Rafael Espinosa Ms. Fletcher English 1-2, Per.5 05 May 2017 The Integration of the Little Rock Nine Who were the Little Rock Nine and why were they so important during the Civil Rights Movement? The Little Rock Nine was a group of African American students who integrated into a segregated high school in Arkansas. This event was the start Civil Rights Movement in 1957. In this essay, I will discuss, Little Rock Nine, how the Little Rock Nine impacted the Civil Rights Movement, and how discrimination and forms of exclusion in schools still exist in today’s society. In 1957, a group of African American students dubbed the Little Rock Nine integrated into the segregated high school, Little Rock Central.These braved students faced tremendous amounts …show more content…
The Little Rock Nine volunteer to enter the segregated high school they had a choice, the choice of entering the high school. The Little Rock Nine volunteer to enter the segregated high school they knew risks if they agree to enter high school. The Little Rock Nine was chosen because of their excellence grades and perfect attendance, the NAACP thought they would be great for integrating into segregated high school but they had faced tons of issues. One of the many problems was that the Little Rock Nine were stopped by angry riots and officers that were ordered by the governor of Arkansas, president Eisenhower had to send the National Guard to escort the Little Rock Nine into the high school. The Little Rock Nine had faced tremendous amounts of discrimination in the high school, they had to endure being called racial slurs and possibly being physically harm. What the Little Rock Nine did change our society we wouldn’t have different races in our schools or have a teacher that is a different race. There is still discrimination and forms of exclusion in schools that still exist. Discrimination and forms of exclusion in schools still exist in today’s modern society and it is affecting our
Did you know that without the Little Rock Nine our schools might still be segregated. The Little Rock Nine were the first black students to attend a white school. Parents and the Governor of Arkansas tried to keep the schools segregated. President Eisenhower found out of this, and sent help to the black students. With the white parents and governor against the; The Little Rock Nine affected the school system with the help of President Eisenhower.
Throughout our nation’s history, there are many instances where a certain group or individual expressed their courageousness by voicing their opinions to make our world a better place. Their willingness and determination to change society for the better good of the people showcase their tremendous courageous qualities that are not present in everyone. A powerful example of courageous acts that greatly impacted our nation are the Little Rock Nine students from Little Rock, Arkansas. As you probably know in the mid-1900s, almost all public schools were segregated, meaning there was a separate school for white kids and a separate school for black kids. In Ben Cosgrove’s Time Magazine article titled “Brave Hearts: Remembering the Little Rock Nine”, he talks about the nine brave African-American teenagers who risked their lives in order to attend Little Rock Central High School, an all-white public school. Because segregation in the southern schools was so prominent, many citizens of the south were outraged
What was it about these 9 black students that impacted on so many lives? The Little Rock 9. Many people loved them and many people also hated them. But they did not let that stop them from becoming who they are today.
If two people of different races are just alike you shouldn’t separate them. But you also shouldn’t tell one part of the story to make something or someone look good. The Plessy vs. Ferguson case came up with the famous quote “separate but equal” Meaning things could be separated between races as long as each race had all the same things. Particularly in this case between Blacks and Whites, but in schools, restaurants, and many other places it wasn’t equal. So there was a case called Brown vs. Board of Education which fought to integrate schools and Brown won. The first to integrate was the Little Rock Nine in Little Rock, Arkansas. While the Little Rock Nine were integrating the press illuminated and distorted information and pictures of the
Some of the difficulties that Melba witnessed and experienced during the 1957 integration efforts of the “Little Rock 9” are when in chapter two after they made the decision on Brown v Board of Education when Melba was walking home after school a white man attempted to kidnap and assault and possibly rape Melba just because she was a young black girl.
Civil rights refer to the rights of every human no matter the race or belief and is an important part of the U.S history. From Martin Luther King to The Little Rock Nine, people have been fighting for civil rights. In fact, the Little Rock Nine helped fight for desegregation in school. Everyday the Little Rock Nine struggled to have equal rights at the school. The Little Rock Nine changed the course of history. Without them, things would not be as they are today.
Little Rock Nine was known for being nine African American students who went to Little Rock’s all-white Central High School in the fall of 1957. They were sent there because of their “academic excellence and willingness to become racial pioneers.” says The Struggle for Freedom: A History of African Americans. The students were told that the National Guardsmen was going to be there that morning but on September 4th, they soon found out that the National Guardsmen was not there to protect the nine of them from angry white citizens, but to block them from getting into the school. On September 4th they were not successful in enter the school But the nine of them were determined and were not want to give up. So the following day, Daisy Bates, head of the NAACP’s local branch, arranged for them to meet to walk to the school together. One of the students named Elizabeth Eckford, did not have a phone in her home so she did not receive the memo. While she walked to school alone angry crowd of whites surrounded her, when she arrived to the school all alone. She was scared and confused all at once, so she sat tensed up on a bench. Luckily a white woman intervened and walked Elizabeth to safety. The other eight students made it to the school together and was turned around again
The Little Rock Nine led the way to extensive changes in the schools in the United States, empowered African Americans to effectively protest nonviolently, and significantly expedited the Civil Rights Movement. They were able to accomplish all of this despite just being high school students. The youngest was just fourteen and even she made a huge difference in the movement. The accomplishments of the Little Rock Nine prove that anyone, at any age can make a difference. They all graduated from high school and were then awarded the Spingarn Award by the NAACP for their outstanding achievement. Change is inevitable and through the actions of a few people, the lives of many people were
All around the nation many people were allowing African Americans into their stores, and schools. Nevertheless, many did not concur with the idea of African Americans being equal. Many weren’t willing to let go of old prejudices and practices. One historical event was the little rock nine. In Little Rock Central High School, nine African American students were associated with the desegregation of the school. By them being accepted in the school it made a great deal of people furious. They began to protest and harass the students. Although by law African Americans were equal, they still weren't treated equal in everyday life. By them being equal it caused more conflict between the races. However, the conflict helped start a civil rights
During the late 1950’s a group of nine African Americans enrolled into Little Rock Central High School. They were persecuted immensly due to the color of their skin. This led to many violent riots and changed the way America thought about segregation. Everyday they would be beaten and ridiculed, because they wanted to learn in an all white school. It was shown that Caucasian schools had better supplies and a better curriculum than the African American schools. Many violent riots occured during this time period due to what was occuring with desegregation. Although many residents in the Little Rock area were not okay with the desegregation, the nine high school students overcame all odds and took a stand.
According to Webb (2014), in the textbook History of American education: Voices and perspectives, in 1957 nine African American students earned their way to Little Rock high school under the lead of Daisy Bates. They found that with Bates’ guidance that they could desegregate Little Rock high school and bring together the African American and White races to learn together under a single ceiling. The Little Rock Nine, as these students
The Little Rock Nine were one of the most brave groups of people to enroll in a High School ever, they were one of the most important groups of people that changed segregation and racism in schools. The nine African - American students that attended Little Rock Central High School did not have it easy. Governor Faubus did not like that they were attending High School so he sent in Arkansas National Guard on September 4, 1957. Due to the National Guard, the nine could not enter the school. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent in the 101st Airborne Division to come in and protect the nine students. The Little Rock Nine were one of the most important classes because of what the nine students went through to attend the
In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that the segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. This change led to a historical event, in Little Rock, that changed the course of our country. In September 1957, eight of the Little Rock Nine went to school escorted by a group of preachers, but were rebuffed by members of the National Guard sent by Governor Faubus. However, the last member was forgotten about in the flurry of activity and went to school on her own. When she got off the bus, she was treated to a experience she will never forget when a mob made of hundreds of thousands of protesters screaming insults at her. Insulted by Governor Faubus going against his decision, President Eisenhower sent in U.S. Army regulars, units of the 327th Infantry,
While the Arkansas National Guard, ordered by the current governor, was trying to keep her out, the President and 101st Airborne Troops were protecting Melba and the eight others inside. Even with her protection, Melba endured threats, racial slurs, other verbal abuse and physical abuse. She had acid thrown on her, was almost kicked down a flight of stairs, and was held under hot water by classmates. For a year, these eight students endured hell so that integration would be a success. One of the “Little Rock Nine” graduated from Central High that school year.
On September 25, 2017, former President Bill Clinton opened the doors of Little Rock High School in Arkansas for the 40th reunion of the “Little Rock Nine.” Forty years ago, the desegregation of the school shook the nation. Nine African American teenagers decided to take a stand and do the unimaginable. Melba Pattillo Beals, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Thelma Mothershed, and Terrence Roberts were the tenacious students that helped force integration across the south, spun on the Civil Rights movement, and helped change the attitudes of millions. They wanted to show that they were equal, that the color of their skin does not define who they are. The task was far from easy, but if it wasn't for the courage, and strength of these nine students, who knows what the world would be like today.