Black History Month: Looking Back at the Little Rock Nine

You can't celebrate Black History Month without remembering 1957 at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. This is where "The Little Rock Nine" were met with so much violence and just flat out ugliness.

In order to understand what I'm talking about, let me take you back in time. It's 1954, and the Supreme Court has ordered desegregation of public schools. Then Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus seems like he'll comply. He desegregates buses and other public transportation. He even starts to investigate desegregating the schools. The school board had a plan already set in place to begin the process. So, why in 1957 did everything come to a screeching halt?

On September 4, 1957, public high schools in Little Rock were set to begin the process of desegregation. Black students had enrolled and were told by school administration to report to Central High. Then without warning, Governor Faubus orders the Arkansas National Guard to stop the black students from entering the high school. Ten days later, Faubus has a meeting with President Eisenhower about the ordeal. The president made it clear to Faubus that the National Guard was to be used to protect the black students, not keep them from an education. Faubus lied to the president saying he would indeed do that. But when he returned to Arkansas, Faubus sent the troops away, allowing an angry white mob to get out of control. The mob threatened the nine black students, threw bricks into windows and doors of the school and even attacked some reporters. By noon that day, the black students had to be escorted out of the building by local police, for their own protection. In order to restore peace, President Eisenhower dispatched 101st Airborne Division paratroopers and took control of the Arkansas National Guard.

This is a shameful time in Arkansas history. Why Governor Faubus did such a quick turn around has never been fully answered. He claimed he had been told that "caravans" of white supremacists were heading to Little Rock. Because of this unconfirmed rumor, Faubus took it upon himself to keep the schools segregated. At one point, he even was quoted as saying "blood will run in the streets" if he were to allow black students into white schools. Instead of setting a good example, he allowed the situation to spiral out of control.

On September 24th, President Eisenhower made this speech on television to the American people: "At a time when we face grave situations abroad because of the hatred that communism bears towards a system of government based on human rights, it would be difficult to exaggerate the harm that is being done to the prestige and influence and indeed to the safety of our nation and the world. Our enemies are gloating over this incident and using it everywhere to misrepresent our whole nation. We are portrayed as a violator of those standards which the peoples of the world united to proclaim the Charter of the United Nations."

During a time when the U.S. was fighting against communism and hatred and intolerance, Faubus displays the very same characteristics in Arkansas. He caused not only riots, but embarrassed us as a country by setting such a horrible example.

What about the 2,000 students inside the school building? How did all of this affect them? By looking at old copies of the school newspaper, "The Tiger", we can get an idea of what was going on. The halls are described as quiet and that school work went on as close to normal as possible. It's also mentioned that about 24 soldiers were patrolling the halls to help keep the peace.

In one editorial, "The Price We Pay", written by Georgia Dortch and Jane Emory, they say this: "No matter what our personal opinions may be, we cannot be proud of the violence that occurred around our school that made it necessary for the use of these Federal troops. Looking back on this year will probably be with regret that integration could not have been accomplished peacefully, without incident, without publicity."

Also in "The Tiger", is the "Principal's Message", titled "Character, Citizenship Lead to Student Success". This was written by J.W. Matthews during this time of turmoil: "Today our society is being challenged in many ways. Communism is not our only enemy. Ignorance and selfishness are equally great dangers and the only protection against all three is that the young people now in our schools meet these challenges and protect those great privileges of freedom and human dignity, payable only in a democratic society.

In most cases the character and knowledge which is so necessary for future successful citizenship in our country is a direct outgrowth of school citizenship. Character is shown by what people do and very few change overnight: so what students do now in school they will probably be doing in adult life. Character and knowledge go hand in hand; one without the other is harmful, sometimes dangerous."

It appears that while the world outside was raging because of integration, the students on the inside knew what was right. The principal encouraged the good behavior in his students, and for the most part, that's what they displayed. I'm sure that there were students that were rude and uncooperative, but their poor behavior was more than likely dealt with. This could not have been a good experience for any student involved, but it was life changing and eye opening to the ugliness we all can possess.

So what happened to "The Little Rock Nine"? Did they put their education to good use or did they throw it all away? I think it's safe to say that they did their parents proud. Ernest Green graduated from Central in 1958 as the first black student. He attended Michigan State University where he recieved his college degree. He had the honor of serving as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs during the Carter Administration. Elizabeth Eckford joined the U.S. Army working as a journalist and worked as a social worker in Little Rock. Jefferson Thomas graduated from Central in 1960. He went on to be an accountant for the U.S. Department of Defense. Terrence Roberts, or I should say Dr. Terrence Roberts, is a clinical psychologist and teaches at the University of California at Los Angeles and Antioc College. Carlotta Walls Lanier graduated from Central in 1959. She attended Michigan State University, moved to Englewood, Colorado and is a real estate agent. Minnijean Brown Trickey lives in Canada and works as a writer and a social worker. Gloria Ray Karlmark became a prolific computer science writer and even published magazines in 39 countries. Thelma Mothershed-Wair became a teacher and helps abused women. Melba Pattillo Beals became an author and was a journalist for "People" magazine and NBC.

I think you'll agree with me that they are all impressive people. It's probably safe to say that they would have been successful without all of the violence and without being labeled as "The Little Rock Nine". They were determined to be educated. Their parents had planted the seed inside them that yearned for education. They just happened to be placed into a horrible situation by fate. But a situation that they all overcame.

I believe we can learn a lot from "The Little Rock Nine". When they were subjected to so much, they didn't say, "Okay, it's your fault if I don't get an education". No, they dealt with it and went on with their lives. Today when people are given trials, too many quit. We need to stop using lame excuses for our own failures. "The Little Rock Nine" faced their troubles head on and came out respected winners.

Resources:

http://www.centralhigh57.org/

http://www.centralhigh57.org/The_Little_Rock_Nine.html

http://www.centralhigh57.org/the_tiger.html

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAfaubus.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0818333.html

http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/school-integration/lilrock/faubus.html

http://www.ardemgaz.com/prev/central/

http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/ak1.htm

http://www.eisenhowerbirthplace.org/legacy/ike0003.htm