The Little Rock Nine

By Joe Bubar

By Joe Bubar

On September 4, 1957, Elizabeth Eckford woke up feeling nervous about her first day of school. It was no ordinary first day. Elizabeth and eight other teens were going to be the first Black students to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. These students would later become known as the Little Rock Nine. 

They never made it into the building that day. Elizabeth, then 15 years old, was met at the school by an angry crowd. People in the crowd didn’t think Black students should go to the same schools as White kids. The mob screamed at Elizabeth and spit at her. 

“I was afraid for my life,” recalls Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was shaking with fear, but she kept walking. Troops armed with rifles stood near the school’s entrance. She thought they were there to protect her. But instead, the troops stopped her and the other Black students from entering the school.

A photo of Elizabeth walking through the crowd ran in newspapers across the country. Many people were angry about the way the Little Rock Nine had been treated. Their struggle to go to school became a key event of the civil rights movement. That was a period during the 1950s and 1960s when many Black Americans worked hard to end unjust laws based on the color of people’s skin. 

On September 4, 1957, Elizabeth Eckford woke up feeling nervous. It was her first day of school. But it was no ordinary first day. Elizabeth and eight other teens were going to be the first Black students to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. These students would later become known as the Little Rock Nine.

They never made it into the building that day. Elizabeth, then 15 years old, was met at the school by an angry crowd. People in the crowd didn’t think Black students should go to the same schools as White kids. The mob screamed at Elizabeth. They also spit at her.

“I was afraid for my life,” recalls Elizabeth.

Elizabeth was shaking with fear. But she kept walking. Troops armed with rifles stood near the school’s entrance. She thought they were there to protect her. But instead, the troops stopped her. Elizabeth and the other Black students were blocked from entering the school.

A photo of Elizabeth walking through the crowd ran in newspapers across the country. Many people were angry about the way the Little Rock Nine had been treated. Their struggle to go to school became a key event of the civil rights movement. That was a period during the 1950s and 1960s. During that time, many Black Americans worked hard to end unjust laws based on the color of people’s skin. 

By the 1950s, the cruel treatment of Black Americans had long been a way of life in the United States. Many cities in the South had laws that kept Black people segregated, or separated, from White people. They were forced to eat in separate restaurants and sit in different sections on buses.

Black kids like Elizabeth were also forced to go to separate schools. The all-Black schools were often run-down and overcrowded. The White schools usually had newer books and supplies.

Black parents across the U.S. grew tired of their kids being shut out of good schools and decided to sue. The famous case was called Brown v. Board of Education. In 1954, the Supreme Court, the most powerful court in the U.S., ruled that segregation in public schools was illegal. But many cities refused to integrate their schools for years after that. 

By the 1950s, the cruel treatment of Black Americans had long been a way of life in the United States. Many cities in the South had unfair laws. These laws kept Black people segregated, or separated, from White people. They were forced to eat in separate restaurants. They had to sit in different sections on buses.

Black kids like Elizabeth were also forced to go to separate schools. The all-Black schools were often run-down and overcrowded. The White schools usually had newer books and supplies.

Black parents across the U.S. grew tired of their kids being shut out of good schools. So they decided to sue. The famous case was called Brown v. Board of Education. In 1954, the Supreme Court, the most powerful court in the U.S., ruled that segregation in public schools was illegal. But many cities refused to integrate their schools for years after that. 

The Little Rock school board decided to integrate Central High in 1957. But the governor of Arkansas wouldn’t allow it to happen. On September 4, troops with orders from the governor blocked the Little Rock Nine from getting into the school. 

For nearly three weeks, the nine teens stayed home. Then President Dwight D. Eisenhower stepped in. He sent more than 1,000 U.S. Army troops to the school. These soldiers were there to protect the Little Rock Nine. Finally, on September 25, the nine students attended class at Central High.

The Little Rock school board decided to integrate Central High in 1957. But the governor of Arkansas wouldn’t allow it to happen. He ordered troops to block the Little Rock Nine from getting into the school on September 4.

For nearly three weeks, the nine teens stayed home. Then President Dwight D. Eisenhower stepped in. He sent more than 1,000 U.S. Army troops to the school. These soldiers were there to protect the Little Rock Nine. Finally, on September 25, the nine students attended class at Central High.

Once the Little Rock Nine were in school, life didn’t get any easier. Soldiers walked with them between classes. But the Black students had no protection in classrooms, restrooms, or the cafeteria. They were often harassed by White students. And the Black students knew fighting back would get them kicked out of school. One of the nine was expelled for defending herself.

But Elizabeth and the other Black students finished the year. Their bravery led all public schools in Little Rock to integrate within the next few years. Today, the Little Rock Nine are remembered as heroes in the fight for equal rights.

“It’s important to take a stand,” says Elizabeth.

Once the Little Rock Nine were in school, life didn’t get any easier. Soldiers walked with them between classes. But the Black students had no protection in classrooms, restrooms, or the cafeteria. White students often harassed them. And the Black students knew fighting back would get them kicked out of school. One of the nine was kicked out for defending herself.

But Elizabeth and the other Black students finished the year. Their bravery led all public schools in Little Rock to integrate within the next few years. Today, the Little Rock Nine are remembered as heroes in the fight for equal rights.

“It’s important to take a stand,” says Elizabeth.