68 years ago today Ms. Dorothy Counts-Scoggins joined the student body of Harding High School. As she exited the car her father said, "Hold your head high. You are inferior to no one."
Made up mostly of students there were roughly 200 to 300 people were in the crowd. Emma Marie Taylor Warlick, wife of John Z. Warlick, of the White Citizens Council, urged the boys to "keep her out". Girls were implored to spit on her, saying: "Spit on her, girls, spit on her." Ms. Counts-Scoggins walked by without reacting, but told the press later that many people threw rocks at her—most of which landed in front of her feet. Students formed walls but parted ways at the last instant to allow her to walk past.
Photographer Douglas Martin won the 1957 World Press Photo of the Year with this image of Counts being mocked by a crowd on her first day of school.
