Tuesday, Sept. 24 marked the 50th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine African-American students who enrolled in Little Rock Central High School.
To commemorate the anniversary, HBO has produced a documentary titled 'Little Rock Central: 50 Years Later," which aired on HBO last Tuesday at 8PM and airs again this Saturday, Sept. 29 at 3:45 PM EST.
(You can watch an exclusive clip of the documentary at the top of the blog post.)
Directed by Craig and Brent Renaud, natives of Little Rock, Ark., took an in-depth look at how little the high school has actually changed in the last 50 years.
The clear and obvious divide between the two races should come as no surprise.
It's an issue not just in Little Rock, but across the country.
And don't think that the problem goes away once you leave high school.Attending a predominately white university (Hofstra University), African-Americans make up roughly seven percent of the student population (but 97 percent when a party is on campus). The white kids sit with the white kids. The black kids sit with the black kids. The Hispanic kids sit with the Hispanics, and so on.
"I would hope that people become aware and that the issues in the documentary are of a national interests and our happening all over the country," said Minnijean Brown-Trickey, one of the students from the Little Rock Nine. "I would hope that we would be horrified by it and want to do something about it."
Instead of focusing on the current situation at Little Rock Central, the documentary would have better served serving as a historic tool and providing an in-depth focus on the Little Rock Nine.
"HBO is distributing the documentary to films and people are requested it," said Brown-Trickey. "I am hoping it can be used both in the classroom and for teacher training. It's a whole problem. Not just the kids."
A historical topic that often goes undiscussed in high school, it wasn't until college that I had a professor that brought up the importance of the situation.
Take a second today - even if its just five minutes - to read up on the history of the Little Rock Nine.
Comments: (31)
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By: Jessie on 9/25/2007 7:05PM
Wow, I can't wait to see that!!! As a child I've always been fascinated by Black History. I remember watching Eyes on the prize when I was about 6, and having nightmares about the little Rock 9. The images of the children surrounded by screaming white supremacists. I can't imagine the fear they felt in that environment where it seemed like anything could happen at any time and the world was watching.
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By: LADY A1 on 9/25/2007 3:38PM
I'VE HAD my REMINDER SET since SUNDAY!
Wanna SEE what I LEARN!
GOOD AFTERNOON all those GOOD
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By: Alice Harris on 9/25/2007 4:48PM
I feel very proud to have been a resident during that era, living in Little Rock, Ark. I have been watching the news and internet on this moment in history. One of the nine students (Carlotta Walls LaNier) and I went to the same church and was in the same sunday school class. I felt so proud of the nine students when they entered Central HS in 1957 and I also feared for their safety. It makes me feel good that they will always be remembered and honored for their bravey in American history but also in African-Amerian history.
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By: jimi moore on 9/25/2007 4:08PM
I cant help thinking about the situation of the kids at that as well as now ,I was too shelter as akid from the black history until an adult. I checked out vhs tapes from the public library on the series eyes on the prize in the late 80s'. I can feel a connection since my father is from Little Rock, was born 100 years ago and can only imagine his plight growing up there. I tell my son all I can to bring him awareness as well as I can .
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By: Cheryl Santiago on 9/25/2007 4:17PM
The eyes of the world are always watching, seeing yet doing nothing! Racism has always been and will always be until we watch, see and hate what we see, come forward and began the process of change, one person at a time. We need to start with that innocent child in the cradle for he or she is the future and with him we can bring about change! With him, let us hammer out racism.
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By: LADY A1 on 9/25/2007 5:01PM
COMMENT #3:
???
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By: Nita Williams on 9/25/2007 6:38PM
WOW!!! even thought I know I'm going to shed many tears, I look forward to viewing this film. It's history in the makings, as it relates to who I am, where I came from, and where I am headed. It's our past and our future. We all need so much prayer....
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By: mel Hughes on 9/25/2007 7:43PM
LOOK AT WHATS GOING ON IN JENA,AND TODAY IN BALTIMORE WITH A JUDGE SENTENCING A 24 YR OLD BLACK MALE TO 30YRS.FOR BOUNCING TWO CHECKS.THIS IS INSANE.ALL BLACK FOLKS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO READ THE WILIE LYNCH PAPERS,AND THE MIS-EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO.WE'RE BEING EXTERMINATED.WE NEED TO IMITATE THE JEWS.THEY DON'T FORGET.
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By: ty2k7 on 9/25/2007 8:49PM
A MEL#8 THATS WHATS UP BROTHER THANK U WE NEED NOT TO FORGET WHATS HAPPENING NOW AND THE PAST. WE BLACKS ARE SO LOST WE HAVE SO MUCH WORK AHEAD OF US. AND WILLY LYNCH IS REAL PLEASE READ THE LETTERS AND SEE THAT 1700'S BLACK MIND IS THE SAME AS 2007 WE NEED TO HEAL EACH OTHER BEFORE WE CAN EVER BE LEAD AND SEE THAT PERFECT DAY OF PEACE. BECAUSE UNTIED WE ARE UNSTOPABLE AND THATS THE BIGEST FEAR
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By: Kathy Green on 9/25/2007 8:32PM
What is so sad those black children in that class room think it find and they don't realize how they are left behind.
Some of them want have enough knowledge to lean floors.
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