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=THE LITTLE ROCK NINE AND ELIZABETH ECKFORD=

In the 1950’s racism was flourishing throughout the United States and black and white children were separated from schools. White schools had better education and whites had the chance to go to college and change their lives, while blacks did not. Black children desired to go to white schools in order to improve their chances on becoming more than someone at the back of the bus. The Little Rock Nine did just that and followed through with their dreams and walked together to Central High School. They forgot one important thing though, Elizabeth Eckford.

Three years before September 5th 1957, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The high schools of Little Rock, Arkansas were to integrate by September 19th. So the Little Rock Nine came in. The Little Rock Nine were 9 brave Black students that wished to go to Central High School, even though it was filled with white students. They consisted of Terrance Roberts, Thelma Mothershed, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Carlotta Walls, Melba Pattillo, MInnijean Brown, and Gloria Ray. All nine were meant to go to school on September 5th but Governor Orval Faubus called out the Arkansas National Guard to stop them from entering the school. President Eisenhower then stepped in and sent the army to come escort them.

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The nine were originally supposed to go together but, Daisy Bates instructed the students to wait for her on Wednesday, the second day of school and planned for all nine students and herself to enter the school together. One did not get the message. Elizabeth Eckford had no phone to hear it, so Daisy intended to go to her house the next day but never made it. Unfortunately, Elizabeth decided to go on her own, only to get off the bus alone and meet a mob screaming in her face. “For a moment all I could hear was the shuffling of their feet. Then someone shouted, ‘Here she comes, get ready!’ I moved away from the crowd on the sidewalk and into the street. If the mob came at me I could then cross back over so the guards could protect me. The crowd moved in closer and then began to follow me, calling me names. I still wasn’t afraid. Just a little bit nervous. Then my knees started to shake all of a sudden and I wondered whether I could make it to the center entrance a block away. It was the longest block I ever walked in my whole life.” The mob followed her, spat in her face, and chanted, "Two, four, six, eight, we ain't gonna integrate." The comments of the white mob were harsh and cruel. They followed her all the way up to the school. She eventually walked up to the entrance but a man of the National Guard stopped her from entering the school. She was confused and tried to enter another part of the school but met yet another man from the National Guard, who pointed her away. She then walked away from the school and fled to a bench near the bus stop. For some reason she thought she would be alright. She sat down, while people screamed in her ear and threw hurtful comments. One man sat down beside her though. He said to her “Don’t let them see you cry”. An older woman also stood up for her and the two helped her get on a bus that led her to safety. ====== The National Guard was removed eventually, but on September 23, 1957, a mob of about 1000 people surrounded the school as the students attempted to enter. The next day, Eisenhower sent U.S. Army troops to protect the students. The troops were stationed at the school for the whole school year. Sadly, they were unable to stop all of the violence that echoed throughout the school, like when Elizabeth was thrown down a flight of stairs.

The Little Rock schools were shut down during the 1958-1959 school year to avoid integration. In 1958, Eckford and the rest of the Little Rock Nine were awarded the Spingarn Medal by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), as was Daisy Bates. Eckford did not graduate from Central High School, but she did earn the equivalent of a high school diploma. She joined the Army and took some college courses. She now works as a probation officer for the state of Arkansas, and moved back to her house and raises 2 kids. She was a big part of the Civil Disobedience period. She and the Little Rock Nine have given inspiration to blacks everywhere in the United States, and have helped to desegregate schools and stop racism. Racism still continues today but, it has mellowed down. Elizabeth and the Little Rock Nine should be proud that they played such a big role in protecting the blacks of America.

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