Deliberately situated in a part of the state that would make it hard for Black students to attend, the University of Arkansas was nonetheless the first Southern university to desegregate without a court order. Even so, law student Silas Hunt had to attend separate classes in a basement after he was admitted in 1948, and he was shunned by most white students and faculty. This excellent oral history spotlights the lives of Black students, faculty, and staff at the university from the late 1940s to the early 21st century, showing how they pursued their personal ambitions despite an educational and social environment that was often difficult, if not actively hostile. An important contribution to the history of African Americans, the Civil Rights movement, and the South, this book will be enjoyed by researchers, educators, and many general readers. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)