Little Rock Nine

Definition

The Little Rock Nine were a group of nine African-American students who, in 1957, were the first black students ever to attend the previously all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their enrollment was a major milestone in the African-American struggle for equality during the Civil Rights Movement.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. 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.
2. Their enrollment was a direct result of the Supreme Court's 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
3. Despite the court ruling, the governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, ordered the Arkansas National Guard to block the students from entering the school, leading to a standoff with federal authorities.
4. President Eisenhower eventually intervened by sending in federal troops to escort the students into the school, ensuring their protection and the enforcement of the desegregation order.
5. The courageous actions of the Little Rock Nine helped advance the broader Civil Rights Movement and paved the way for further desegregation of public schools across the United States.

Review Questions

• Explain the significance of the Little Rock Nine in the context of the African American struggle for equality.
  • The enrollment of the Little Rock Nine at Central High School in 1957 was a pivotal moment in the African American struggle for equality. It represented a direct challenge to the longstanding policy of racial segregation in public schools, which had been upheld by the Supreme Court's Plessy v. Ferguson decision. The Little Rock Nine's courageous actions, supported by federal intervention, helped advance the broader Civil Rights Movement and paved the way for further desegregation of public schools across the United States, a key goal of the African American community in their pursuit of equal rights and opportunities.
• Describe the role of the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision in the events surrounding the Little Rock Nine.
  • The Supreme Court's 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education was a crucial catalyst for the events surrounding the Little Rock Nine. The Court's decision declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the 'separate but equal' doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson. This landmark ruling provided the legal foundation for the Little Rock Nine's enrollment at the previously all-white Central High School. However, the resistance from state and local authorities, exemplified by Governor Faubus' deployment of the National Guard, demonstrated the ongoing challenges in implementing the Court's desegregation mandate, making the Little Rock Nine's actions all the more significant in advancing the African American struggle for equality.
• Analyze how the experiences of the Little Rock Nine contributed to the broader goals and strategies of the Civil Rights Movement.
  • The experiences of the Little Rock Nine were a powerful symbol of the African American community's determination to achieve equal rights and opportunities, a central goal of the Civil Rights Movement. Their courageous actions in the face of resistance from state and local authorities, and the subsequent federal intervention, demonstrated the willingness of African Americans to challenge the status quo and assert their constitutional rights. The Little Rock Nine's story inspired and galvanized the broader Civil Rights Movement, showing the power of nonviolent resistance and legal challenges to dismantle the system of racial segregation. Their experiences also highlighted the need for federal enforcement of desegregation orders, a key strategy employed by the movement to overcome local resistance and advance its objectives. The legacy of the Little Rock Nine continues to resonate as a pivotal moment in the African American struggle for equality.

Related terms

Brown v. Board of Education:

The 1954 Supreme Court case that ruled racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the 'separate but equal' doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson.

Desegregation:

The process of ending the separation of people based on race, especially in schools and other public facilities.

Civil Rights Movement:

A struggle by African Americans in the mid-20th century to achieve civil rights equal to those of whites, including equal access to public facilities, housing, and education.