“We are demanding the rights and privileges guaranteed to every American citizen under the Constitution of the United States, the right to move in a free society as free Americans.”
-Daisy Bates
-Daisy Bates
The Little Rock Nine's bravery paved the way for other African-Americans to attend Central High School and other public schools throughout the country, usually without as much violence as the Nine endured.
"The integration of Little Rock Central started a movement that spread all over the country. At the time, New York and Chicago schools were segregated, too. Now we've got black mayors in so many big cities. And it all started with the desegregation of a school."
-Daisy Bates
-Daisy Bates
May 2nd, 1958 – Daisy Bates spoke at the People's Community Church in Arkansas about the Nine's successes and aspirations:
"The impact on Americans and on the world was one of Little Rock's historical contributions to the over-all crusade for rights and dignity. A second contribution that Little Rock made--a contribution by no means less significant or less dramatic--was its effect upon the Negro population in the United States and particularly upon those in the South. . . . They learned unmistakably that they possess irresistible power if they become conscious of it and unite to secure their unalienable rights."
-Daisy Bates
-Daisy Bates
After the Little Rock Nine left Central, they struggled in college, but felt responsible to show the world that they deserved the equal opportunity they were given:
"Thank you again for all the help and assistance which you have provided for these past few years, help which ranged from scholarships, Mrs. Harni’s clothes, to moral guidance. I’ll try hard not to let you down."
Love,
Thelma
-Letter from Thelma to Daisy Bates, March 29th, 1962
"I told them that the challenge was necessary not only for their rights, but for the rights of all American Children to attend the public school of their choice."
- Daisy Bates
- Daisy Bates
In 1996 on "Oprah," a white student from Central apologized for her cruelties against the Nine:
Video Courtesy of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75dhe5Zsy8k&feature=youtu.be
In 1999, President Bill Clinton awarded the Nine a Congressional Gold Medal:
"The fact that, in the face of all of those odds against us, the nine of us were able to go to that school and the determination we had, that sends one of the most important messages: Even though there are great forces of opposition in this world, they need not ever interfere with your own goal-oriented behavior."
-Terrence Roberts (one of the Nine) speaks about his opinion on the legacy of the nine
-Terrence Roberts (one of the Nine) speaks about his opinion on the legacy of the nine
Source: Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture, 2007