Elizabeth Eckford Hazel Massery Grace Lorch

Crisis At Little Rock Central High

9 black students were to begin classes in September of 1957 at all white Central High School.

Crisis At Little Rock Central High

Governor Orval Faubus declared a state of emergency and called out National Guard troops to keep order.

The troops denied entry to the black students.

Faubus adhered to the doctrine of interposition:

a state may reject a federal mandate it considers to be an encroachment upon a state’s rights.

Crisis At Little Rock Central High

President Eisenhower orders the National Guard troops to be removed and a riot ensues.

Here reporter Alex Wilson is attacked by the mob. Eyes on the prize clip 9:57

Crisis At Little Rock Central High

President Eisenhower orders Federal troops to escort the students into the school.

Click to view clip

The Little Rock Nine

Top row, left to right:

Jefferson Thomas, Melba Pattillo, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls, Daisy Bates (NAACP President), Ernest Green

Bottom row, left to right:

Thelma Mothershed, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Gloria Ray

Click for video

Little Rock Nine on Oprah