Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas became the first integrated school, three years after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. Nine African American children went to school on September 4, 1957 to be confronted by the Arkansas National Guard, called by the governor, Orval Faubus, and a hostile crowd, preventing them from even entering the school. They remained at home from school for more than two weeks, trying again on September 23 just to be forced to return home later that morning. On September 25, President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the Screaming Eagles of the 101st airborne, a federal troop, to escort the nine into school; however, they were not allowed to go everywhere with the students. The following year, majority vote caused all four of Little Rock's high schools to close in retaliation to the desegregation.
The Little Rock Nine:
The Little Rock Nine:
- Ernest Green
- Elizabeth Eckford
- Jefferson Thomas
- Dr. Terrence Roberts
- Carlotta Walls Lanier
- Minnijean Brown Trickey
- Gloria Ray Karlmark
- Thelma Mothershed-Wair
- Melba Pattillo Beals