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Brown v. Board
The Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. -
The Night Before
The night before the student's first day of school, the governor of Arkansas ordered the state's National Guard to block the entrance of the school for the safety of the first nine African American students who would be attending Little Rock's Central High School (The Little Rock Nine, 2024). -
Federal Judge Order
A federal judge ordered the nine students to begin attending Little Rock's Central High immediately (The Little Rock Nine, 2024). -
Prevented Access
An angry mob, along with the National Guard, prevented the teens from entering the school (The Little Rock Nine, 2024). -
Removal of the National Guard
A federal judge ordered the removal of the National Guard (The Little Rock Nine, 2024). -
Another Attempt
Police escorted the nine students through a side door of the school in an attempt to begin classes. An angry crowd rushed in and school officials feared for the lives of the nine African American students. The Little Rock Nine were sent home after 3 hours in attendance (The Little Rock Nine, 2024). -
Help from the President
President Eisenhower ordered troops from the Army's 101st Airborne Division into the school and federalized the Arkansas National Guard. Eisenhower stated, "Mob rule cannot be allowed to override the decisions of the courts." (The Little Rock Nine (U.S. National Park Service), n.d.) -
Personal Protection
National Guard soldiers and the Army's 101st Airborne troops personally guarded the Little Rock Nine for the remainder of the year (The Little Rock Nine, 2024). -
Minnijean Brown
Minnijean Brown, one of the Little Rock Nine students, called a student "white trash" after she hit Minnijean with her purse (The Little Rock Nine (U.S. National Park Service), n.d.). -
The First African American Central High Graduate
The Little Rock Nine endured threats and harassment each day of school. Ernest Green became the first of the Little Rock Nine to graduate (The Little Rock Nine, 2024). -
The Next School Year
The city of Little Rock closed all high schools to prevent further desegregation (The Little Rock Nine (U.S. National Park Service), n.d.). -
Two More Little Rock Nine Graduates
The schools reopened and Carlotta Walls and Jefferson Thomas graduated from Little Rock's Central High School (The Little Rock Nine (U.S. National Park Service), n.d.). -
References
The Little Rock Nine. (2024, April 16). National Museum of African American History and Culture. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/little-rock-nine
The Little Rock Nine (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). https://www.nps.gov/people/the-little-rock-nine.htm