A CHANGE IS GONNA COME BUS TOUR
January 19-21, 2009
In the summer of 1957, the city of Little Rock, Arkansas, made plans to
desegregate its public schools. Within a week of the 1954 landmark
Supreme Court decision striking down racial segregation in public schools,
Arkansas was one of two Southern states to announce it would begin
immediately to take steps to comply with the new "law of the land."
Arkansas' law school had been integrated since 1949. By 1957, seven of
its eight state universities had desegregated. Blacks had been appointed
to state boards and elected to local offices.
Little Rock felt it could break down the barriers of segregation in its schools
with a carefully developed program. It had already desegregated its public
buses, as well as its zoo, library and parks system. Its school board had
voted unanimously for a plan, starting with desegregation in the high school
in 1957, followed by junior high schools the next year and elementary
schools following.
But the smooth transition to the school system's integration was not to be.
On September 2, the night before school was to start, Arkansas Governor
Orval Faubus called out the state's National Guard to surround Little Rock
Central High School and prevent any black students from entering in order
to protect citizens and property from possible violence by protesters he
claimed were headed in caravans toward Little Rock.
A federal judge granted an injunction against the Governor's use of
National Guard troops to prevent integration and they were withdrawn on
September 20.
When school resumed on Monday, September 23, Central High was
surrounded by Little Rock policemen. About 1,000 people gathered in front
of the school. The police escorted the nine black students to a side door
where they quietly entered the building as classes were to begin. When the
mob learned the blacks were inside, they began to challenge the police
and surge toward the school with shouts and threats. Fearful the police
would be unable to control the crowd, the school administration moved the
black students out a side door before noon.
U.S. Congressman Brooks Hays and Little Rock Mayor Woodrow Mann
asked the federal government for help, first in the form of U.S. Marshals.
Finally, on September 24, Mann sent a telegram to President Eisenhower
requesting troops. They were dispatched that day and the President also
federalized the entire Arkansas National Guard, taking it away from the
Governor.
On September 25, 1957, the nine black students entered the school under
the protection of 1,000 members of the 101st Airborne Division of the
United States Army.
The year that followed was one in which the eyes of the world were focused
on America as Little Rock Central High School went through its first year of
integration, ending on May 27, 1958, with commencement ceremonies for
601 graduating seniors, including Ernest Green, the school's first black
graduate. Inside the school, the great majority of the 2,000 students, the
faculty and the administration worked to put the law of the land into effect.
For every act of harassment, there were 100 acts of acceptance of the
black students among the white. Though not all the white students favored
desegregation, they felt it was their duty to obey the law. Besides, their
priority was to get a first-class education...and many helped the black
students try to achieve the same thing, even though they were faced with
pressures that were very difficult for teenagers to comprehend.
In 2007, we will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Little Rock Nine and
Daisy Bates courage stance to desegregate Central High School. Their
actions fueled the fire that was burning inside many African Americans in
the United States and continued The Modern Civil Rights Movement. Join
the staff of Crossroads Tours as we travel to Little Rock, Arkansas and
Memphis Tennessee and visit sites (Central High School, National Civil
Rights Museum, and William Jefferson Clinton Library and Museum) that
preserve and tell of the struggle for freedom and equality.
Itinerary
Day 1
Nashville, TN
Riverboat Casino
Little Rock, Arkansas
Day 2
Little Rock, Arkansas
Central High School NHS and Historic District
William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library and Museum
Memphis, TN
National Civil Rights Museum
Memphis Jazz District
Day 3
Memphis, TN
Tour Amenities
Roundtrip Motorcoach service
Hotel Accommodations (2 nights)
4 Meals
Admission tickets to sites
**Children travel for $150.00 with paying adult
*Reservation Deposit Required
To contact our associate for pricing and to resrve this tour click here
Central High School NHS
National Civil RIghts Museum
William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum
A CHANGE IS GONNA COME BUS TOUR
