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The Little Rock Nine was a group of nine African American students who enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. They were Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Minnijean Brown, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed, and Melba Pattillo Beals.

The Supreme Court on May 17, 1954, with the Brown vs. Board of Education decision, ruled that all laws establishing segregated schools were unconstitutional, and that all schools must be desegregated throughout the nation. In Little Rock, Arkansas, the school board agreed to comply with the court ruling and Superintendent Virgil Blossom, in 1955, submitted a plan of gradual integration. The Blossom Plan was to be implemented in September, 1957 for the start of the school year.

By 1957, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People registered nine African American students to attend the previously all-white school. At the beginning of the school year, several segregationist protested Central High and physically blocked the black students from entering the building. Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus sent the Arkansas National Guard to support the segregationists on September 4, 1957.

Eventually Woodrow Wilson Mann, the mayor of Little Rock, asked President Eisenhower to send federal troops to enforce the integration and to protect the Little Rock Nine. On September 24, the President sent the 101 Airborne Division to federalize the Arkansas National Guard, removing Faubus' authority.

By the end of September, the nine were admitted to the Little Rock Central High with the protection of the 101 Airborne. Despite their protection, they were subject to verbal and physical abuse. Melba Patillo Beals had acid thrown in her eyes and on a separate occasion was trapped in a restroom stall and had burning pieces of paper dropped on her. Minnijean Brown was harassed by a group of male students in December and dropped her lunch onto them. She was suspended for six days. Two months later, after a second altercation, Brown was suspended for the rest of the year. She eventually transferred to New Lincoln High School in New York City.

Governor Orval Faubus, after this turbulent year, petitioned the Supreme Court case and attempted to postpone the desegregation of Little Rock public schools. Faubus eventually signed legislation that allowed him to shut down the public high schools. After the "Lost Year," the public schools opened the integrated students could resume their long and steady march towards equality.

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24 Photographs of Civil Rights Pioneers The Little Rock Nine

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The Little Rock Nine was a group of nine African American students who enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. They were Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Minnijean Brown, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed, and Melba Pattillo Beals.

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"Equal means getting the same thing, at the same time, and in the same place." For a young girl by the name of Carlotta Walls Lanier this was the exact opposite of what her life was like in Little Rock, Arkansas of the "Segregated South". When she finally found her way to a new life in Colorado. Follow Carlotta Walls Lanier through her life like no others.

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When Carlotta was young she played baseball a lot with the neighborhood kids and often long trips to see games of the Brooklyn Dodgers. "Whenever the Dodgers played in St. Louis, six or seven of us-Mother, Daddy, Grandpa Cullins, and Various other relatives-piled into the car for a road trip to the game..."(Carlotta-AMLW-14). Carlotta was greatly inspired by the acts of Jackie Robinson. "....Jackie Robinson broke the color line in Major League Baseball....... I imagined myself Jackie Robinson....."(Carlotta-AMLW-27&30). When Carlotta herd about the news she decided to do the same by inviting white children around the neighborhood to join the baseball game. For Carlotta, this experience with integrating the baseball teams wasn't a bad experience and she had no idea what was going to come next after signing that sign-up sheet to Central. "There was no black or white, just winners and losers and kids being kids" (Carlotta-AMLW-30).

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Elizabeth Eckford being harassed by white segregationist.

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Elizabeth Eckford being harassed by white segregationist.

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The Story Behind the Famous Little Rock Nine ‘Scream Image’ | HISTORY

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It didn’t end when Central High School was integrated.

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When Carlotta made the decision to go to Central she ad no idea of what she was about to experience. "This was not going to be an ordinary school year....."(Carlotta-AMLW-62). When the Little Rock Nine (group of nine African-American children wanting to attend Central) got a call from Mrs.Bates (Wonderful lady who decided to put forth the effort to aid these students among their journey through Central) to go to a certain meeting spot. Though one student didn't, Elizabeth Eckford. She marched right through the crowd of angry segregationist. "Elizabeth was all alone. A mob of angry white people, several hundred in all, followed her to the entrance to the high school...."(Shelley Tougas-LRG1957-4)."By the end of the day I was black and blue....."(Shelley Tougas-LRG1957-8). This just shows how dangerous and brutal the crowds of segregationists were and not even when they were in the school.

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Carlotta Walls Lanier's graduation at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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Carlotta Walls Lanier's graduation at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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"Most relieved member of Central's graduating class of 1960"(Carlotta-AMLW-caption with picture). Carlotta suffered a lot whether it was in the hallways, getting into the school, or just being in her home. Carlotta and her family sacrificed a lot allowing her to get an education at Central. Even though her family supported her the whole way though they were still scared and worried for her safety. Before Carlotta even started Central her family wasn't too pleased with the idea of sending her to Central. When Carlotta finally graduated her family was just as relieved as she was. "I am so glad for you to get it over with. I hope you will not have to go through this anymore....."(letter from Grandmother Erma-AMLW-202). Even to this day Carlotta still thinks about everything she has done in the past. She will always have those terrifying memories of the harassment of segregationist and those good memories of getting the best education she possibly could as well as making history in all. "I thought about those tough early days at Central-the sneering white mobs, the hallway battles...(Carlotta-AMLW-203).

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Little Rock Nine statue in Little Rock, AR | Places I Have Been | Arkansas, Little rock nine, Little rock

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Little Rock Nine statue in Little Rock, AR

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In the end, Carlotta Walls Lanier had a heck of a ride. She had to work and sacrifice not only herself but her family just to get "equal". Carlotta started of thinking kids were just kids. Little did she know signing up for an integrating school that would all change. She grew up real fast during those four years of Central High School. If it wasn't for her family and friends she wouldn't have made it near as far as she did. She did something nobody else could copy. This was the journey of Carlotta Walls Lanier.

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I chose this song because it describes Carlotta's effort and determination to get through Central High School. Carlotta was worrying about failing geometry when there was a angry mob of segregationist outside the school building. "Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round...keep on walkin'....marchin into freedom land..."(Lyrics).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPuBGcng6Tw