Little Rock Nine

The Little Rock Museum

Located in: Little Rock, Arkansas

By: Sydney W.

Little Rock Nine~What is the injustice?

The Little Rock Nine was a very important group in the Civil The nine African American students that attempted to
Rights Movement. They were a group of nine African integrate the school. The students were Thelma Mothershed,
American students who attempted to integrate (bring Elizabeth Eckford, Gloria Ray, Jefferson Thomas, Melba
people or groups with particular characteristics or needs into Pattillo, Ernest Green, Carlotta Walls, Minnijean Brown, and
equal participation in or membership of a social group or Terrance Roberts.
institution) an all white school in Little Rock, Arkansas called
Central High School. These students made many attempts
to enter the school, and were unsuccessful many times. The
injustice (a violation of the rights of others; an unfair act) is
that the nine students, were stopped from entering the
school several times either by the National Guardsmen, or
an angry mob (who’s number reached up to 1,000 people)
even though all public schools in Little Rock were ordered to
begin desegregation (to stop racial separation in public
schools and other public facilities).

Little Rock Nine~What is an important quote?

“At a time when we face a grave situation abroad because of the hatred that Communism bears toward a system of
government based on human rights, it would be difficult to exaggerate the harm that is being done to the prestige and
influence, and indeed to the safety of our nation and the world.”- President Dwight D. Eisenhower; September 24, 1957

(President Dwight D. Eisenhower Address on Little Rock.)

This quote was said by President Eisenhower during a “It would be difficult to exaggerate the harm that
speech after he agreed that America was turning its back is being done to the prestige and influence, and
on the African Americans, even though they needed them indeed to the safety of our nation and the
on their side of the democracy. He said this about the world.” President Eisenhower said these words in
segregation (the separation of a race, class, or ethnic a speech on September 24, 1957.
group from the rest of society) situation in Little Rock. He is
trying to explain that the harm that is being done to the
African Americans is so terrible, it is hard exaggerate it. He
is also saying that this harm threatens the safety of
America and even the world. He decided to send in troops
to protect the nine students as they attended school.

Little Rock Nine~How can one person make a difference?

One person can make a difference in many President Dwight D. Eisenhower made a
different ways. President Dwight D. Eisenhower big difference for the students in Little
made a huge difference in the situation in Little Rock and in the Civil Rights Movement.
Rock. He received many telegrams urging him
to take a stand in what was happening in Little
Rock. Eventually he realized how the students
were being treated, and he sent in troops to
protect the students as they attended the
school. President Eisenhower’s actions could
have been what inspired other white leaders to
take stand for the civil rights (basic rights that
every citizen has under to laws of government)
of African Americans.

Little Rock Nine~What legacy did they leave behind?

The crisis in Little Rock was a very important milestone The students of the Little Rock Nine being escorted
(an important event) in the history of the Civil Rights from Central High School by the armed troops that
Movement. The actions of the students of the Little Rock President Eisenhower sent.
Nine are what began desegregation in schools.
Unfortunately, after President Eisenhower had sent the
troops in, the students still received threats, insults, and
physical harassments, but state-supported segregation
had stopped. It is important to remember the actions
that the students and the president took, because they
can inspire many people. President Eisenhower’s
actions can inspire people to take a stand for what they
know is right. The actions of the students can inspire
people to not give up for their rights. The situation in
Little Rock is a very important event in American history.

Little Rock Nine~Primary Source

Telegram from Martin Luther King Jr. to President Dwight D. Eisenhower

On September 9, 1957, the president of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., sent a
telegram to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, urging him to take
a stand in the situation in Little Rock. “If the federal government
fail to take a strong positive stand at this time,” Dr. King warned,
“it will set the process of integration back fifty years.”

After he received this telegram, President Eisenhower agreed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s telegram to
send in federal troops to protect the students as they entered President Eisenhower, urging him to take a
Central High School to begin their school year. The nine African stand in the problem in Little Rock.
American students were to attend the school under military
protection for the entire year.

The Little Rock Nine~Secondary Source

“Little Rock Nine: Struggle for Integration” by Stephanie Fitzgerald

In 2007 “Little Rock Nine: Struggle for “The Little Rock Nine:
Integration” by Stephanie Fitzgerald was Struggle for Integration” by
published. This book is about the students’ Stephanie Fitzgerald was
struggle to enter the school. This book explains published in 2007.
the problems that each of the students faced
during this time. This book is about what they
experienced, such as when Elizabeth Eckford
had to walk home with an angry mob following
her and threatening her, because she didn’t get
notified that the students would be escorted to
Central High School in two police cars. This
book is about the huge impact that the Little
Rock Nine made in the Civil Rights Movement.

Little Rock Nine~ Other Pictures

15 year old Elizabeth Eckford clutching school
books and walking away from an angry mob,
while being verbally abused by white student,
Hazel Bryan who was also 15 at the time.

Ernest Green, the first African American to The nine members of the Little Rock Nine and civil
graduate Central High School, receiving rights activist, journalist, publisher, and lecturer,
his diploma at his graduation. Daisy Bates.

Little Rock Nine~ Works Cited

Altman, Susan, and Joel Kemelhor. Encyclopedia of African-American Heritage. Checkmark Books, 2000.
Bettmann. “African American at Little Rock High School Receiving Diploma.” Getty Images, 27 May 1958,
www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/little-rock-arkansas-gets-diploma-ernest-green-made-history-news-photo/5149759
12.
Davidson, James West. America: History of Our Nation. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009.
“Dwight D. Eisenhower.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Jan. 2018, en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_D._Eisenhower.
1957) Dwight Eisenhower, "Address on Little Rock" | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed,
www.blackpast.org/1957-dwight-eisenhower-address-little-rock.
“Elizabeth Eckford at Little Rock.” The Famous Pictures Collection, 30 Apr. 2015,
www.famouspictures.org/elizabeth-eckford-at-little-rock/.
Fiza Pirani The Atlanta Journal-Constitution1:21 p.m Monday, Sept. 25, 2017 National/World News. “7 Things to Know about the
Little Rock Nine.” Ajc, www.ajc.com/news/national/things-know-about-the-little-rock-nine/ysmvHfrh6yNqkmqtkJkmMO/.
Infobase Learning - Login, online.infobase.com/HRC/Search/Details/100947
Jaynes, Gerald D. “Little Rock Nine.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2 Jan. 2018,
www.britannica.com/topic/Little-Rock-Nine.

Little Rock Nine~ Works Cited (Continued)

“LANDSCAPE ART20th.” Emaze Presentations, www.emaze.com/@AQQWCORO/-LANDSCAPE-ART20th.
{"isAjaxInProgress_B001HOW5YC":"0","isAjaxComplete_B001HOW5YC":"0"} Stephanie Fitzgerald (Author) › Visit Amazon's
Stephanie Fitzgerald Page Find all the b. “The Little Rock Nine: Struggle for Integration (Snapshots in History) (9780756520113):
Stephanie Fitzgerald: Books.” Amazon.com: The Little Rock Nine: Struggle for Integration (Snapshots in History) (9780756520113):
Stephanie Fitzgerald: Books, www.amazon.com/Little-Rock-Nine-Integration-Snapshots/dp/0756520118.
Valley, Katie. “The Little Rock Nine Marked a Milestone in Civil Rights History.” The Eclipse,
kearsleyeclipse.com/4934/news/the-little-rock-nine-marked-a-milestone-in-civil-rights-history/.
“World Book Online Reference Center | Online Reference Book| Online Encyclopedia.” World Book,
www.worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar753406.