The Little Rock Crisis
The Little Rock Crisis occurred in 1957, when Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus ordered the National Guard to physically bar nine African American students from entering Little Rock Central High School, despite segregation being outlawed. The “Nine” were carefully chosen by Daisy Bates, the president of the Arkansas National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and interviewed them to make sure that they were strong and determined enough to be able to handle what awaited them, as well as academically adept enough to attend the school. The students indeed had enough valor and willpower to make a stand and attend Central High despite the obstacles in their way. Their story was documented through countless newspaper articles
…show more content…
The African American students were not able to complete their school day, as the mobs of protests grew too rowdy for the police force to handle and the students had to quickly be escorted back home before they were seriously injured (“Police and Mob”). Even before this incident, Eisenhower expressed concern for the Nine and even invited Governor Faubus over to the White House to “talk things over” (“Faubus Set”). However, after witnessing the violence in Little Rock, he decided to take action. On September 24th, 1957, Eisenhower made a speech at the White House, addressing the “serious situation in Little Rock” and revealing his plans for helping the Little Rock Nine (“The Serious Situation”). He federalized 10,000 National Guardsmen and used them to escort the Little Rock Nine into school, rather than to keep them out. He also deployed 1,000 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division to help keep back the mob (Mueller). Because of Eisenhower’s aid, the Nine were finally able to attend their first full day of school at Central High on September 25th, 1957, twenty-two days after the white students started school (“Crisis”). The Nine were patient for twenty-two days and endured physical and emotional tests of their strength. They were scared, but that did not stop them from achieving their goals. They did not back down as the protesters had hoped. Although they were twenty-two days late, the Little Rock Nine took a stand and attended Central High despite all the obstacles that tried to break their resolve. However, now that they were in the school, a different struggle awaited them — surviving the school
The African American students were not able to complete their school day, as the mobs of protests grew too rowdy for the police force to handle and the students had to quickly be escorted back home before they were seriously injured (“Police and Mob”). Even before this incident, Eisenhower expressed concern for the Nine and even invited Governor Faubus over to the White House to “talk things over” (“Faubus Set”). However, after witnessing the violence in Little Rock, he decided to take action. On September 24th, 1957, Eisenhower made a speech at the White House, addressing the “serious situation in Little Rock” and revealing his plans for helping the Little Rock Nine (“The Serious Situation”). He federalized 10,000 National Guardsmen and used them to escort the Little Rock Nine into school, rather than to keep them out. He also deployed 1,000 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division to help keep back the mob (Mueller). Because of Eisenhower’s aid, the Nine were finally able to attend their first full day of school at Central High on September 25th, 1957, twenty-two days after the white students started school (“Crisis”). The Nine were patient for twenty-two days and endured physical and emotional tests of their strength. They were scared, but that did not stop them from achieving their goals. They did not back down as the protesters had hoped. Although they were twenty-two days late, the Little Rock Nine took a stand and attended Central High despite all the obstacles that tried to break their resolve. However, now that they were in the school, a different struggle awaited them — surviving the school