The events that occurred in 1957 at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, were a pivotal moment in the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. In September 1957, nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, attempted to attend the previously all-white Central High School. This action was in response to the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
The Little Rock Nine were initially prevented from entering the school by a mob of angry white protesters and members of the Arkansas National Guard, who had been ordered to block their entry by Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus. President Dwight D. Eisenhower eventually intervened, federalizing the National Guard and sending troops from the 101st Airborne Division to escort the students into the school.
Despite facing ongoing harassment and violence from some of their white peers, the Little Rock Nine persisted and completed their school year. Their actions helped to desegregate Central High School and served as a powerful symbol of the struggle for civil rights and equality in the United States.
The events at Central High School in 1957 marked a turning point in the civil rights movement, as they brought issues of segregation and discrimination to the forefront of national attention. They also highlighted the ongoing struggle for equal rights and the courage and perseverance of those who fought for them. The legacy of the Little Rock Nine continues to inspire and inform ongoing efforts to promote equality and justice in the United States and around the world.