On September 23, 1957, African American students known as "The Little Rock Nine" desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Three years earlier, the Supreme Court passed Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled school segregation unconstitutional. While the nine had the law and the school behind them, they faced tremendous discrimination from citizens and the national guard.
Teachers: Visit the free MY HERO Lesson Plan for the Little Rock 9. Includes discussion guide and learning outcomes.
Constance Baker Motley helped write the Supreme Court brief for Brown v. Board of Education, which gave the Little Rock 9 the right to attend Little Rock High School.
Shannon teaches in a rural Arkansas school for two weeks and looks for a hero--but finds nine.
Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall was instrumental in school desegregation, through Brown v. Board of Education.
Ernest Green was part of the Little Rock 9, who desegregated Central High School in Arkansas. He was the first of the 9 to graduate from the school
Artists from the Gallery honor Little Rock Nine participants as heroes
Ultimately Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall was instrumental as a deciding vote in the Brown v. Board of Education case to desegregate US schools
Melba Pattillo Beals wrote a memoir titled Warriors Don't Cry,.that documents her having had acid thrown in her eyes, trying to desegregate Little Rock Central High School in 1957
Films
Listen to this story about Ruby Bridges as you read along.
Learn about a New Hero Every Day of the Year:
Check out the MY HERO Calendar
Students: Share Your Hero Essays, Films and Art through our Create Program
Outstanding essays submitted to MY HERO will be considered for a certificate/t-shirt prize or be featured on the Story Homepage.
Submit your artwork to be entered in the MY HERO art contest or to be exhibited on our Gallery Homepage.
Students can submit their films for free with a waiver to the MY HERO International Film Festival.
Organizer created on 7/31/2019 4:07:30 PM by Xenia Shin
Last edited 9/20/2022 11:44:30 AM by Laura Nietzer
