Little Rock Nine

Definition

The Little Rock Nine were a group of nine African American students who enrolled at the previously all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, following the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Their enrollment was met with significant resistance, including the intervention of the Arkansas National Guard and protests from segregationists, highlighting the intense struggle for desegregation in public schools across the United States.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Little Rock Nine consisted of Melba Pattillo Beals, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls LaNier, and Adam Clayton Powell III.
2. On September 4, 1957, the first day of school, Governor Faubus deployed the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the Little Rock Nine from entering Central High School.
3. President Dwight D. Eisenhower intervened by sending federal troops to protect the Little Rock Nine and ensure their right to attend school.
4. The events surrounding the Little Rock Nine garnered national attention and became a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, showcasing the fierce resistance to desegregation in the South.
5. Ernest Green became the first African American to graduate from Central High School in 1958, symbolizing a significant achievement in the fight against segregation.

Review Questions

• What challenges did the Little Rock Nine face during their attempt to integrate Central High School, and how did these challenges reflect broader societal attitudes towards desegregation?
  • The Little Rock Nine faced intense hostility and violence from segregationist protesters as well as institutional barriers put in place by Governor Faubus. Their attempt to enter Central High School was met with physical threats and bullying from white students. This resistance not only illustrated the deep-rooted racism in Arkansas but also reflected national tensions regarding desegregation in public schools following Brown v. Board of Education.
• Analyze how President Eisenhower's intervention in Little Rock impacted the national conversation around civil rights and desegregation in education.
  • President Eisenhower's decision to send federal troops to enforce the integration of Central High School was a critical moment that underscored the federal government's commitment to enforcing civil rights laws. His actions helped to reinforce the importance of Brown v. Board of Education as a legal precedent and demonstrated that the federal government would not allow states to defy court rulings on civil rights issues. This intervention also galvanized public support for civil rights efforts nationwide.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of the Little Rock Nine's experience on future civil rights activism and legislation in America.
  • The experience of the Little Rock Nine highlighted both the resilience of African American students fighting for equality and the significant opposition they faced. Their bravery became an emblematic story within the Civil Rights Movement, inspiring future generations to continue fighting against racial injustice. The publicity surrounding their struggle helped catalyze further civil rights activism and ultimately contributed to landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Related terms

Brown v. Board of Education: A pivotal 1954 Supreme Court case that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional, effectively ruling that 'separate but equal' educational facilities are inherently unequal.

Orval Faubus: The Governor of Arkansas who opposed the integration of Central High School and famously used the National Guard to block the entrance of the Little Rock Nine, defying federal authority.

Civil Rights Movement: A decades-long movement aimed at ending racial discrimination and promoting equal rights for African Americans, particularly focused on desegregation and voting rights.