Story Published:
Feb 3, 2009 at 10:49 PM CST
Story Updated:
Feb 3, 2009 at 10:49 PM CST
In 1957, Central High School, in Little Rock, Arkansas, was an all white high school where black students were not allowed to attend in spite of the Supreme Court 1954 ruling that all schools must be integrated.
A group of nine African American students, to become known as “The Little Rock Nine” enrolled at the school and attended there for the 1957-1958 school year.
Bowing to enormous prejudicial pressure, the Arkansas Governor, Orval Faubus, forbade the nine students of color from entering the school building.
In fact, Governor Faubus called out the Arkansas National Guard to use necessary force to physically block the students from entering.
At that point, President Dwight D. Eisenhower interviened and deployed regular army troops from the 101st Airborne Division down to Little Rock, Arkansas.
The commander in chief ordered the Arkansas National Guard to stand down.
Due to the incessant threats on these nine brave students, the army troops provided escort both to and from the Central High School, as well as in the school building.
Monday night, Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine, spoke at Tennessee Tech, and while recounting some of the details, passed on some timeless words of wisdom.
