The Girl on the Outside by Mildred Pitts Walter
"The Girl on the Outside" by Mildred Pitts Walter is a young adult novel that explores the complexities of racial integration during the 1957-1958 academic year, set against the backdrop of the actual historical event of the Little Rock desegregation crisis. The story centers around two main characters: Eva Collins, one of the nine black students integrating into a whites-only school, and Sophia Stuart, a white student grappling with her community's prejudices. As the integration unfolds, the narrative delves into the mixed reactions from students and the broader community, highlighting the fears and hopes of both black and white characters.
The novel opens on a tense Sunday, with community sermons reflecting the divisive nature of integration. As the first day of school approaches, both characters face their own emotional struggles—Eva with her excitement and anxiety about entering a previously forbidden space, and Sophia with her confusion about her family's views and her own moral compass. The story culminates in a powerful moment where the two girls, despite facing hostility from a crowd, find solidarity in each other. Walter's work emphasizes the importance of courage and empathy in the face of societal challenges, making it a relevant read for audiences interested in themes of racial equality and justice. Through its portrayal of these young characters, "The Girl on the Outside" encourages reflection on historical and contemporary issues of race and belonging.
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The Girl on the Outside by Mildred Pitts Walter
First published: 1982
Type of work: Historical fiction
Themes: Race and ethnicity, social issues, politics and law, and education
Time of work: September, 1957
Recommended Ages: 15-18
Locale: Mossville, Arkansas
Principal Characters:
Sophia Stuart , a seventeen-year-old white girl from an upper-class family, preparing for her senior year at Chatman High SchoolEva Collins , a fifteen-year-old sophomore who will be one of the nine black students entering Chatman High SchoolBurt Stuart , Sophia’s elder brother, a Korean War veteran who advocates desegregationArnold Armstrong , Sophia’s boyfriend, a college freshmanMrs. Floyd , the local division president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), who has helped implement the high school integration plan
The Story
Chatman, Mossville’s whites-only high school, will be integrated beginning with the 1957-1958 academic year. Nine black students, including Eva Collins, will attend on the first day of school, September 5, 1957. The school’s two thousand white students, and the community as a whole, have mixed reactions. Sophia Stuart, a rising senior, is concerned that Chatman will no longer feel like the school she and her friends have always called their own.
The story opens on a hot Sunday afternoon. At the local churches, sermons have focused on the controversial issue of integration. The white minister at Sophia’s church has taken a firm stand against desegregation, while the black minister at Eva’s church has tried to comfort his congregation and encourage them in their struggle for equality.
Sophia remembers forcing a black customer to wait at the Woolworth’s counter only the day before, as she assisted white customers first. Sophia asks herself whether the black girl was being patient or stubborn as a form of mockery. Later Sunday afternoon, Sophia is stunned when her brother Burt endorses integration and predicts that his family’s prejudiced way of thinking will soon be outdated. These episodes are the first to show the reader Sophia’s mounting confusion.
Eva is excited by the prospect of attending the majestic red-brick school with the huge white lion guarding its doors. She has always imagined going where “For Whites Only” signs have forbidden her in the past. While intrigued by the possibility of a better education, she is also nervous about the potential dangers of the situation. She wonders if she will feel resentment toward whites who may try to humiliate or degrade her, just as a teenage sales clerk at the Woolworth’s counter did Saturday.
Sophia is enraged Sunday evening when Arnold takes her to a “surprise place,” which turns out to be a black church at the other end of town. She tells him she does not want to see him again but later regrets her actions. She remembers that as a six-year-old, she often rode to the South End with her grandmother to pick up the washing and ironing done by a black woman named Letha. Her grandmother demanded that Sophia never associate with black children, and Sophia never completely understood why. Sophia is also troubled by a dream in which Letha appears and in which Sophia is overpowered by a mob of children. Sophia promises herself that she will not be affected by blacks and later makes a pact with several girlfriends to ignore the black students at Chatman.
Eva and the other black students are encouraged by Mrs. Floyd but are also warned that their struggle “is no picnic.” Eva’s family is awakened at two o’clock Tuesday morning by Mrs. Floyd, who instructs Eva not to go to school that day. The governor has announced that “blood will flow in the streets if Negroes try to integrate,” and the National Guard has been called in to protect property and citizens. Eva hates missing the first day of school, which she has anxiously anticipated, but believes that when she does get to go, her safety will be assured by the troops.
Wednesday dawns as another scorching day, and Eva readies herself for school. Mrs. Floyd is unable to reach Eva, because Eva’s family does not have a telephone. A huge crowd of spectators and reporters has gathered at Chatman, snarling traffic. The National Guard stands poised at the school’s entrance. Eva and Sophia approach the building from opposite directions. Eva tries to enter, but the soldiers’ bayonets point at her. She turns to face the crowd, prays silently, and makes her way toward a bus stop bench nearby. The mob drenches her in saliva, as Sophia pushes through the crowd, telling Eva not to cry. Sophia is then spat upon and called a “nigger lover” by one of her friends. Sophia shields Eva with her body, and they stumble to the drugstore, where the door is slammed in their faces. They return to the bench as the crowd follows and taunts them. Finally, a city bus stops, and they board. Eva tells Sophia she is the customer from Woolworth’s, and Sophia feels ashamed. Sophia realizes that she has done the right thing, and Eva thanks her for her help. Sophia makes sure that Eva gets home safely.
Sophia’s brave act makes national news, and her parents react with a mixture of shock and fear. Sophia has jeopardized their social standing with her good deed. Burt applauds her actions and assures her that she is a true lady. Sophia understands that she has made the initial step toward resolving the inner turmoil she has been experiencing; she now views her world in a new light.
Context
Mildred Pitts Walter uses an actual historical event as the basis for The Girl on the Outside. In September, 1957, a plan to integrate nine blacks into all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, was about to unfold. Some of the citizens were enraged, and the state’s governor had ordered the National Guard into the city. A furious crowd assembled at the school to provoke the Guard and ruin the planned integration. When one of the black students, Elizabeth Eckford, tried to enter the building, the Guard prevented her from doing so. The onlookers vented their frustrations on Elizabeth. Grace Lorch, a white teacher at a nearby all-black school, came to Elizabeth’s aid, shielding her and helping her get on a city bus, which took her to her mother’s workplace. Walter admits that the inspiration for the book came from many people involved in the Little Rock desegregation process: the nine black students, Grace Lorch, and Mrs. Daisy Bates, the NAACP official who helped implement the plan.
Walter was a teacher in Los Angeles public schools in the 1960’s. She and her husband were members of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and worked to end segregation in the United States public school system. Walter’s other young adult books include Lillie of Watts (1969) and Because We Are (1983). She has written widely praised children’s picture books, including Ty’s One-Man Band (1980) and My Mama Needs Me (1983). She has worked as an educational consultant and has traveled extensively. Her works comment on black culture and the realities of black life. The Girl on the Outside re-creates a bit of history while also expressing optimism for the future of race relations.
Although The Girl on the Outside is intended for a young adult audience, it is an important work for all generations. The idea of racial equality has had far-reaching effects, and many of the questions raised by