Little Rock Nine

Definition

The Little Rock Nine refers to a group of nine African American students who enrolled at Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas in 1957, marking a significant event in the struggle for school desegregation following the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. This event highlighted the challenges and resistance faced by African Americans in their pursuit of equal education and civil rights, as the students encountered violent opposition and had to be escorted by federal troops to ensure their safety.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Little Rock Nine consisted of nine African American students: Melba Pattillo, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Gloria Ray, Carlotta Walls, Jefferson Thomas, and Terrence Roberts.
2. On September 4, 1957, the Little Rock Nine attempted to enter Central High School but were turned away by the National Guard on orders from Governor Faubus.
3. President Eisenhower intervened by sending federal troops to protect the students and ensure their right to attend school, a significant action that emphasized federal authority over state resistance to desegregation.
4. The integration of Little Rock Central High School was met with severe hostility, including verbal and physical harassment directed at the students by white peers.
5. Ernest Green became the first African American to graduate from Central High School in 1958, symbolizing a crucial victory in the ongoing fight for civil rights and education equality.

Review Questions

• How did the events surrounding the Little Rock Nine illustrate the challenges faced by African Americans in achieving school desegregation?
  • The events surrounding the Little Rock Nine clearly demonstrated the intense resistance faced by African Americans even after the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education. Despite this landmark decision declaring segregation unconstitutional, when these nine students attempted to integrate Central High School, they were met with hostility from both local authorities and their peers. This situation highlighted that legal rulings alone could not guarantee equal access to education; it required substantial social change and federal intervention.
• Analyze Governor Orval Faubus's role in the Little Rock crisis and how it reflected broader societal attitudes towards desegregation at that time.
  • Governor Orval Faubus played a pivotal role in the Little Rock crisis by using his power to resist desegregation efforts. By deploying the National Guard to prevent the Little Rock Nine from entering Central High School, Faubus not only directly challenged federal authority but also reflected the widespread societal attitudes of racism and resistance to integration prevalent in many parts of the South. His actions showcased how state leaders could impede progress towards civil rights, revealing a deep-rooted commitment to maintaining segregation despite legal challenges.
• Evaluate the significance of federal intervention during the Little Rock crisis in relation to the overall progress of the Civil Rights Movement.
  • The federal intervention during the Little Rock crisis was significant because it marked a turning point in how the federal government would respond to state-sponsored resistance against desegregation. By sending troops to protect the Little Rock Nine, President Eisenhower asserted that federal law must prevail over state laws when it comes to civil rights. This action not only provided immediate protection for these students but also set a precedent for future federal involvement in civil rights issues, contributing to the momentum of the Civil Rights Movement as activists sought greater support from Washington to challenge systemic racism.

Related terms

Brown v. Board of Education: A landmark Supreme Court case in 1954 that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional, effectively outlawing school segregation.

Orval Faubus: The governor of Arkansas during the Little Rock crisis, who opposed the integration of Central High School and called out the National Guard to prevent the Little Rock Nine from entering.

Civil Rights Movement: A social movement in the United States aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s.