The Little Rock Nine, Part 2
As Ray and I continued our tour of the Little Rock Central High School Historic Site on Wednesday, our tour guide told us to cross the street to the corner where the high school stands. There she resumed her story.
When the nine African American students did not get to go to the first day of classes of the 1957 school year, adults who were concerned about them decided that it would be safest if all nine arrived at school together the next day. The family of the youngest student, Elizabeth Eckford, did not own a phone, so she did not get the message.
Elizabeth arrived alone the next morning, having taken the city bus to a stop one block away. She wore a new school outfit she had completed herself the night before. The fifteen-year-old was quickly surrounded by protesters yelling: “Two, four, six, eight. We don’t want to integrate.” Reporters rushed to ask her questions. Elizabeth continued walking in silence.
When she sought help from one of the members of the Arkansas National Guard, he held his gun in front of her, preventing her from even getting close to the school. Elizabeth was also unaware that Governor Faubus had ordered the guard to keep the African American students out.
Elizabeth and the other eight students wanted to go to Central High for educational reasons. The school was far superior to the African American high school in Little Rock. Though Dunbar High was also beautiful, having been designed by the same architect as Central, it was one-fourth the size of Central High while housing about the same number of students.
Pictures really can’t show the vastness of Central High School. This picture shows most of the front.
This picture shows the wing which is attached to the building on the right side. A matching wing is on the left.
Though Dunbar High was new, it was poorly equipped. Central High got new books; Dunbar got their hand-me-downs. Central High had great science labs. Dunbar had one microscope, a repaired one that had once been at Central. Each biology student at Central got his own frog to dissect. Dunbar students shared one for the whole class. Teachers at Dunbar had more advanced degrees, but their salaries were lower.
As our guide walked us toward the school, she continued to tell what happened to Elizabeth. The jeers, the questions, the press of the crowd continued. A few even spit in her face. Unable to enter the school, Elizabeth got on a city bus and rode away.
Our guide walked us to the large front porch of the school. There under this facade, decorated with Greek muses representing ambition, personality, opportunity, and preparation, I listened the guide and I watched black students walk freely into the school.
The Little Rock Nine did finally get into Central High in 1957, but it took three weeks and intervention by President Dwight Eisenhower, who as a last resort ordered in soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division, who escorted the Nine into Little Rock Central High. Each of them finished the year, except for Minniejean. After months of non-violence, she finally shouted in anger when a student pushed her one more time. Because of this, she was expelled.
Our guide led us inside, instructing us to be quiet because classes were being held. This is the auditorium.
And this is the staircase. Our guide encouraged us to hold onto the handrail as we took the stairs. The Little Rock Nine had to hold on to these railings to keep from being pushed by one of their fellow students. The guide told us that members of the Little Rock Nine who are now in their seventies have stated that they still remember the Central High steps when they walk on other steps today.
When Ray and I left the historic site, we went to the state capitol. There on the grounds was this statue of the Little Rock Nine.
On the ground near each student was a bronze plaque with a quote he or she offered many years later. Beside the figure representing Carlotta Walls LaNier were these words: “Hard work, determination, persistence, and faith in God were lessons learned from my parents, Cartelyou and Juanita Walls. I was only doing what was right.”
May our children and grandchildren learn the same lessons from us.
For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you,
which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice,
and I am sure that it is in you as well.
2 Timothy 1:5