In 1957, nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School, marking a significant moment in the fight against racial segregation in the United States. The events that unfolded, known as the Little Rock Crisis, not only tested the courage and resilience of these students but also highlighted the deep-rooted racial tensions in American society.
Background
In the wake of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which declared racial segregation in schools unconstitutional, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) sought to register black students in previously all-white schools across the South. Little Rock, Arkansas, became a focal point for this effort.
Superintendent of Schools Virgil Blossom devised a plan for gradual integration, which was approved by the school board in May 1955. The plan aimed to implement integration starting in the fall of 1957, beginning with Little Rock Central High School. The selection process for the black students, known as the Little Rock Nine, emphasised academic excellence and attendance.
The Little Rock Nine
(New York World-Telegram and the Sun staff photographer: Albertin, Walter, photographer., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Little Rock Nine consisted of nine remarkable individuals: Terrence Roberts, Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Minnijean Brown, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed, and Melba Pattillo Beals. Ernest Green, who graduated from Central High School, became the first African American to do so.
National guard blockade
On 4 September 1957, when integration was set to begin, the Arkansas National Guard was deployed to prevent the black students from entering the school. Governor Orval Faubus cited the potential for violence as justification for their exclusion.
The deployment of the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the Little Rock Nine from entering Central High School attracted national attention and polarised the nation. The image of soldiers blocking the students’ path to education captured the public’s outrage.
A lasting image from that day showcases Elizabeth Eckford carrying a notebook and walking resolutely towards the school while being encircled by a mob of aggressive, yelling white students and adults. Eckford described the traumatic experience of being spat on by an elderly woman in the crowd.
In response to the escalating tensions, President Eisenhower invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807 and ordered the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army to Little Rock on 24 September 1957. The troops were tasked with protecting the African American students and enforcing integration. The presence of the 101st Airborne Division ensured the safety of the Little Rock Nine and enabled them to attend school.
The arrival of the Little Rock Nine at Central High School on 25 September 1957 was met with hostility and resistance from white students and community members. The black students were subjected to physical and verbal abuse, making their daily lives at the school a constant struggle.
For example, Melba Patillo experienced being kicked, assaulted, and having acid thrown at her face. On one occasion, white students set fire to an African American effigy in an empty lot opposite the school. Gloria Ray was shoved down a staircase, and the Little Rock Nine were prohibited from joining in extracurricular activities.
(John T. Bledsoe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
Minnijean Brown was removed from Central High School in February 1958 due to fighting back against the assaults. The intimidation extended beyond the students: Gloria Ray’s mother lost her job with the State of Arkansas when she declined to withdraw her daughter from the school. The 101st Airborne and the National Guard stayed at Central High School for the rest of the year.
Aftermath: School tensions and the “Lost Year”
Despite the intervention of federal forces, the Little Rock Nine faced ongoing challenges and hostility within the school. They endured a year of physical and emotional abuse from their white peers. Incidents of violence, such as acid being thrown at Melba Pattillo Beals and attempts to burn Minnijean Brown, highlighted the deep-seated racism that persisted in Little Rock Central High School.
In 1958, Governor Faubus attempted to delay desegregation further by closing all public high schools in Little Rock. This forced both black and white students to miss a year of education, a period known as the “Lost Year.” The closure of the schools resulted in increased racial tensions and hate crimes against the black community.
Legacy: A turning point in history
The courage and resolve of the Little Rock Nine left an indelible mark on the civil rights movement and the fight against racial segregation. Their bravery challenged the status quo and forced the nation to confront its deeply ingrained prejudices. Their struggle paved the way for future generations of African American students to attend integrated schools.
Today, Little Rock Central High School is a National Historic Site and houses a Civil Rights Museum. The Daisy Bates House, the home of Daisy Bates, a prominent figure in the Little Rock Crisis, is also designated as a National Historic Landmark. The Little Rock Nine’s contribution to the civil rights movement has been recognised through various honours and awards, including a Congressional Gold Medal presented by President Bill Clinton in 1999.
