It is now the summer time after attending at Central High. It has been a long and tough year but I stuck with it all to the very end. We were all known as The Little Rock Nine but the only one of us to graduate was Ernest Green. We were all very proud of him, but we are devastated that we can't return next year as all public school will be closed to prevent desegregation efforts. The nine of us were the 1st African Americans to attend Arkansas Central High School. Many people know us as the brave students that stood up to people which made a big difference. I'm glad to hear how people are proud of me I just wish others would have the same courage as me.

Suprise Second Day

Earlier this morning, I was just getting out of bed when my mama came into my room. She had told me to hurry up that President Eisenhower was at our house! I was being escorted to school by the US Army. I was in an army jeep with huge machine guns attached and following us above was a helicopter. The President must have found out what was going on and how we were being treated.
We were finally able to attend the school, but we all had revived very mean remarks from the white children that attended Central High. We were not allowed to be in any of their classes and the nine of us were to be together at all times. Today at school i was called a nigger, pushed down stairs, shoved into lockers and threatened with dynamic acid. I was terrified but I said to myself it is all for the goodness of my education.

First Day of School

I was so excited this morning to finally have a great start on my education! I was ready to get on the bus and meet up with my other friends attending the school too. They said they would meet at my house but then they never showed up. I came to find out that they changed the location but I don't have a telephone so they were unable to call me. I went on without them.
I got off the bus a block away because I saw a big mob standing around. I start walking toward Central High and the mob starts pointing and calling out names. I rushed through them and got to the front doors and I tried to get in. The big, strong guardsmen wouldn't let me in. I kept trying and trying untill one released and pointed his bayonets. I was terrified so then they pushed me away. I was rescued by Mrs. Grace Louon who is a family friend who put me on the bus to go back home. I was terrified today and I hope nothing happens like this again. I have now been told I can't go back for awhile.

When my family was eating dinner that night I had asked Mama what had started all of the segregation everywhere and while people were so cruel. She had said that the white people were very unconnciderate of others and didn't really care about us African Americans. This time period is called the Civil Rights Movement which has been started by the sparks of many things. She told me about the Jim Crow Laws which inforced the seperation of us and the whites. The white people were trying to not allow any African American the right to vote. So, the angry African Americans formed the NAACP- National Association for the Advancement of Colored People which fought to gain our rights back. Mama then was telling about the the Montgomery Bus Boycott dealing with her hero, Rosa Parks. I remember this briefly from different rumors. The African Americans walked everywhere for an entire year for freedom. Recently the Blossom Plan was approved to desegregate the schools. This was allowing me to attend any school I wanted. Finally she had told me that we were supporting Martin Luther King's recent activity. He founded the SCLC- Southern Christian Leadership Conference that organized civil rights work in the South. I learned also tonight at dinner that our church is sponsored by the SCLC!

New Journey

Superintendent Blossom knocked on our door around dinner time. He came in and had a long conversation with my parents. I was told to go out for a walk as Mama didn't want me to hear anything.
I got back my parents and Mr. Blossom wanted to have a talk with me. They knew how much I wanted to have a well education and to attend the best high school in town. This is Little Rock Central High School but it was an all white school. Mr. Blossom told me that I had the chance to attend the school with eight other African American children like me. They other students that would attend the school with me were going to be: Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Minnijean Brown, Jefferson Thomas, Gloria Ray, Carlotta Walls, Melba Pattillo and Terrence Roberts.
I was excited as I would ever have been. He then told me that it might be a rough experience as the white people have strong opinions but for me not to listen or care what they say. Mr. Blossom told my parents that they were unable to bring me to school as they wouldn't be protected.
I was so excited for the first day of school as Mama made me a brand new black and white dress! It was fantastic.