Little Rock Nine

Little Rock Nine
Will Counts · Public domain · source
Name	Little Rock Nine
Date	September 4–25, 1957
Location	Little Rock, Arkansas
Participants	Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, Carlotta Walls
Outcome	Integration of Little Rock Central High School

Little Rock Nine. The Little Rock Nine were a group of nine African American students who, in 1957, became the first to integrate the formerly all-white Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their enrollment, mandated by the U.S. Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, provoked a national crisis when Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus deployed the Arkansas National Guard to block their entry. The ensuing confrontation, which required intervention by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the 101st Airborne Division, became a defining moment in the American Civil Rights Movement.

Background and context

The stage for the crisis was set by the landmark 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared state laws establishing segregated public schools unconstitutional. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) subsequently worked to identify and prepare students to integrate schools. In Little Rock, the school board adopted a cautious, gradual integration plan known as the Blossom Plan, starting with Little Rock Central High School. The NAACP selected nine exceptional black students from the city to form the first integration cohort. This plan faced immediate opposition from segregationist groups and politicians, most notably Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, who capitalized on white resistance to maintain political power.

The 1957 crisis

On September 4, 1957, the first day of school, Governor Orval Faubus defied federal law by ordering the Arkansas National Guard to surround Little Rock Central High School and prevent the nine students from entering. A particularly iconic image emerged when one student, Elizabeth Eckford, arrived alone and was confronted by a screaming mob. The NAACP secured a federal court order, and on September 23, the students entered through a side door, only for violent riots to erupt, forcing their removal for safety. In response, President Dwight D. Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard, removing them from Faubus's control, and deployed soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division to escort the students. On September 25, under military protection, the Little Rock Nine finally entered and attended classes, though they endured relentless harassment and violence from some white students throughout the school year.

Aftermath and legacy

The crisis did not end with the students' entry. The following school year, Governor Orval Faubus closed all Little Rock public high schools in 1958-59 to avoid integration, an act known as "The Lost Year." The Supreme Court reaffirmed the necessity of desegregation in the 1958 case Cooper v. Aaron. The bravery of the students galvanized the American Civil Rights Movement, providing a powerful moral and visual argument for federal intervention to enforce civil rights. The event exposed the deep divisions in America and demonstrated the federal government's ultimate authority in constitutional matters. It paved the way for further activism and legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Members of the Little Rock Nine

The nine students, selected for their academic strength and character, were Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls. Ernest Green made history as the first African American graduate of Little Rock Central High School in May 1958. Each member faced immense personal hardship; Minnijean Brown was expelled for retaliating against provocation, while others, like Melba Pattillo, had acid thrown in her eyes. Their individual stories of resilience became integral to the collective narrative of the struggle for educational equality.

Recognition and honors

The Little Rock Nine have received numerous national honors for their profound contribution to American history. In 1999, President Bill Clinton awarded each member the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian award. The group has also been honored with the NAACP's prestigious Spingarn Medal. Their story is commemorated at the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, administered by the National Park Service. In 2005, a bronze memorial was dedicated on the grounds of the Arkansas State Capitol. They have received honorary degrees from numerous universities, including Arkansas and Columbia University, and their legacy is taught in history curricula nationwide.

Category:American Civil Rights Movement Category:History of Arkansas Category:1957 in the United States