Minnijean Brown. Gloria Ray. Jefferson Thomas. Terrence Roberts. Carlotta LaNier. Melba Beals. Thelma Wair. Ernest Green. Elizabeth Eckford.
Meet the "Little Rock Nine". These nine individuals showed up to Central High School on September 4, 1957, exactly fifty-two years ago, and were met at the front gates by Arkansas National Guardsmen.
Appointed by Arkansas governor Orval Faubus, these guardsmen were instructed to keep these nine African-American students off of the premises.
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that segregation was not constitutional. Desegregation of schools was the order.
At the beginning of Central High School's 1957-58 school year, nine African-American students were denied access to the former all-White high school premises.
These nine students persevered through the protests and ridicule until their rights were granted and access was approved. It is because of courageous acts and triumphs such as these that African-Americans have made great strides in education today.
Let us remember this day in honor of fifty-two years of perseverance and dedication to equal rights in education and life.
Carlotta LaNier, one of the nine students discriminated against on this day fifty-two years ago says, "We have come a mighty long way. But because we have a black president doesn't mean everything is honky dory. That doesn't stop racism. It says you can aspire to become president. But have we solved racism? Oh, no. Look what happened to professor Skip Gates. Equality still is not as it should be."
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