Little Rock NineLittle Rock Nine

Who were the Little Rock NineWho were the Little Rock Nine

The Little Rock Nine were the nine African-American students The Little Rock Nine were the nine African-American students involved in the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School in involved in the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School in 1957.1957.

Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus prevented the students from Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus prevented the students from entering the racially segregated school.entering the racially segregated school.

Segregationist councils threatened to hold protests at the school Segregationist councils threatened to hold protests at the school and physically block the students from entering the school.and physically block the students from entering the school.

The NineThe Nine

Ernest GreenErnest Green Elizabeth EckfordElizabeth Eckford Jefferson ThomasJefferson Thomas Terrence RobertsTerrence Roberts Carlotta Walls LanierCarlotta Walls Lanier Minnijean Brown TrickeyMinnijean Brown Trickey Gloria Ray KarlmarkGloria Ray Karlmark Thelma Mothershed-WairThelma Mothershed-Wair

National Guard BlockadeNational Guard Blockade

Several segregationist councils threatened to holdSeveral segregationist councils threatened to hold

protests at Central High and physically block the protests at Central High and physically block the

black students from entering the schoolblack students from entering the school Governor Faubus' support for segregation mayGovernor Faubus' support for segregation may

have been politically an racially motivated. have been politically an racially motivated.  Faubus risked losing political support if he showedFaubus risked losing political support if he showed

support for integration.support for integration. Elizabeth Eckford, recalled ‘’They moved closer Elizabeth Eckford, recalled ‘’They moved closer

and closer ... Somebody started yelling ... I tried to and closer ... Somebody started yelling ... I tried to

see a friendly face somewhere in the crowd someone see a friendly face somewhere in the crowd someone

who maybe could help. I looked into the face of an who maybe could help. I looked into the face of an

old woman who seemed to have a kind face, but old woman who seemed to have a kind face, but

when I looked at her again, she spat on me.’’when I looked at her again, she spat on me.’’

The 101The 101stst Airbourne Airbourne Woodrow Mann, who was the Mayor of Little Rock, noticed the racism happening in Woodrow Mann, who was the Mayor of Little Rock, noticed the racism happening in

his town. As a result, he asked President Eisenhower to send federal troops in order his town. As a result, he asked President Eisenhower to send federal troops in order to enforce the integration of them into the school and to protect the nine students to enforce the integration of them into the school and to protect the nine students from any harm. from any harm.

On September 24th, Eisenhower ordered the 101st Airbourne Division of the US army On September 24th, Eisenhower ordered the 101st Airbourne Division of the US army to Little Rock and federalized the entire group of the Arkansas National Guard which to Little Rock and federalized the entire group of the Arkansas National Guard which consisted of 10 000 membersconsisted of 10 000 members

taking it out of the hands of the racist Governor Faubus. The 101st took their taking it out of the hands of the racist Governor Faubus. The 101st took their positions and successfully escorted the 9 students into the schoolpositions and successfully escorted the 9 students into the school

Each student had their own patroller to walk with them to school and during school, Each student had their own patroller to walk with them to school and during school, but Whites still beat them. The segregationists stabbed Melba Patillo and sprayed but Whites still beat them. The segregationists stabbed Melba Patillo and sprayed acid into her eyes. If it weren’t for the 101st patroller throwing water over her eyes acid into her eyes. If it weren’t for the 101st patroller throwing water over her eyes she would have been blind for the rest of her life. she would have been blind for the rest of her life.

A Tense YearA Tense Year

Even though the nine were admitted to Little Rock Central High under the Even though the nine were admitted to Little Rock Central High under the protection of the U.S Army, the students were still subjected to year a of protection of the U.S Army, the students were still subjected to year a of physical and verbal abuse by many of the white students.physical and verbal abuse by many of the white students.

Minnijean Brown was suspended for dumping her lunch on two white males Minnijean Brown was suspended for dumping her lunch on two white males because they were insulting her.because they were insulting her.

After a few weeks the patrollers left the nine students to fend for After a few weeks the patrollers left the nine students to fend for themselves.themselves.

Minnijean Brown said ‘’I was one of the kids 'approved' by the school Minnijean Brown said ‘’I was one of the kids 'approved' by the school officials. We were told we would have to take a lot and were warned not to officials. We were told we would have to take a lot and were warned not to fight back if anything happened. One girl ran up to me and said, 'I'm so fight back if anything happened. One girl ran up to me and said, 'I'm so glad you’re here. Won’t you go to lunch with me today?' I never saw her glad you’re here. Won’t you go to lunch with me today?' I never saw her again.’’again.’’

Fauber FightsFauber Fights

Earnest Green of the nine black students, was the first black student to Earnest Green of the nine black students, was the first black student to graduate out of Little Rock High. Segregationists in Arkansas wanted to graduate out of Little Rock High. Segregationists in Arkansas wanted to stop the other black students from graduating.stop the other black students from graduating.

Governor Faubus signs a package of segregation bills that were then Governor Faubus signs a package of segregation bills that were then passed by the legislature of Arkansas. Bills such as granting Fauber power passed by the legislature of Arkansas. Bills such as granting Fauber power to shut down Little rock high.to shut down Little rock high.

The family of the nine started to worry due to having to choose being fired The family of the nine started to worry due to having to choose being fired from their jobs or resigning because of whats happening at the school. from their jobs or resigning because of whats happening at the school.

The summer of 1959 approached and Faubus's act has become The summer of 1959 approached and Faubus's act has become unconstitutional. Faubus not giving up decides to work on a new law to unconstitutional. Faubus not giving up decides to work on a new law to take its place.take its place.

In August 1959 only two originally black students from Little Rock Nine In August 1959 only two originally black students from Little Rock Nine were attending Central High: Jefferson Thomas and Carlotta Walls.were attending Central High: Jefferson Thomas and Carlotta Walls.

The Future of the NineThe Future of the Nine

Ernest GreenErnest Green In 1958, he became the first black student to graduate from Central High School. In 1958, he became the first black student to graduate from Central High School. He graduated from Michigan State University and served as Assistant Secretary of Housing and He graduated from Michigan State University and served as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs under President Jimmy Carter. Urban Affairs under President Jimmy Carter.

Elizabeth EckfordElizabeth Eckford The only one of the nine still living in Little Rock, Elizabeth made a career of The only one of the nine still living in Little Rock, Elizabeth made a career of the U.S. Army that included work as a journalist. In 1974, she returned to the home in which she the U.S. Army that included work as a journalist. In 1974, she returned to the home in which she grew up and is now a part-time social worker and mother of two sons.grew up and is now a part-time social worker and mother of two sons.

Jefferson ThomasJefferson Thomas graduated from Central in 1960, following a year in which Little Rock's graduated from Central in 1960, following a year in which Little Rock's public high schools were ordered closed by the legislature to prevent desegregation. Today, he public high schools were ordered closed by the legislature to prevent desegregation. Today, he is an accountant with the U.S. Department of Defense and lives in Anaheim, Calif. is an accountant with the U.S. Department of Defense and lives in Anaheim, Calif.

Dr. Terrence RobertsDr. Terrence Roberts Following the historic year at Central, his family moved to Los Angeles Following the historic year at Central, his family moved to Los Angeles where he completed high school. He earned a doctorate degree and teaches at the University of where he completed high school. He earned a doctorate degree and teaches at the University of California at Los Angeles and Antioc College. He also is a clinical psychologist.California at Los Angeles and Antioc College. He also is a clinical psychologist.

Carlotta Walls Lanier Carlotta Walls Lanier One of only three of the nine who eventually graduated from Central, One of only three of the nine who eventually graduated from Central, she and Jefferson Thomas returned for their senior year in 1959. She graduated from Michigan she and Jefferson Thomas returned for their senior year in 1959. She graduated from Michigan State University and presently lives in Englewood, Colorado, where she is in real estate.State University and presently lives in Englewood, Colorado, where she is in real estate.

Minnijean Brown Trickey Minnijean Brown Trickey was expelled from Central High in February, 1958, after several was expelled from Central High in February, 1958, after several incidents, including her dumping a bowl of chili on one of her antagonists in the school cafeteria. incidents, including her dumping a bowl of chili on one of her antagonists in the school cafeteria. She moved with her husband to Canada during the Vietnam War of the 1960s and today is a She moved with her husband to Canada during the Vietnam War of the 1960s and today is a writer and social worker in Ontario.writer and social worker in Ontario.

Gloria Ray KarlmarkGloria Ray Karlmark graduated from Illinois Technical College and received a post-graduate graduated from Illinois Technical College and received a post-graduate degree in Stockholm, Sweden. She was a prolific computer science writer and at one time degree in Stockholm, Sweden. She was a prolific computer science writer and at one time successfully published magazines in 39 countries. Now retired, she divides her time between successfully published magazines in 39 countries. Now retired, she divides her time between homes in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Stockholm.homes in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Stockholm.  

Thelma Mothershed-Wair Thelma Mothershed-Wair graduated from college, then made a career of teaching. She lives graduated from college, then made a career of teaching. She lives in Belleville, Illinois, where she is a volunteer in a program for abused women.in Belleville, Illinois, where she is a volunteer in a program for abused women.

Melba Pattillo Beals Melba Pattillo Beals is an author and former journalist for People magazine and NBC and lives is an author and former journalist for People magazine and NBC and lives in San Francisco.in San Francisco.

BibliographyBibliography http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112391/little_rock_nine.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Rock_Nine http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?

entryID=723entryID=723 http://www.centralhigh57.org/The_Little_Rock_Nine.htmlhttp://www.centralhigh57.org/The_Little_Rock_Nine.html http://littlerock.about.com/cs/centralhigh/a/Integration.htmhttp://littlerock.about.com/cs/centralhigh/a/Integration.htm