9.26.2007

Little Rock Nine

How would you respond if the weight of a country were cast on your shoulders? If history were thrust upon you?

When it arrives, how will you respond to your moment of greatness?

Yesterday I took my print reporting class to downtown Little Rock to Central High, site of the infamous desegregation crisis in 1957. That year, nine African American students sought entrance into the all-white school. Yesterday the city, state, nation and world celebrated their brave march over the lines of hatred, fear and ignorance.

I first heard of the Little Rock Nine in an Arkansas History class I took when I was a student. I knew the state had a troubled past regarding race relations (the Elaine race riots come to mind), but I had no clue as to the depths of what amounted to state-sponsored racism.

This past week has taken me on sort of a roller coaster ride through U.S. racial segregation history. Last Thursday and Friday I took the yearbook group up to Topeka, Kansas to visit the plant where the book is printed. In 1951, a group of 13 parents sued the Topeka Board of Education. After losing its initial case in District Court (based on the ruling in Plessy v. Ferguson, which allowed facilities to be separate but equal), the Brown case was reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1954, by which time four similar cases had been rolled into the same case under Brown v. Board of Education. The Warren Court unanimously overturned the lower court's ruling (and effectively Plessy v. Ferguson) and in 1955 demanded that the court's decision be complied with post haste. There is a national historic site in Topeka commemorating the ruling.

Tuesday, back in Arkansas, I visited the historic site commemorating the most widely recognized public response to that 1954 decision. Despite the ruling, the fearmongers weren't going to give up without a fight (from the National Park Service):
• The LR school board presented a plan for gradual desegregation in 1955. The "Blossom Plan" dictated that high schools would be the first to integrate in September 1957.
• Mother's League of Central High School sought and was granted an injunction against integration at Central in August of 1957. Officials feared integration would lead to violence. The injunction was voided by a federal judge.
• Gov. Orval Faubus called on the state's National Guard to bar African American students from Central. The action was overruled, so Faubus sent in the LR police.
• More than 1,000 angry whites mob in front of the school threatening riot on Sept. 23. The Nine are ushered out of school for their safety. This was the scene of this infamous shot.
• After calling the mob scene outside Central "disgraceful," Pres. Eisenhower dispatches 1,200 members of the 101st Airborne to the school to ensure the safety of the Nine, and the students attend their first day of classes Sept. 25.
• One of the Nine, Earnest Green, graduates in May.
• Faubus, and various segregationist groups, succeed in closing Little Rock schools for an entire year. However, the times were already changing.

"They were coming here to learn," Gov. Mike Beebe said at yesterday's commemoration. "But what they actually did is teach."

It is sometimes hard for me to feel inspired. I often feel discouraged when I think of things I'd do differently in this world, because I feel like I will never have the voice or opportunity to do them. Yesterday's commemoration was a wake-up call from this way of thinking.

The Little Rock Nine are an inspiring group of individuals. Yesterday marked the first time the group has made public comments at the same event. They were riveting. They didn't use their time to spew invective against the city, state or people who treated them as less than human. They didn't bask in the righteousness of their cause 50 years ago. Instead, they were grateful. Grateful to those who supported them and those who came after them. They clearly sought not to dwell on the past, but to look ahead to the work that remains ahead of all of us. Their attitudes reflected a people set apart, not below a single soul, but probably above most. The crowd of around 4,000 was hushed, waiting on their every word. A smattering:

Melba Patillo Beals:
"I see hope. I see the elixir in your faces. ... We're going to make it. We have no choice."

Elizabeth Eckford:
"We can never have true reconciliation until we've truly acknowledged our painful and shared past."

Earnest Green:
"We were nine teenagers. We thought this was the place that would accept us. ...50 years later, I think we were right."

Gloria Ray Karlmark:
"By being here [earning an education] they are realizing something that is truly American."

Carlotta Walls Lanier:
"There are a lot of barriers out there, but you can overcome them if you know that you are doing the right thing. We knew we were doing the right thing."

Terrence Roberts:
"Look in the mirror and ask, 'What am I doing in support of the status quo.' Second, ask what you are willing to do to change that."

Minnijean Brown Trickey:
"Justice is a perpetual struggle...we must take that responsibility seriously."

I and my students will not soon forget the living lessons and legends we heard from yesterday. It is one thing to read of courage, it's another thing entirely to truly feel it's lasting effects. The spirit of good that drove these nine is present in all of us. The ability and compassion is stamped in us in that we were made in the image of God.

It's the choice that's left to us.

Labels: , ,

8 Comments:

At September 26, 2007, Blogger *******Lacónica******* said...

hola J
sabés castellano?

 
At October 03, 2007, Blogger CE Butler said...

Good post.
I hope you guys went in and toured the school. There's a display in the lobby.
A couple years ago, I used to go to Central almost weekly to talk with counselors and teachers. The first time I walked up those steps (in the famous photo), I literally got chills.
Unfortunately, most LRC students have no clue about what really happened in the same halls they walk each day.
I've asked several LRC teachers about how they connect that history to their own classes. Most just gave me a funny look and said, "I teach English, etc."
There was one, however, (wish I could remember her name) who said she takes a week out of her lesson plans each year and talks about nothing except 1957 at LRC. The way she put it was, "I'm an educator at Central High School. How can I not dedicate some time to this?"

That's a teacher I would have enjoyed. Big picture.

Glad you took the class there. April and I took our girls last year. Took some photos of them in front, etc.

 
At February 02, 2009, Anonymous Anonymous said...

this as over cum me in diffrent ways

 
At January 06, 2013, Anonymous Anonymous said...

ugg boots sale
Flip flops developed a name for Birkenstock within the 70s. The State of arizona may be the initial Birkenstock style. They have two straps that are adjustable with long lasting buckles. Others for women contain dress shoes, laid-back sneakers, and clogs. The Effective can be a nice blockage with silicone plancher along with a organic cotton-covered foot bed. Informal shoes and boots include the Bangor, a lace-up neighborhood sneaker, as well as the Avalon, a loafer that has a submit-drawing a line under changeable straps. The Avila-Designer can be a Jane Jane design with high-technological design and also a get-immune sole. The Annapolis is a traditional Linda Linda with adjustable Velcro bands.


rmuw [url=http://www.bootssay.com]ugg boots on sale[/url]
In connection with foreseeable future (2012), all of it supposition, but my gamble will likely be on the wonderful ton from your polar move, besides solar power hard storms. The move will commence at the core, and bring planet earth mantel along with it. This can complete the prolonged count number routine, which directly is tied up even to another beginning of the The planet precession the closing stage for the era of Pisces plus the commencing point of age of Aquarius. Put on neglect the Aquarius zodiac sign is putting mineral water. Drinking water can also be a image employed in the Dresden Mayan Codex, which shows 2012. Venus could participate in the exact same thing, and might switch its permanent magnetic scratching post, and take the mantel from it, like Earth may possibly, and perform a total shift.


kdcc [url=http://www.bootswould.com]cheap ugg[/url]
uggs just before tomi bradshaw had making love

 
At January 17, 2013, Anonymous Anonymous said...

top [url=http://www.c-online-casino.co.uk/]uk casino bonus[/url] check the latest [url=http://www.casinolasvegass.com/]free casino games[/url] free no set aside perk at the leading [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]no lay down gratuity
[/url].

 
At March 03, 2016, Blogger oakleyses said...

ugg outlet, longchamp outlet, tiffany and co, ray ban sunglasses, prada outlet, air max, louis vuitton outlet stores, louis vuitton outlet, uggs outlet, louis vuitton outlet, michael kors outlet, longchamp handbags, ray ban sunglasses, nike shoes, air max, longchamp handbags, rolex watches, kate spade outlet, oakley sunglasses, prada handbags, replica watches, michael kors outlet online sale, oakley sunglasses cheap, louboutin outlet, louis vuitton handbags, gucci outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, louboutin, oakley sunglasses, louboutin shoes, michael kors outlet, cheap uggs, polo ralph lauren outlet, tory burch outlet, uggs, oakley sunglasses, polo ralph lauren, michael kors outlet, jordan shoes, ugg boots clearance, ray ban sunglasses, burberry outlet, burberry outlet, louis vuitton, christian louboutin, michael kors outlet

 
At March 03, 2016, Blogger oakleyses said...

coach outlet store online, michael kors uk, new balance pas cher, michael kors outlet, north face, abercrombie and fitch, ralph lauren, nike air force, vanessa bruno, kate spade handbags, nike roshe run pas cher, air jordan, true religion jeans, louboutin, vans pas cher, sac guess, air max, hollister, sac burberry, michael kors, north face, nike free, ray ban sunglasses, air max, timberland, longchamp, nike air max, nike tn, converse pas cher, polo lacoste, coach outlet, true religion outlet, hogan outlet, sac longchamp pas cher, michael kors pas cher, replica handbags, ray ban pas cher, nike free pas cher, coach purses, hollister, oakley pas cher, polo ralph lauren, nike blazer, true religion outlet, lululemon outlet online, true religion jeans, air max pas cher, nike roshe, mulberry, sac hermes

 
At March 03, 2016, Blogger oakleyses said...

wedding dresses, abercrombie, louis vuitton, juicy couture, ugg pas cher, barbour, supra shoes, canada goose outlet, moncler, swarovski, canada goose uk, coach outlet store online, hollister, air max, moncler, canada goose jackets, converse shoes, canada goose, moncler, pandora jewelry, pandora charms, rolex watches, marc jacobs, toms shoes, pandora jewelry, ugg, moncler outlet, barbour, ugg, moncler, montre homme, gucci, swarovski crystal, canada goose, vans, sac lancel, thomas sabo, moncler, karen millen, moncler, ray ban, canada goose, pandora charms, sac louis vuitton, links of london, canada goose, ugg boots, louis vuitton uk, juicy couture outlet, canada goose, louis vuitton, converse, ugg

 

Post a Comment

<< Home