On September 4, 1957, nine African American teenagers, later known as the Little Rock Nine, attempted to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
This came after the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, which ruled segregated schools unconstitutional. Three of the nine were young women—Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, and Thelma Mothershed—whose courage in the face of danger became symbols of the struggle for equality.
When the students arrived, the Arkansas National Guard, under orders from Governor Orval Faubus, blocked them from entering. Outside, a white mob jeered, spat, and threatened them.
One student, Elizabeth Eckford, arrived alone and faced the crowd without protection, an image that became one of the most famous photos of the civil rights era. The event showed the resistance to desegregation in the South and the danger faced by those who challenged segregation.
Eventually, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent federal troops to escort the students into the school. The bravery of the Little Rock Nine, including the girls, became a defining moment in women’s and civil rights history.
