Central High Anniversary: A Look Back

Fifty years ago, conflict over integration in Little Rock captured the world's attention when nine black students walked through the doors of Central High.

Outside, angry protests raged over the desegregation attempt, forcing police to remove the students. Those days live on in the pages of history as the first major test of Brown vs. Board of Education.

And today, the Little Rock Nine returned to the campus, sharing their experiences and telling the world that the fight for equality in education is not yet finished.

Their stories
Nine students walked into Central High in September 1957. That school year, their lives changed forever.

Audio slideshow
Hear the students speak about their experiences during that school year at Central High.

Timeline
The seeds of the Little Rock confrontation were sown in May 1954. The crisis didn't end with in 1957, instead, continuing its rippling effect through 1959 and beyond.

Calendar of Events

Anniversary		August
September 23, Robinson Center Music Hall Ecumenical Service September 24, 2125 Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive Central High School National Historic Site, official opening of new visitor center September 24, Wally Allen Ballroom, Statehouse Convention Center Little Rock Nine Gala September 25, Central High 50th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony		August 10 - November 4, Arkansas Arts Center Documenting a Not so Distant Past August 16, 7 p.m., Darrah Center, Main Library Who will build Arkansas? A Readers' Theater on Race Relations and Community August 30, 10 a.m., M. L. Harris Auditorium Philander Smith College presents Rev. Joseph Lowery
		September September 6 - September 8, Doubletree Hotel International Symposium – “The Little Rock Crisis: A 50-year Perspective” September 14 - September 15, UALR "Diversity is not Enough" conference September 14, 9:45 a.m. Clinton Presidential Library “Five Star Leaders: Crisis at Little Rock” September 14 - September 30, The Rep The Arkansas Repertory Theatre's "It Happened in Little Rock-Legacy Project" September 15 - spring 2008, Museum of Discovery "Little Rock's Other High School" exhibit September 15, Clear Channel Metroplex 1957 Sock Hop, to kick off Worldfest September 15 Little Rock Nine 5K Run/Walk September 16, Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall "African American Art Songs" September 18, 9:30 a.m., Dunbar High School "Overshadowed: The History and Significance of Dunbar High School" September 18, Philander Smith College Bless the Mic Lecture Series featuring Andrew Young September 20, Cox Creative Center Looking Back - Looking Ahead: Commemorating 50 Years of Integration art exhibit September 20, Mosiac Church of Central Arkansas Town Hall Meeting - "Character and Courage" September 21, UALR William H. Bowen School of Law Symposium on the crisis from a perspective of the social and legal struggle September 21, MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History "Rendezvous with Destiny: The 101st Airborne and the Central High Crisis of 1957" September 21 - September 22, MacArthur Park Worldfest - "The World is Watching Us! From Civil Rights to Human Rights: Celebrating Our Diversity" September 22 - September 25, William J. Clinton Presidential Center Emancipation Proclamation on display September 24, Clinton School of Public Service Distinguished Lecture Series presents former Rep. Harold Ford September 25, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., 1207 W. 28th Street "Daisy Bates: In Her Own Words" Book Release September 25, 3 p.m., M. L. Harris Auditorium of Philander Smith College "Journey to Little Rock" screening of documentary about Minnijean Brown Trickey

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