UNIT QUESTIONS: Our Declaration of Independence says “all men are created equal,” but are we all treated equally? How did the Civil Rights Movement succeed and fail? How does the Civil Rights Movement impact you today?

Members of our Group Ms. Johnson Ms. Haqque Ms. Matjoulis Ms. Ahmad Ms. Chipman Ms. Silva

Teenage Pioneers of Change The Little Rock Nine: Teenage Pioneers of Change

What injustices did they challenge? On June 7, 1892, Homer Plessy boarded a car of the East Louisiana Railroad that was designated by whites for use by white patrons only. Although Plessy was 1/8 black and 7/8 white, under Louisiana state law he was classified as an African-American, and thus required to sit in the "colored" car.

What injustices did they challenge? In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that a Louisiana law mandating separate but equal accommodations for blacks and whites on intrastate railroads was constitutional. This case was applied to other public places like schools.

What injustices did they challenge? According to the Supreme Court, segregation was legal as long as schools were equal for blacks and whites. Few schools for blacks, however, were actually equal in quality to schools for whites.

What case did they try to enforce? In 1954 the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that segregated schools were unconstitutional because although they were separate, they were not equal. George E.C. Hayes, left, Thurgood Marshall, center, and James M. Nabrit, the lawyers who led the fight before the U.S. Supreme Court for abolition of segregation in public schools, descend the court steps in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 1954.

What injustices did they challenge? Schools, however, were slow to enforce the ruling. In a second Brown case, the court said that schools must integrate with “all deliberate speed.” This still did not cause all schools to immediately integrate.

Who were the Little Rock Nine? (left to right) Thelma Mothershed, Elizabeth Eckford, Gloria Ray, Jefferson Thomas, Melba Pattillo, Ernest Green, Carlotta Walls, Minnijean Brown, Terrence Roberts, and Daisy L. Bates. They ranged in age from 14 to 16 at the time.

Who were the Little Rock Nine? In 1957, the students tried to integrate Central High School in order to receive access to a quality education. This historic event occurred after the Montgomery Bus Boycott, but before the March on Washington.

Little Rock Central High School, Arkansas

Who resisted them? The Governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, directly resisted the authority of the federal court system and the value of desegregating schools. Governor Faubus instructed the Arkansas National Guard to surround Central High and keep all blacks out of the school. They succeeded on the first day.

Who helped them? A Judge granted NAACP lawyers Thurgood Marshall & Wiley Branton an injunction that prevented the Governor from using the National Guard to deny the nine black students admittance to Central High. Governor Faubus announced that he would comply with the court order but suggested that the nine stay away for their own safety.

Who helped them? President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division into Little Rock to escort the nine students into the school, but they were still subjected to abuse. President Eisenhower & Governor Faubus

The Nine being escorted into school. Who helped them? The Nine being escorted into school.

How did the public react to them? "Cruel mob force had frustrated the execution of an order of a United States court, and the governor of the state was sitting by, refusing to lift a finger to support the local authorities," President Eisenhower later wrote.

How did the public react to them? Rally at state capitol. Photograph shows a group of people, one holding a Confederate flag, surrounding speakers and National Guard, protesting the admission of the "Little Rock Nine" to Central High School.

What happened to the nine? Governor Faubus did not give up. The Little Rock School Board was granted an injunction delaying integration until 1961. However, the ruling was overturned by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and integration was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1958. Governor Faubus ignored the ruling and used his power to shut down Little Rock's public schools. During the shutdown, white students attended private schools in the area but black students had no choice but to wait until schools were reopened in 1959.

What happened to the nine? One of the girls, Minniejean Brown, was suspended for dumping a bowl of chili on the head of one her persecutors and didn't finish out the school year. The other 8 did finish out the year. Three of the students moved away. The remaining five took correspondence courses from the University of Arkansas.

What happened to the nine? Ernest Green graduated that year. He was the first black to ever graduate from Central High.

What did the Little Rock Nine accomplish? Ultimately, the Arkansas public schools were integrated. The high point of desegregation in the Little Rock School District came in 1980, when the average black student attended a school that was 50 percent white. (statistics from the Civil Rights Project at UCLA)

What did the Little Rock Nine accomplish? The Little Rock Nine inspired further actions of the Civil Rights Movement like Freedom Rides and lunch counter sit-ins.

What did the Little Rock Nine accomplish? This year, at the 50th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine integrating Central High School, there are mixed opinions at how much they accomplished. "We thought this was a place that would accept us," one of the nine, Ernest Green, told the crowd. "And you know what? Fifty years later, I think we were right!"

What did the Little Rock Nine accomplish? "The forces that resisted the desegregation of Little Rock have never stopped fighting," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said. "Those who rejected the dream are still rejecting the dream."

How do we remember the Little Rock Nine?

How do we remember the Little Rock Nine? A statue of the nine now stands outside a new museum across the street from Central High School.

How do the Little Rock Nine impact us today? Today, the average black student attends a school that is 20 percent white. (statistics from the Civil Rights Project at UCLA) Is that integration?

How do the Little Rock Nine impact us today? The Jena 6 of Louisiana show us that although integration has taken place, racism is still alive in our schools today.

Our Answer to the Unit Q Clearly, from examining the case of the Little Rock Nine, black students could not access equal education even in the 20th century. Although the Declaration of Independence says that “all men are created equal,” minority students did not have equal access to a quality education. The Little Rock Nine tried to change that.

Multiple Choice Review In what year, did the Little Rock Nine attempt to integrate Central High School? 1960 1959 1958 1957

Multiple Choice Review In what year, did the Little Rock Nine attempt to integrate Central High School? D. 1957

Multiple Choice Review 2. In what state was Central High School? Alabama Arkansas Georgia Louisiana

Multiple Choice Review 2. In what state was Central High School? B. Arkansas

Multiple Choice Review 3. What political leader helped the Little Rock Nine achieve their goal? Governor Faubus Ernest Green Justice Thurgood Marshall President Eisenhower

Multiple Choice Review 3. What political leader helped the Little Rock Nine achieve their goal? D. President Eisenhower

Multiple Choice Review 4. What did the case Plessy v. Ferguson decide? That separate but equal was constitutional. That separate but equal was unconstitutional. That separate but equal only applied to trains. That separate but equal schools must be closed.

Multiple Choice Review 4. What did the case Plessy v. Ferguson decide? That separate but equal was constitutional.

Multiple Choice Review 5. What did the case Brown v. Board decide? That schools were equal so that segregated schools were constitutional. That schools were not equal so segregated schools were unconstitutional. That schools were not equal so segregated schools needed to be improved. That schools were equal so segregated schools should be integrated because it’s right.

Multiple Choice Review 5. What did the case Brown v. Board decide? B. That schools were not equal so segregated schools were unconstitutional.

What were our most important sources? Our interview with Professor _________ ______________. The Web Site _______________________. The book __________________________.

MLA Bibliography Dickerson, Phyllis. “What happened in 1957.” Little Rock Central High Integration 50th Anniversary. 26 September 2007. http://www.lrsd.org/centralhigh50th/1957.htm. Whoriskey, Peter. “50 years later, a stylish arrival for Little Rock Nine.” Washington Post. 26 September 2007.