The Little Rock Central High Memory Project developed originally out of a class assignment, and since then, it has developed organically, as students and resources become available.In 2008, funds became available for the production of a book of the essays featured on this website, and a team was assembled.

After months of reading, selecting, and editing, the Memory Project published a book of 60 essays, Beyond Central, Toward Acceptance, through the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies.

This book was designed with the principles of maintaining the authenticity of the student’s original work and presenting the best that the Project had to offer, be it art produced in collaboration with it, essays, or designs. The book is organized into 5 chapters, organized along the idea of an increasing scope, from Central, beyond that to schools across America, beyond that to desegregation in public life, further still, beyond race conflict, and further still, toward the advocates of change and solutions.

Proceeds from this book go, aside from covering production costs, also build a revolving loan fund that will help fund future endeavors in the Memory Project at Central.

This book was entirely student edited. A professional editor, H. K. Stewart, was contracted for page designs and production. His invaluable assistance as well as the exceeding helpfulness and courtesy of the Butler Center and the University of Arkansas Press has made this tremendous effort possible.