Opinion: Remembering a powerful moment

Commentary by Jeff Worrell

The image of Elizabeth Eckford, alone yet resolute, walking through a sea of hostility in 1957 remains one of the most powerful moments in American history. As one of the Little Rock Nine, she embodied courage to walk into a southern school facing hate, navigating insults and threats with unwavering dignity. What’s striking is not just her strength, but the contrast between her experience and our modern state of discourse.

Today, we have access to platforms that connect us instantly, yet those same spaces often amplify division instead of fostering understanding. The intimidation that Eckford faced on the steps of Central High was unmistakable — raw and unfiltered. In our digital age, incivility takes on a different form: anonymous attacks, dismissive replies and an unwillingness to listen.

Civil discourse isn’t about agreement; it’s about engagement with respect. It’s about standing firm in our beliefs while extending grace to those who challenge them. Eckford’s walk was not just about integration — it was about conviction. We need that same spirit now more than ever.

The challenge is to find common ground — and then choose to stand on it together.