My dazzling padlet by Cody Conlin

Why Eisenhower Sent 101st Airborne to Little Rock Nine

rooster080932 — 2023-12-06 19:28:41 UTC

Governor of Arkansas Orval Faubus, a segregationist, ordered the states national guard to surround Central High School to prevent the nine black students from entering. Images of the African American students being tortured made national news. When the governor of Arkansas failed to integrate Central High School, President Eisenhower called in 1,000 U.S Army troops from the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock, to maintain order as Central High School desegregated. Eisenhower gave a speech on national television and said "Mob rule cannot be allowed to override the decisions of the courts." This is relevant today because schools have school resource officers (SRO) which are policeman in the community, working in the schools. The police officers walk around the school and make sure there aren't any fights, abuse and mistreatment of any students going on inside the schools.

Elizabeth and Hazel: The Legacy of Little Rock

rooster080932 — 2023-12-06 19:55:36 UTC

In 1957, Fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Eckford was the first of the Little Rock Nine to enter Little Rock Central High School after the board agreed to integrate classes. Many students screamed, spat and threatened her. In the background of this picture is a teenage named Hazel Bryan. Hazel is screaming at Elizabeth. All the Little Rock Niners were tormented and administration didn't do anything about it. Hazel Bryan did not even attend this school but because her screaming at Elizabeth was all over the world she became the symbol for white recalcitrance. This is relevant today because schools would not allow such harsh treatment of black students. In fact, today's schools have diversity committees and programs such "No Place for Hate." TThis program is a student led school climate improvement plan that fits your school's unique culture. These programs are put into place so all students feel included regardless of race and gender.

The Little Rock Nine: Connecting 1957 to Today

rooster080932 — 2023-12-06 21:13:24 UTC

Eventually 8 of the 9 Little Rock students graduated Central High School. We will remember that nine teenagers discriminated simply because of the color of their skin. The U.S Department of Education released a report in May 2023 finding that "in large school districts segregation between White-Blacks has increased 35% and economic segregation has increased 47% lover the past 30 years." leading to inequitable access and outcomes for students.” Two days before the 2023 school year started, Central Little Rock High School in Arkansas had over 100 students signed up for an AP course on African American Studies. It was reported that the state would not give credit towards graduation for this course because it could violate a new curriculum restriction law in the district. In response to this news, five members of the Little Rock Nine made a statement with the NAACP noting the importance of teaching this course. They stated the importance of retelling their history for those who endured a necessity for student learning and mandatory for educational progress in this country. The Central High School district voted to keep this AP course and give credit to the enrolled students. This was a pivotal movement in the Civil Rights Movement.

Brown vs Board of Ed (Essay)

rooster080932 — 2023-12-06 22:13:23 UTC

On May 17th 1954, U.S Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren delivered the unanimous ruling in the landmark civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. This segregation of public schools was a violation of the 14th Amendment and therefore was unconstitutional. This decision put an end to the "separate but equal" ruling in 1896 Plessy vs Ferguson and served as a motivation for the expanding civil rights movement. A year later in 1955 the court demanded that integration happen "with deliberate speed." The school board of Little Rock, Arkansas, voted to desegregate their high schools starting in 1957, which led to a crisis that put the states governor in a showdown with president Eisenhower. In Brown vs Board of Education (1954), it was determined that segregation on the basis of race violated equal educational opportunity. The Brown decision led the way to a growing understanding that all people, regardless of race, gender, or disability, have a right to a public education. Today education is the most important function of state and local government. School mandated attendance laws and the money that states put into education demonstrate its importance in our society. Today education is the basis for preparing a child for later professional training and helping him/her to adjust normally to their environment. In order to succeed in life the child must have the opportunity of an education, it is a right which must be made available to everyone on equal terms. Brown vs Board of Education impact education today by striking down segregation in the nation's public schools provided a major catalyst for the civil rights movement, making possible advances in desegregating housing, public accommodations and institutions of higher education.

Lights, Cameras, Racism

rooster080932 — 2023-12-07 00:04:17 UTC

Televised news was just starting out when the debate on Desegregation started, so the crisis in Little Rock was among the first national news stories filmed as it unwinded right before the eyes of the American public. Television camera crews, print journalists and radio correspondence from around the country converged on the high schools neighborhood. The extensive media coverage of the events became a model for how civil rights activist and their movements would use the news media over the next decade. It became the lead story in many news papers around the world which led to global scrutiny especially from the soviet union because it showed flaws in democracy. The network pictures of the anger white mom surrounding the nine black students were said to have strongly influenced President Eisenhower's decision to send federal troops to protect and ensure their admission into Central High. It wasn't the continuous live around the clock coverage as it would be today but the drama showed the nation the uglier side of Arkansas and how quickly public opinion can be persuaded.

Behind Closed Doors: Welcome to Central High

rooster080932 — 2023-12-07 01:18:38 UTC

The nine students were constantly bullied from the moment they entered Central High. Jefferson Thomas and Terrance Roberts two of the nine, were attacked with national guardsman just six feet away and they did nothing to help aid the boys. There were bomb threats, lynching threats and "pranks" like when white students would put broken glass in steaming shower rooms for the black students to step on. One of the nine, Melba Patillo-Beals, stated that segregations urged Central High's student leaders to antagonize and taunt us until we responded in a way that would get us suspended or expelled. In today's public schools they have strict laws against bullying known as Harassment Intimidation and Bullying (HIB). There is mandated employee in the school that is in charge of writing up a report on any suspicion of bullying. It can be reported by a student, teacher, parent or any school employee. This investigation has to be completed and sent to the superintendent and then to the Board of Education within 10 days. If the case proves to be bullying there are things such as school counseling that are put in place to make sure it doesn't happen again. A child accused of bullying another could be suspended. The Little Rock Nine helped to create laws like this.

What did the NAACP do for the Little Rock Nine

rooster080932 — 2023-12-07 20:22:48 UTC

Many schools in the South refused to admit black students even after the Brown vs Board of Education decision. Civil rights organization worked to enroll black students in segregated schools. In Arkansas, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) recruited young black kids to integrate schools. Daisy Bates was the president of NAACP, she sued the Little Rock school board and recruited the Little Rock Nine to integrate the all white central high school. She taught the students non violent tactics and she got involved in the parents organization at the high school. She created strategies to protect them from protestors. The NAACP is the oldest civil rights organization in the U.S. Today they dismantle racism and disrupt inequality to create a society where all people can truly be free. They provide scholarships, grants and resources to people. They advocate for civil rights due to black America, in cities, schools, companies, and court rooms. .

How Governor Orval Faubus reacted to School Desegregation

rooster080932 — 2023-12-07 22:33:10 UTC

Governor Orval Faubus did not want to allow the Little Rock Nine (black students) into the schools. He claimed that this would interrupt the proper education of white students. The disorder and violence that it would cause could result in loss of life. He wanted to protect the black students. from harm. This is relevant today because this treatment of students wouldn't be allowed in schools. With today's social media monitoring every move public officials make in todays world there is no politician today who could get away with doing something so blatantly racist without immediately being threatened with impeachment. Today's politician will seek out minority schools and offer up new programs which will benefit all minorities who attend school in various ways (school activities, school books, new schools).

Cites

rooster080932 — 2023-12-08 15:30:18 UTC

References

BlackPast, B. (2010, July 26). (1958) Orval E. Faubus, “Speech on School Integration”.

BlackPast.org. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/1958-governor-orval-e-faubus-speech-school-integration/

Brown v. Board of education (1954). (2021, November 22). National Archives.

https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/brown-v-board-of-education

Clark, A. (2020, April 8). Why Eisenhower sent the 101st airborne to Little Rock after Brown v. Board. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/news/little-rock-nine-brown-v-board-eisenhower-101-airborne

Coutant, L. (2023, February 1). 9 things you may not know about the Little Rock Nine. National Parks Conservation Association.

https://www.npca.org/articles/3349-9-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-little-rock-nine

Elizabeth and hazel': The legacy of Little Rock. (2011, October 2). NPR. https://www.npr.org/2011/10/02/140953088/elizabeth-and-hazel-the-legacy-of-little-rock

Hanson, R. (2003). Literary Law Enforcement. Eastern Illinois University | Official Website | EIU. https://www.eiu.edu/historia/Hanson.pdf

Norwood, A. (n.d.). Little Rock Nine. National Women's History Museum. https://www.womenshistory.org/resources/general/little-rock-nine

Weingartner, J. (2023, September 12). The Little Rock Nine: Connecting 1957 to today. Facing History & Ourselves. https://www.facinghistory.org/ideas-week/little-rock-nine-connecting-1957-today