Little Rock Nine

Under the leadership of Arkansas NAACP president Daisy Gaston Bates, nine Black students set out to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Facing an enraged mob of white students, 1,200 armed soldiers, media scrutiny, and the resistance of pro-segregationist Governor Orval Faubus, the Little Rock Nine bravely entered Central High School. These students were Minnijean Brown, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Gloria Ray, Melba Pattillo, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, Carlotta Walls, and Elizabeth Eckford. Eight of the students carpooled together, but because Eckford’s family didn’t have a phone, she was unaware of the plan and arrived alone. This led to the iconic photograph capturing her calmly walking toward the school entrance, notebook in hand, as an angry mob shouted around her.

In the weeks leading up to September 25, the Little Rock Nine, carefully selected and guided by Daisy Bates, faced immense challenges. Although they attempted to attend Central High earlier, persistent threats of violence and chaos prevented them from entering. It was only when President Dwight Eisenhower deployed 1,200 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division to restore order that they were finally able to complete a full day of school.