250 to 250: 89. Integration in Little Rock, Narrated by Reverend Liz Walker

Heather Cox Richardson and 250 to 250: Integration in Little Rock, Narrated by Reverend Liz Walker

Reverend Liz Walker is an award-winning broadcast journalist, humanitarian, and ordained minister best known as the first Black evening news anchor in Boston. Reverend Walker credits her experience in the second wave of desegregation at Little Rock Central High School to her trailblazing efforts for intercultural dialogue and social justice.

In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against segregation in public schools.

• The case was called Brown v. Board of Education.

In 1957, nine Black students enrolled at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

• They became known as the Little Rock Nine.
• A white crowd tried to stop the students from entering the school.
• The governor of Arkansas ordered the National Guard to block the students.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower took control of the National Guard.

• He also sent U.S. Army soldiers to Little Rock.
• The soldiers protected the students as they entered the school.
• Eisenhower said the country must follow decisions made by the courts.
• He said: "Mob rule cannot be allowed to override the decisions of the courts."

The Little Rock Nine showed great courage as they helped integrate public schools.

• Their story became an important part of the fight for civil rights and equal education.

POP Interview and Civics Quiz: 

• N-400 Part 9:7. Have you EVER ordered, incited, called for, committed, assisted, helped with, or otherwise participated in intentional harm or suffering to any person becaue of their race, religion, national origin, membership in a particular group, or political opinion?
• 100:84 / 128:112.   What did the civil rights movement do?

Family Fun:

• Center for Civic Education: The Struggle for Civil Rights playlist
• Eisenhower Library: Civil Rights: The Little Rock School Integration Crisis
• Facing History & Ourselves: The Little Rock Nine: Connecting 1957 to Today
• NMAAHC: The Little Rock Nine
• NPS: Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site | Lesson Plans | Junior Ranger activity book
• PBS American Experience: Eyes on the Prize, episode 2: Fighting Back (stream or borrow the dvds from your local library) | clip 
• Postal Museum: 37c To Form a More Perfect Union: 1957 Little Rock Nine single
• PBS Learning Media: Educational Equality in the Civil Rights Movement
• US Mint: Little Rock Nine Bronze Medal
• VOA Learning English: Brown v. Board of Education Helps Launch Civil Rights Movement
• Zinn Project: Little Rock Nine (several lesson plans)