On Sept. 4 ,1957, my aunt, Elizabeth Eckford, who was 15 years old at the time, envisioned her first day of school would be filled with meeting new friends and learning new lessons. Little did she know that day would be the worst day of her life.
As the country observes the 70-year anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education, Elizabeth shared her experience as one of the Little Rock Nine, who integrated the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in an exclusive interview with the L.A. Sentinel.
Related Links:
“On May 17, 1954, Brown vs. Board of Education in a landmark decision by the Supreme Court, it was ruled that establishing racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional, even if the segregated schools are otherwise equal in quality,” Elizabeth said.
The case involved the Brown family and 12 other Black families, who filed a class action lawsuit against the Topeka Board of education, arguing that the segregation policy of forcing black students to attend separate schools was unconstitutional.
“The Supreme Court ruling eventually led to Arkansas implementing integration although it took years for many school boards to implement the court’s ruling,” Elizabeth added.
On the first day of school, Elizabeth’s family didn’t receive the call from the NAACP to stay away from the school because the Eckfords could not afford a phone. So, riding on the bus to the school, Elizabeth said, “I was the first of the nine African American students to arrive at Central High. I was blocked entry by the National Guards who were directed by the Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus not to let the African American students in.
“A crowd of segregationists had gathered. I searched the crowd for a friendly face and the lady who looked friendly spit at me. I could hear the crowd lets get a rope and hang her,” she recalled.
Once Elizabeth realized that she couldn’t enter the school, she went back to the bus stop to go to her mother’s workplace. Several reporters stood behind the bus stop bench to prevent anyone from striking her.
In 2017, Elizabeth wrote a book titled, “The Worst First Day Bullied While Desegregating Central High.” The book is co-authored by Dr. Eurydice Stanley and Grace Stanley. She details how on Sept. 25, 1957, the 101st Airborne were ordered by President Dwight Eisenhower to protect the nine African American students and ensure that they make it into the school and protect the students while they were inside the school.
“For three days, Airborne soldiers escorted us to school in a station wagon. Once inside, we were assigned a soldier for our security,” Elizabeth remembered.
Also cited in the book were the many weapons including guns, knives and ropes, which were taken from racists with violent plans.
“I wrote the book so students can realize the power in their words, they can bring change by supporting someone who is being harassed,” she said.
“Once inside the school there were attacks against us both verbal and physical. The National Guard was called in because the 101st had to be sent back to their base, but they were better at protecting us than the National Guard,” said Elizabeth.
Only one of the Little Rock Nine graduated because he was the only senior that year. Gov. Faubus closed the school down because he didn’t want African Americans to go to Central High.
“Faubus closed all Little Rock high schools in September 1958. Faubus did this so the schools would not have to integrate. This left white and Black students scrambling for public education. A private high school was open for the whites and churches held study sessions and some went to correspondence school, while others moved in with their family in other areas to attend school,” said Elizabeth.
The 70th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education will be formally celebrated at the National Museum of African American History and Culture on May 17. Where there will be a discussion panel. Elizabeth plans to attend along with the other Little Rock survivors.
Over the years the Little Rock Nine, have been awarded numerous awards. In Nov. 1999, President Bill Clinton bestowed the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor by Congress, upon the Little Rock Nine. The nine also received the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Spingarn Medal in 1958. In 2018 Elizabeth was honored with an honorary doctorate degree from Knox College.
The Little Rock Nine are Elizabeth Eckford, MinniJean Brown, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, the late Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls.
