Implementing the 1954 Brown v Topeka Board of Education Decision

The Little Rock Nine in 1999, when they were presented with Congressional Medals of Honor.

The Little Rock Nine as they were in 1957

Integrating Little Rock Central High School, Arkansas In 1954 the US Supreme Court declared that the doctrine of “Separate but Equal” was unconstitutional because it violated the Fourteenth Amendment The Supreme Court’s decision required that all state schools be desegregated However, it gave no time-frame for this

George E.C. Hayes, Thurgood Marshall, and James M. Nabrit celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision, 1954, Library of Congress

One school that began to take action to desegregate was Little Rock Central High School, Arkansas In 1957, the school board announced a unanimous decision to gradually integrate Little Rock schools over the next 6 years Nine students were chosen to attend Little Rock Central High School They were chosen for their high grades and maturity

The Little Rock Nine: Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Echford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Patillo Beals, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, Carlotta Walls – photo from the Library of Congress

Even before their first day, the Little Rock Nine faced abuse Fifteen year old Melba Patillo described one incident: –"I was startled when a woman I'd seen often enough but didn't really know began lecturing me. For a moment I feared she was going to haul off and hit me. She was beside herself with anger. I could barely get my good morning in because she was talking very loud, attracting attention as she told me I was too fancy for my britches and that other people in our community would pay for my uppity need to be with white folks." /09/2006

Two groups (The Capital Citizens Council and the Mothers’ League of Central High School) were formed to oppose integration Governor Orval Faubus was a dedicated segregationist September 2 – Faubus stationed National Guard members around Little Rock Central High, supposedly to prevent violence from whites September 3 Judge Davies ordered that Little Rock Central High desegregate National Guard troops patrol outside Little Rock Central High School

September 4: Eight of the Little Rock Nine arrived at the school but were turned away by the National Guard This caused a scandal as State troops were being used to oppose the implementation of a federal law! One girl, Elizabeth Echford, arrived after the rest… Elizabeth Echford being abused by the crowd at Little Rock High School

September 23: After pressure from President Eisenhower and a ruling by Judge Davies that the National Guard was being used illegally, Faubus had to act Rather than helping with desegregation he simply removed the National Guard, leaving only a few city police to protect the black students The crowd quickly broke through the barriers and threatened to enter the school The police were forced to evacuate the Little Rock Nine through a side door

September 24: The mayor of Little Rock sent a telegram to President Eisenhower requesting federal troops to keep order Eisenhower sent 1,000 members of the 101 st Airborne to enforce integration A 101 st Airborne soldier resting near the school gates

The Tiger, October 3, 1957: “Nine Negro students attended Little Rock Central High School last week for the first time in history. They arrived at the school Wednesday, September 25, accompanied by crack paratroopers of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division. An Army station wagon carried the students to the front entrance of the building while an Army helicopter circled overhead and 350 armed paratroopers stood at parade rest around the building.” 1 This decision by Eisenhower was extremely important as it was the first time federal troops had been used to enforce integration. It set an important precedent /10/2006http://

The students were accompanied by federal troops to and from every class for their protection They were brought to and from school in army vehicles, after meeting at Daisy Bates’ house (the Arkansas NAACP President) They gave regular press releases and interviews The Little Rock Nine arrive at school in a US Army car, October, 1957

Despite having federal troops as protection, the black students still faced serious abuse from whites, including being attacked with broken bottles In December 1957, Minniejean Brown dumped a bowl of chilli on a white student who was abusing her in a lunch-line She was then suspended by the board for six days After more altercations with white students she was suspended for the rest of the year

In May 1957, Ernest Green became the first black student to graduate from Little Rock Central High Ernest Green just before graduation

September 1958 – Faubus closed Little Rock’s three high schools for the whole year to prevent integration White students who could afford it went out-of-state or attended private schools Others were schooled at home and through T.V.!

Empty halls at Little Rock Central High School after the September 1958 decision to close schools to prevent integration

Students study via lessons on T.V.

August 1959: The school board reopened the schools Autumn 1959: All Little Rock’s public schools were integrated, but not without protest 1963: Only 100 of Little Rock’s 7000 negro students attended integrated schools…  The Results

Anti-integration protests, August, 1959

Summary Protest/ ActionOrganisersSupported by…Opposed by… Sept 1957: 9 black students try to attend Little Rock High School, Arkansas – to enforce the Supreme Court’s Brown v Topeka Board of Education ruling - NAACP - Daisy Bates - The ‘Little Rock Nine’ - L. Rock School Board - President Eisenhower Whites, including: - The Capital Citizens Council - The Mothers’ League of Central High School - Governor Orville Faubus

EventsResult Sept 2: National Guard stationed outside school Sept 4: black students tried to attend – were turned away by Nat. Guard – Judge Davies ruled this action = illegal, ordered integration of school Sept 23: Faubus removed Nat Guard – crowd nearly lynched black students but they were removed to safe location 24 Sept: in response to telegram from mayor, Eisenhower sent 1000 of 101 st Airborne to protect students/ keep peace – IMPORTANT! 25 Sept: Students attend for 1 st time 1958: Faubus closed all L. Rock high schools for whole year to stop integration Aug 1959: school board re-opened schools May 1957: Ernest Green is the first black student to graduate from LRCHS Autumn 1959 – SUCCESS! All L. Rock’s schools are integrated BUT by 1963 only 100 of L. Rock’s 7000 negro students attended integrated schools Showed court system, the President and federal troops could be powerful tools in civ. rights movement

Bibliography etal.htm 28/09/2006http:// etal.htm Rights-Movement-Photos/index.htm 28/09/2006http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/civilrightsmovement/ig/Civil- Rights-Movement-Photos/index.htm 28/09/2006http:// integration/lilrock/index.html 28/09/2006http:// integration/lilrock/index.html tm 28/09/2006http://afroamhistory.about.com/cs/littlerockhigh/a/littlerocknine.h tm 2.htm 4/10/2006http:// 2.htm 4/10/2006http://