy and truth in the extract. Ultimately, there are many factors against the reliability. We do not know much about the reporter. The reaction of the black children is not noted. Also, only 1 point of view is shown and we are only told about one incident, in one town, therefore, this may not reflect what happened in all schools. There are also gaps in the source and important pieces may be missing. All these factors may limit the source’s reliability.

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        In source 8 a photograph of Elizabeth Eckford is shown. She is on her way to the previously all white Little Rock High School in 1957. We can see the guards are standing back and letting everyone past. It is unclear if the guards are there to protect or to guard. We are shown some of the hostility experienced by the 15 year old, black girl. The fact that there are guards present shows a degree of tension at the scene. As we have only got one picture we are limited to what is shown in the frame. As we ...

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