History of the little rock nine
Background info
The Little Rock Nine were a group of nine African-Americans who attended an all-white public school, Little Rock Central High School. They were the first to do so.
In 1956, racism towards blacks was strong. Public Schools were segregated into black and white. Blacks were treated horribly. They fought for there rights. Blacks were forced to use separate bathrooms, water fountains, bubblers, and waiting rooms. Blacks were afraid of speaking up too. It could lead to harassment, losing their jobs, and at the worst, being killed. The only reason the Little Rock Nine were able to form was because of the decision of the Supreme Court in the Brown v. Board of Education to end racial segregation in public schools. The decision was a unanimous 9 to 0 decision. The integration of the Little Rock Central High School sparked the Civil Rights Movement.
The Little Rock school board knew they had to integrate and made integration plan. The plan had 3 phases. In the first phase, the high schools (grades 10-12) were integrated during the 1957-1958 school year. In the second phase, the junior high schools (grades 7-9) would be integrated after the high schools. In the third phase, the elementary schools (grades 1-6) would be integrated after the junior high schools. The Little Rock school board chose 17 black students who agreed to go to Little Rock Central High School. This number was later cut down to 9.
In 1956, racism towards blacks was strong. Public Schools were segregated into black and white. Blacks were treated horribly. They fought for there rights. Blacks were forced to use separate bathrooms, water fountains, bubblers, and waiting rooms. Blacks were afraid of speaking up too. It could lead to harassment, losing their jobs, and at the worst, being killed. The only reason the Little Rock Nine were able to form was because of the decision of the Supreme Court in the Brown v. Board of Education to end racial segregation in public schools. The decision was a unanimous 9 to 0 decision. The integration of the Little Rock Central High School sparked the Civil Rights Movement.
The Little Rock school board knew they had to integrate and made integration plan. The plan had 3 phases. In the first phase, the high schools (grades 10-12) were integrated during the 1957-1958 school year. In the second phase, the junior high schools (grades 7-9) would be integrated after the high schools. In the third phase, the elementary schools (grades 1-6) would be integrated after the junior high schools. The Little Rock school board chose 17 black students who agreed to go to Little Rock Central High School. This number was later cut down to 9.
Members of the little rock nine
1. Minnijean Brown
2. Terrence Roberts
3. Elizabeth Eckford
3. Ernest Green
4. Thelma Mothersheld
5. Melba Patillo
6. Gloria Ray
7. Jefferson Thomas
8. Carlotta Walls LaNier
9. Melba Patillo
2. Terrence Roberts
3. Elizabeth Eckford
3. Ernest Green
4. Thelma Mothersheld
5. Melba Patillo
6. Gloria Ray
7. Jefferson Thomas
8. Carlotta Walls LaNier
9. Melba Patillo
First day of school
The night before the Little Rock Nine would attend Little Rock Central High School for the first time, Arkansas' segregationist governor, Orville Faubus, declared on TV that it would "not be possible to restore or to maintain order...if forcible integration is carried out tomorrow." He claimed that "blood will run in the streets if Negro pupils should attempt to enter Central High School." Thurgood Marshal ruled before this day that the governor could not block the school's entry for the Little Rock Nine.
On September 25, 1957 is the day the Little Rock Nine risked their lives to attend to attend Little Rock Central High School. There was a mob outside of the school. The mob was very aggressive. The crowd at one point chanted "TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT, WE AIN'T GONNA INTEGRATE!'Elizabeth Eckford did not have a phone and was unaware that the other eight had planned to meet up and walk in as a group. While the other eight walked in through a side door unnoticed, Elizabeth Eckford had to walk in alone. She went through the front entrance. People threatened Elizabeth Eckford as she walked in. An old lady even spat on her. When the mob found out that the Little Rock Nine entered the school, they became angry.
On September 25, 1957 is the day the Little Rock Nine risked their lives to attend to attend Little Rock Central High School. There was a mob outside of the school. The mob was very aggressive. The crowd at one point chanted "TWO, FOUR, SIX, EIGHT, WE AIN'T GONNA INTEGRATE!'Elizabeth Eckford did not have a phone and was unaware that the other eight had planned to meet up and walk in as a group. While the other eight walked in through a side door unnoticed, Elizabeth Eckford had to walk in alone. She went through the front entrance. People threatened Elizabeth Eckford as she walked in. An old lady even spat on her. When the mob found out that the Little Rock Nine entered the school, they became angry.
Through out their High school years
School was rough for the nine at the time. President Eisenhower had to order troops from the Army's 101st Airborne division to protect the students. They escorted them inside of the school. Each member of the Little Rock Nine was assigned a personal guard from the 101st Airborne division. Despite the protection, the group were subjects of unspeakable hatred. White students yelled insults at them in the hall ways, the boys would get beaten up, the group's lockers were destroyed by fellow white students, and they had flaming paper wads thrown at them in the bathroom. There was a time that even Melba had lighted sticks of dynamite thrown at her, she was stabbed, and had acid sprayed in her eyes. If it wasn't for the 101st Airborne Division guard who splashed water on her eyes to rinse out the acid, Melba most likely would be blind. Melba said "The haze hurt my eyes... it smelt like something that had blown up in a chemistry lab." Overtime, the 101st Airborne Division left Little Rock Central High School. The Little Rock Nine were left with no protection.
On December 17, 1958, Minnijean dumped her lunch tray over the head of two taunting male students. Minnijean received a 6 day suspension. On, January 13, 1958 she was warned. She agreed to not retaliate, verbally or physically, to any harassment but would leave the matter to the school authorities to handle. She was later expelled in February for calling a girl "white trash". The whites made up cards that said "One down...eight to go!"
In May, 1958, Ernest Green became the first black to graduate from Little Rock Central High School. At the graduation, 125 Arkansas National Guardsmen were there for protection. Ernest Green graduating shows that the desegregation process of public schools had become successful and had taken one step forward towards where wanted.
On December 17, 1958, Minnijean dumped her lunch tray over the head of two taunting male students. Minnijean received a 6 day suspension. On, January 13, 1958 she was warned. She agreed to not retaliate, verbally or physically, to any harassment but would leave the matter to the school authorities to handle. She was later expelled in February for calling a girl "white trash". The whites made up cards that said "One down...eight to go!"
In May, 1958, Ernest Green became the first black to graduate from Little Rock Central High School. At the graduation, 125 Arkansas National Guardsmen were there for protection. Ernest Green graduating shows that the desegregation process of public schools had become successful and had taken one step forward towards where wanted.
In September 1958, Governor Faubus closed all high schools in Little Rock. The schools were still closed in September 1959. The Ku Klux Klan was offering money to kill members of the Little Rock Nine. They offered $10,000 to who ever would kill Melba. After this, Melba, Terrence Roberts, Gloria, and Thelma all left Little Rock. Gloria left to Missouri, Melba Patillo left to Santa Rosa, California, Terrence Roberts left to Los Angeles, and Thelma moved to Missouri. Elizabeth stayed in Little Rock and took correspondence and night courses earning enough credits for her high school diploma.
On February 9, 1960, Carlotta's house was bombed. She called it "The most horrific night of her life." Carlotta said the fact that her home was bombed wasn't the worst part of the experience. It was the fact that a close family friend of the age of 16 was accused and spent 2 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit.
Jefferson and Carlotta graduated in 1960 from Little Rock Central High School further supporting the fact that the integration process was becoming succesful.
On February 9, 1960, Carlotta's house was bombed. She called it "The most horrific night of her life." Carlotta said the fact that her home was bombed wasn't the worst part of the experience. It was the fact that a close family friend of the age of 16 was accused and spent 2 years in jail for a crime he didn't commit.
Jefferson and Carlotta graduated in 1960 from Little Rock Central High School further supporting the fact that the integration process was becoming succesful.
The aftermath
Ernest GREEN
Ernest Green graduated from Michigan State University and is currently a managing partner and vice president of Lehman Brothers in Washington, D.C..
TERRENCE ROBERTS
Terrence earned a doctorate degree and is a clinical psychologist and teaches at the University of California at Los Angeles and Antioc College.
Elizabeth Eckford
Elizabeth is the only one of the group who still lives in Little Rock. Elizabeth worked as a journalist and is now a part-time social worker.
Jefferson THOMAS
Jefferson is an accountant with the U.S. Department of Defense.
Carlotta walls lanier
Carlotta graduated from Michigan State University and is in real estate.
Minnijean brown
Today, Minnijean is a writer and social worker in Ontario. Winterstar Productions is currently filming a documentary on her life.
Thelma mothershed
Thelma made a career of teaching after graduating college and now volunteers in a program for abused women.
Gloria Ray
Gloria graduated from Illinois Technical College and earned a post-graduate degree in Stockholm, Sweden. She was a prolific computer science writer and at one time successfully published magazines in 39 countries. She is currently retired and splits up her time between her homes in the Netherlands, Stockholm, and Amsterdam.
Melba patillo
Melba was a journalist for People magazine and NBC and is an author now. She lives is San Francisco.
Gold medals
On November 9, 1999 the Little Rock Nine received Congressional Gold Medals at the White House for sparking desegregation of public schools.
Overview
The Little Rock Nine gave themselves the responsibility to start the desegregation and integration of public schools. They all risked their lives by going to a previously all-white school. Only three members of the group graduated from Little Rock Central High School. Some of the members of the group even stayed at the school after receiving death threats. Everybody in this group were very brave and were later rewarded for it all by joining a very small group of honorable individuals who have received Congressional Gold Medals.