-
Brown V. Board of Education
On this date, the supreme court ruled that the segregation of schools were unconstitutional. -
Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine
Daisy Bates, the president of the Arkansas branch of the NAACP, chose the nine students to desegreagte the school system. Carlotta Walls, Jefferson Thomas, Gloria Ray, Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Thelma Mothershed, Terrence Roberts, Minnijean Brown, and Melba Pattillo. -
The First Day of School
The first time the students tried to attend school, eight of the nine were driven by police officers while the one, Elizabeth Eckford, arrived on her own. All were turned away by the national guard and threatened by the mob surronding the school. -
The Second Attempt
After the 101st Airborne arrived, this was the first day the students actually entered the school. However the mob outsude was so intense, they had no choice but to leave school early. -
The Third Attempt
The first full day of school for the new nine students. After this day, each student was assigned two members of the 101st airborne to escort them to their classes due to the physical abuse the students endured. -
Graduation
On this date, Ernest Green became the first African-American to graduate from Central High School. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr attended his graduation to congradulate him. -
School Closing
Governor Faubus closed the school to prevent any more African-Americans attending Central High School. The Supreme Court later deemed this unconstitutional and the school was opened again the following year.
