The Group: Little Rock Nine

Hi this is Checkmate, I recently saw a one person play on the Little Rock Nine, a group that was fighting to end black segregation.

The small group had been chosen to participate in a program called gradual integration. It was supposed to help black people be able to enjoy some of the freedoms whites could enjoy, but instead it was more of a hinder than a help. At first every one of the Little Rock Nine were excited and amazed that such a thing could happen after such strong hatred toward them. 

Instead of everything going smoothly on their first day of school, nothing went right! First there was a mob of people shouting terrible things toward Melba Beals (a member of the Little Rock Nine) when she and her mother drove up. Then they discovered that there were National Guard members around the building and they simply would not let them in. The mother and daughter had to run back to their car and retreat to their home.

Three days later with the help of a lawyer named Thurgood Marshall The Little Rock Nine made it in a side door of the high school. Through the whole day they endured threats of violence and words that I can’t use. Thankfully, President Eisenhower sent troops for the Little Rock Nine. They were escorted throughout the school halls.

One day Melba Beals asked her soldier why he was not doing anything about all the horrible treatment. He responded by saying that he was there only to make sure she survived. When Melba was walking down the school halls once someone put acid in her eye! It hurt her very much. Thankfully a doctor was able to help her. These are only a few of the struggles Melba and the Little Rock Nine faced. I strongly encourage you to find the rest of her life story.