Little Rock Nine — LLMpedia

Little Rock Nine
Will Counts · Public domain · source
Name	Little Rock Nine
Members	Melba Pattillo, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Gloria Ray, Carlotta Walls, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, Minnijean Brown

Contents

Little Rock Nine were a group of African American students who attended Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, amidst significant opposition, in 1957. The students were supported by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Thurgood Marshall, who had previously argued the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education before the United States Supreme Court. The Little Rock Nine were also backed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who eventually deployed the 101st Airborne Division to ensure their safe integration into the school. The event drew national attention, with coverage from prominent media outlets such as the New York Times and Time Magazine.

Introduction

The Little Rock Nine consisted of Melba Pattillo, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Gloria Ray, Carlotta Walls, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, and Minnijean Brown. These students were chosen to attend Little Rock Central High School due to their excellent academic records and their willingness to face the challenges of integration. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) played a crucial role in selecting and supporting the students, with guidance from Daisy Bates, the president of the Arkansas NAACP. The students also received support from Martin Luther King Jr., who was a prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement, and Rosa Parks, who had sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

The Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954 had declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, but many schools in the Southern United States resisted integration. Little Rock, Arkansas was one such city, where the school board had adopted a plan to integrate the schools gradually. However, the Arkansas General Assembly and Governor Orval Faubus opposed the plan, leading to a confrontation between the state and federal authorities. The United States Supreme Court had ruled in favor of integration, but the Arkansas National Guard was deployed to prevent the African American students from entering the school. The students were also supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).

On September 4, 1957, the Little Rock Nine attempted to enter Little Rock Central High School, but they were blocked by the Arkansas National Guard. The students were escorted away by the police, and the National Guard remained at the school to prevent their entry. The situation escalated, with President Dwight D. Eisenhower deploying the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock, Arkansas, to enforce the integration of the school. The students finally entered the school on September 25, 1957, under the protection of the 101st Airborne Division. The event was covered by prominent journalists such as Harrison Salisbury of the New York Times and Edward R. Murrow of CBS News. The students also received support from Langston Hughes, a prominent African American poet, and Paul Robeson, a renowned African American singer and actor.

The integration of Little Rock Central High School was a significant milestone in the Civil Rights Movement, marking a major victory for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The event drew national attention, with coverage from prominent media outlets such as Time Magazine and Life Magazine. The Little Rock Nine were hailed as heroes, with Ernest Green becoming the first African American student to graduate from Little Rock Central High School in 1958. The students also received recognition from prominent leaders such as John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. The event paved the way for further integration of schools in the Southern United States, with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Melba Pattillo went on to become a journalist and author, writing about her experiences as a member of the Little Rock Nine. Elizabeth Eckford became a history professor and wrote about her experiences in her book The Worst First Day. Ernest Green became a civil rights activist and worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Thelma Mothershed became a teacher and worked with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). Gloria Ray became a journalist and wrote about her experiences as a member of the Little Rock Nine. Carlotta Walls became a businesswoman and worked with the National Council of Negro Women. Terrence Roberts became a psychologist and wrote about his experiences in his book Lessons from Little Rock. Jefferson Thomas became a businessman and worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Minnijean Brown became a civil rights activist and worked with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The students were also supported by prominent leaders such as A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin. Category:American history