We had planned to visit the National Historic Park Site of Little Rock High School, Arkansas today
http://www.nps.gov/chsc/index.htm - but we were unaware that we were visiting on the 55th Anniversary of the desegregation of the High School. It certainly was a grand piece of architecture and beautiful garden surrounds.
We were lucky enough to be taken on a tour of the school by the Park Ranger, then to spend 2 hours in the Museum reading and listening to oral histories of the 'Little Rock Nine' and other students, parents and armed personnel who were involved in making history at the time.
The children were thoroughly involved in the story (the girls most certainly, the boys with some encouragement). When the time came for the kids to take their completed workbooks to the Ranger, Sophia spoke to the Ranger about how sad she felt when Minnijean Brown-Trickey was deliberately hit in the back of the head with a purse full of padlocks - an event that lead to her expulsion. The Ranger noted Sophia's empathy, and some 5 minutes later returned to us saying he had a surprise visitor for her.
Into the room walked Minnijean Brown-Trickey. We were all shocked! Here we had just spent a great deal of time reading about a person from the history books, someone who at age 15 had incredible courage and depth of conviction, who endured awful taunting - physical and psychological, and suddenly she was asking all the children for a hug! I was in tears, the girls were overwhelmed, Ken was incredibly moved. We were in a state of shock for a good time afterwards. It was an incredibly powerful experience and one that I know I am failing to convey in words - but one that will remain with me for a lifetime. I can only pray and hope that the kids, the girls in particular (as they really connected with her story) will remember this in times of adversity in their own lives, and can call upon the lessons learnt here today, that with strength and courage they can achieve anything in their lives.
Anyway, here is Sophia's letter to her school teacher about her recollection of the day's events.
Today we went to Little Rock High School. It was where white people went to school.
One day nine black students wanted to go to that school. They were very brave because they knew all the kids would hate them, and pinch them, and terrorise them. The only reason they wanted to go to that school was because it had better equipment, better classes and there was more money given to the white schools.
The school had a rule, that if the black students called any of the white students names, they would be expelled. So lots of the white children gathered together and started swarming around the black students being mean in the hope that they would make the black students call them names back. The black students had to try really hard to ignore them and not call back names.
One day, Minnijean - one of the nine black students - was carrying a bowl of chilli for her lunch and was walking to the table, when one of the boys pushed another student into Minnijean, making her drop her tray 'accidentally on purpose'. She had to go to the office, and was suspended for 10 days. When she came back some girls knew she had no chances left, so they came up to her and called her names, and threw a purse full of padlocks at the back of her head. Minnijean was frustrated and said 'leave me alone white trash' and she was expelled.
So, I am so happy to tell you that I met Minnijean today at Little Rock, and she asked me for a hug. I also saw Elizabeth one of the other nine black students.
Today was a special day as it was 55 years since the nine students first went to Little Rock High School, so they all met up again at the National Parks Visitor Centre to have a feast.
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| Out the front of Little Rock High School |
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| With Minnijean Brown-Trickey |
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| Getting sworn in by a very groovy, excited volunteer ranger! |
