Laura Campbell

Civil Rights Activist

Hour 4 Sacraments

The Little Rock Nine

The Little Rock Nine were a group of nine teenagers that

were the first black students to attend an all white high school in

1957. In Little Rock, Arkansas, the group embarked on an

incredible challenege. The African-American teenagers faced

much racism and segregation at their high school and conquered

the rights they deserved.

The Little Rock Nine wanted the same opportunity to get a

good education as any other white person in America. Brown vs.

Board of Education gave more rights for black people, however,

many school systems did not back down. They threatened,

intimidated, and disrespected black students. When the Little

Rock Nine went to school on the first day, the govenor of

Arkansas, Orval Faubus, sent in the state's National Guard to

block the students from entering the school.

 That day went into chaos. President Eisenhower was forced

to take action by sending in federal troops to protect the the

students from any danger. Unfortunately, that was only the

beginning of their horrific expierence trying to achieve justice!

Every day on the way to school, The Little Rock Nine made their

way down the streets while being taunted by white people and

insulted with names and racial remarks. Many times, they

recieved death threats from the angry mobs of discriminating

white folk. What a night mare! Somehow they beared through the

hardships, and now are very famous for their dedication and

perseverance to end racism.

The Little Rock Nine included Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest

Green, Jefferson Thomas, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Terrence Roberts,

Minnijean Brown, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed, and

Melba Beals. Ernest Greene was the first of the students to

graduate from Central High School in Arkansas.

 Bibliography

"Little Rock Nine - Encyclopedia of Arkansas." The Encyclopedia of Arkansas

History & Culture. Web. 18 Jan. 2011.
<http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=723>.

"The Little Rock Nine." Little Rock Central High 40th Anniversary. Web. 18 Jan.
2011. <http://www.centralhigh57.org/The_Little_Rock_Nine.html>.

"School Integration in Little Rock, Arkansas: Introduction." Www.watson.org.

Web. 18 Jan. 2011. <http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/school-
integration/lilrock/>.