Remembering Little Rock

It is easy to believe that our North American communities have always been founded on acceptance and equal opportunities for all, but it is a mistake to believe that we are no longer deeply tied to a dark past. Because of individuals who continue to fight against injustice, our communities continue to grow, allowing us to value those who have shaped our identity in moments of despair.

September marks the anniversary of a group of nine African-American high school students whose actions did exactly that in 1957.

These nine students became known as “The Little Rock Nine” as their presence at an all-white school in Little Rock, Arkansas, sparked demonstrations and riots within the community, drawing national and international attention. The United States Supreme Court’s 1954 decision in the Brown vs. Board of Education case took a clear stance against the segregation of public schools. However, as the Little Rock Nine made their way to school on Sept. 4, 1957, they did not find any source of welcome. They faced a mob of segregationists and the Arkansas National Guard, ordered by Governor Orval Faubus, who prevented them from entering the school.

For weeks the students remained barred from the high school. Finally on Sept. 24, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent 1,200 members of the U.S Army’s 101st Airborne Division to escort the Little Rock Nine to their first day of class. Throughout the year the military maintained a presence on campus. Such a presence was unable to prevent the sorrow and violence that so deeply affected the young students.

I found the peaceful attitude the students displayed in face of an immense amount of hate most inspiring. Jesus said, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Matthew 12:34), meaning that peaceful actions begin with a loving heart. The Little Rock Nine easily could have held resentment and anger, but they remained focused on peaceful living. Moving towards a better community, we are called to first fill our hearts with God’s love so that our actions and words will reflect that change.

Many in the Little Rock community saw the actions of the students as radical and inappropriate. It was a tense time for everyone living in Little Rock, but the nine African-American students responded in a non-violent way, hoping to change the traditions that burdened their society.

Jesus’ ministry teaches us that we must never stop seeking justice. Jesus, in His day, was also viewed as a radical reformer. His teachings called for political, social, economic and spiritual change. He did not conform to what was socially acceptable but presented a new way of living. This way of living encouraged people to create communities of belonging. We too are invited to question the structure of our society and be ready with open hearts to respond to issues of injustice.

(Kendrick, 17, is a Grade 12 student at St. Paul Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, Ont.)