Elizabeth Ann Eckford 1941–
Elizabeth Ann Eckford is one the first black students to attend classes at formerly all-white Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Will Counts of the Arkansas Democrat took the photo of her that inspired this painting.
Eckford only spent one year at Little Rock Central High where she and the other black students were tormented throughout. In the years since, she has struggled through life, and twice attempted suicide and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder from her involvement in this event.