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Photograph from article in Life in September 1957.
School desegregation in the United States became legal after the court ruling of Brown Vs. Board of Education in Topeka, Kansas in 1954. Little Rock, Arkansas began integration in September 1957, beginning with Little Rock Central High. There was a great struggle for control over this issue: the right to attend one's neighborhood school regardless of race; keeping schools segregated dependent upon various reasons, religious and/or non; or politically motivated by officials. The Governor at the time, Orval Faubus, who was vehemently against integration, went so far as to exercise the Arkansas Nation Guard to keep the students from attending. After hearing of this action, President Eisenhower assigned the 101st Airborne Division of the United States to escort the students to school and to help keep order. On September 23, 1957, nine African-American students attended their first day at Little Rock Central High School.
Their names are:
- Melba Pattillo Beals
- Minnijean Brown
- Elizabeth Eckford
- Ernest Green
- Gloria Ray Karlmark
- Carlotta Walls LaNier
- Thelma Mothershed
- Terence Roberts
- Jefferson Thomas
Altercation between the 101st Airborne Division of the United States and a white man who was against the school being intergrated.
There were no fatalities during this time period in Little Rock. The community looked upon Nashville's school integration, also occurring at the same time with integrating first grade. When aversion was present, the communities held strong and conquered over the hate. There were also no fatalities in Nashville. More schools were integrated as the years passed, but one most well-known in the South was the legacy of the Little Rock Nine.
Conflict between students at North Little Rock High School, Time photograph from article September 1957.
If you are interested in learning more about the Little Rock Nine, these books are always available in the Special Collections Division at the Main Library and for hold at any branches.