Glimpse of Central High School, Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, with U.S. Army troops posted to protect nine African American students enrolling at the school during Civil Rights movement. Scene shifts to after graduation, when Minnijean Brown, one of the nine, strolls the campus of Southern Illinois University, and speaks of wanting to be a writer. She is seen in the office of a newspaper, where she works as a part time reporter, after school. Brown walks on the college campus with Professor Simon. she bicycles and picnics with friends.