In Her Own Words: "I expected I would go to school..." (audio 4 of 5)

"I expected that I would go to school as before on a city bus. So, I walked a few blocks to the bus stop, got on the bus, and rode to within two blocks of the school. I got off the bus and I noticed along the street that there were many more cars than usual. And I remember hearing the murmur of a crowd. But, when I got to the corner where the school was, I was reassured seeing these soldiers circling the school grounds. And I saw students going to school. I saw the guards break ranks as students approached the sidewalks so that they could pass through to get to school. And I approached the guard at the corner as I had seen some other students do and they closed ranks. So, I thought; 'Maybe I am not supposed to enter at this point.' So, I walked further down the line of guards to where there was another sidewalk and I attempted to pass through there. But when I stepped up, they crossed rifles. And again I said to myself: 'So maybe I’m supposed to go down to where the main entrance is.' So, I walked toward the center of the street and when I got to about the middle and I approached the guard he directed me across the street into the crowd. It was only then that I realized that they were barring me, that I wouldn’t go to school."

• "I am Elizabeth Eckford..." (audio 1 of 5)
• "I was more concerned..." (audio 2 of 5)
• "On the morning of September 4..." (audio 3 of 5)
• "I expected I would go to school..." (audio 4 of 5)
• "As I stepped out into the street..." (audio 5 of 5)
• In Her Own Words: text-only version of her story