On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education that segregated schools are "inherently unequal." In September 1957, as a result of that ruling, nine African-American students enrolled at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The Little Rock Nine were a group of nine African American students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Their enrollment was followed by the Little Rock Crisis, in which the students were initially prevented from entering the racially segregated school by Orval Faubus, the Governor of Arkansas.
The "Little Rock Nine," as the nine teens came to be known, were to be the first African American students to enter Little Rock's Central High School. Three years earlier, following the Supreme Court ruling, the Little Rock school board pledged to voluntarily desegregate its schools.
The media coined the name “Little Rock Nine" to identify the first African American students to desegregate Little Rock Central High School. In 1954, the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka Supreme Court decision outlawed segregation in public education.
Almost 200 years later, French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe came upon a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River. He named the rock formation “la Petite Roche”—the little Rock. Thus, Little Rock was born.
On September 4, 1957 nine African American students arrived at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. They made their way through a crowd shouting obscenities and even throwing objects. Once the students reached the front door the National Guard prevented them from entering the school and were forced to go home.
Only eight of the Little Rock Nine are still alive. Before he died at age 67, Little Rock Nine's Jefferson Thomas was a federal employee with the Department of Defense for 27 years. The eight other surviving members continue to create their own personal achievements after integrating Little Rock Central High.
The desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, gained national attention on September 3, 1957, when Governor Orval Faubus mobilized the Arkansas National Guard in an effort to prevent nine African American students from integrating the high school.
Troops remained at Central High School throughout the school year, but still the Black students were subjected to verbal and physical assaults from a faction of white students. Melba Pattillo one of the nine, had acid thrown in her eyes, and Elizabeth Eckford was pushed down a flight of stairs.
In this milestone decision, the Supreme Court ruled that separating children in public schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional. It signaled the end of legalized racial segregation in the schools of the United States, overruling the "separate but equal" principle set forth in the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson case.
Who are the Little Rock Nine? They are Ernest Green, Minnijean Brown, Terrance Roberts, Elizabeth Eckford, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Patillo, Gloria Ray, Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls. They were the nine students who integrated in Central High.
Terrence Roberts, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed-Wair and Melba Pattillo Beals. These last four students did not graduate from Central. They went to another high school and on to college to pursue their careers.
Only eight of the Little Rock Nine are still alive. Before he died at age 67, Little Rock Nine's Jefferson Thomas was a federal employee with the Department of Defense for 27 years. The eight other surviving members continue to create their own personal achievements after integrating Little Rock Central High.
The desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, gained national attention on September 3, 1957, when Governor Orval Faubus mobilized the Arkansas National Guard in an effort to prevent nine African American students from integrating the high school.
Little Rock Nine inspired many African Americans to stand up for themselves and stand against racism. They also helped desegregate schools which later lead to the desegregation of other public areas. Little Rock Nine was an inspiration to the 1960's as seen through their background, impact, and contributions.
The Little Rock Nine went on to accomplish great things in their professional careers, some of them serving in the areas of higher education, mental health, and the criminal justice system. Green served under President Jimmy Carter as his assistant secretary in the Department of Labor.