How Did The Little Rock Nine Impact On Civil Rights

Civil Rights are given to most people by law. However, it’s not always been like that. There wasn’t equality, but segregation. Some people, events, and ideas helped to change this, and make their societies more equal. The Little Rock Nine were one of these groups of people because they made a stand and as a result, helped change the rights of blacks in schools. The Little Rock Nine were going to be the first African-American students in the Little Rock Central High School, Arkansas in the 1950s. The school planned for gradual integration, starting with nine students. It had previously been segregated, but after the Brown v. Board of Education statement, this changed. The nine students were highschoolers Elizabeth Eckford, Minnijean Brown,

September 4th, 1957, was their first try. Governor Orval Faubas had the Arkansas National Guard arrive at the school to prevent the students from going into the school. None of the nine got in because of this. There were also around a thousand whites protesting the school’s integration outside, against the nine going to the school. The Little Rock Nine were forced to leave. Their second try was on September 20th. This time, there was again the mob of protesters, but they were able to get inside. However, police removed the students during the day for their safety. Their next try was September 25th. The guards escorted them throughout the day. President Dwight D. Eisenhower supported the nine, and he was the one who had the guards protect them and get them inside. This was the first day that the nine spent a full day in the school

Students were often mean to them, too. Not all students bothered them, some of them just ignored the Little Rock Nine. However, there were some students who didn’t like them there. The nine were called names and screamed at. They also experienced having their lockers vandalized, people spitting at them, being tripped, and being pushed down the stairs (Scholastic Upfront). The nine weren’t able to participate in some of the school activities that went on for other students. One of the Little Rock Nine, Minnijean Brown, had food spilled on her. The students who did it never got in trouble. When Brown decided she had enough and decided to spill food back on them, she got suspended. She had also been hit with a purse from one of the other students (Smithsonian.com). Eventually, Brown was even expelled after revolting the assaults from the other students. There was once an occasion where Elizabeth Eckford’s father was hit with rocks. This harassment and behavior lasted the entire school