[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 142 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10724-H10727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEPTEMBER 25, 1957,
DESEGREGATION OF LITTLE ROCK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL BY THE LITTLE ROCK
NINE
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 668) recognizing the 50th anniversary of the
September 25, 1957, desegregation of Little Rock Central High School by
the Little Rock Nine.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 668
Whereas on May 17, 1954, the United States Supreme Court
announced in Brown v. Board of Education (347 U.S. 483) that,
``in the field of education, the doctrine of `separate but
equal' has no place'';
Whereas the Brown decision recognized as a matter of law
that the segregation of public schools deprived students of
the equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth
Amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas in 1957, three years after the landmark Brown v.
Board of Education decision, the promise of access and
equality within the realm of education remained unfilled in
Little Rock, Arkansas, and throughout the Nation;
Whereas on September 4, 1957, nine African American
students who would later be deemed the Little Rock Nine,
Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma
Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts,
Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls, were denied admittance
to Little Rock Central High by the Arkansas National Guard at
the order of the Arkansas Governor;
Whereas on September 23, 1957, the Little Rock Nine, armed
with a Federal court order, again tried to attend Little Rock
Central High and implement the law of the land, but protests
and violence forced the group of students to leave the
school;
Whereas on September 25, 1957, this Nation would realize a
historic day when the Little Rock Nine, escorted by Federal
troops at the order of President Dwight D. Eisenhower,
successfully integrated Little Rock Central High;
Whereas throughout their tenure at Little Rock Central
High, the Little Rock Nine, with conviction and dignity,
championed school integration despite death threats, verbal
and physical assaults, school closings, and other
adversities;
Whereas the Little Rock Nine are symbolic of the victorious
dismantling of school segregation, as well as the full and
equal participation in American society that all citizens are
entitled to, and continue to advance such principles through
the Little Rock Nine Foundation;
[[Page H10725]]
Whereas the significance of the Little Rock Nine and their
actions have been acknowledged with numerous awards and
recognitions, including the 2007 Little Rock Central High
School Desegregation 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin, the
Congressional Gold Medal in 1999, the inclusion of Little
Rock Central High School in the National Park System in 1998,
and the designation of Little Rock Central High School as a
National Historic Landmark in 1982;
Whereas on the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of
Little Rock Central High School by the Little Rock Nine, the
Nation will celebrate this great civil rights achievement
through forums and town halls, commemorations, and
significantly, the dedication of a permanent Little Rock
Central High School Museum and Visitor Center; and
Whereas in 2007, as the Little Rock Nine and the entire
Nation celebrates 50 years of integration, we must
acknowledge recent setbacks to the guarantee of opportunity
and inclusion within our educational system, in both K-12 and
higher education: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) acknowledges and commemorates the 50th anniversary of
the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School by the
Little Rock Nine;
(2) encourages all Americans, upon this 50th anniversary,
to recognize the historic contributions of the Little Rock
Nine, who not only secured integration for Little Rock
Central High School, but hundreds of thousands of schools
across the country; and
(3) commits itself, in the wake of recent challenges, to
continuing the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education and the
Little Rock Nine by protecting and advancing equal
educational opportunity for all.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, I am pleased to join the entire
Arkansas congressional delegation, Representatives Vic Snyder, Marion
Berry, Mike Ross, John Boozman, all in celebrating the 50th anniversary
of the integration of the Little Rock Central High School by the Little
Rock Nine. I would like also to recognize the distinguished members of
the House Judiciary Committee, Ranking Member Lamar Smith and former
chairman, Jim Sensenbrenner, who have joined me in the introduction of
this resolution.
Fifty years ago, on September 25, 1957, the Little Rock Nine, as they
were called, successfully challenged the status quo of ``separate but
equal.'' Three years earlier, we all recall the momentous Supreme Court
decision of 1954 that ruled the 14th amendment's guarantee of equal
protection prohibited segregation in the public schools. This landmark
Brown v. Board of Education decision struck down the notorious State-
sanctioned Jim Crow in the realm of education once and for all.
Unfortunately, this critical determination would not easily be
accepted. It would take nine young strong and determined African
American students to begin actually implementing the new laws of the
land. These nine students, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest
Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts,
Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls, implemented the promise of Brown
v. The Board. In the footsteps of Rosa Parks, these students, too,
started a movement to dismantle years of segregation and inequalities
in our public school systems.
On the shoulders of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., these brave young
nine boys and girls faced a hatred and a violence that is embarrassing
to recall, and they faced it with nonviolent resistance. They were
peaceful. Dr. King himself said ``to meet physical force with soul
force.'' And that is what they did. Dr. King asked the students to
think of the big picture as they moved forward, for they were going to
be the frame for that picture.
So on September 25, 1957, the students who came to be known as the
Little Rock Nine integrated Little Rock Central High School, and
history was forever changed. Escorted by 1,000 members of the 101st
Airborne Division of the United States Army, the Little Rock Nine
claimed the fair and equal education that they were entitled to.
It took close to a month to secure this access and opportunity, but
these young men and women persevered in their mission of school
integration. Defying Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, segregationists
and other protestors, the Little Rock Nine were victorious in ending
segregated education.
The Little Rock Nine's first attempt to attend Central High School
was on September 4, 1957; but the Arkansas Governor called in the
National Guard of his State to keep them out. On September 23, the
Little Rock Nine, armed with a Federal court order, again tried to
attend Central High School, but protests and violence forced the group
of students out of the school. It was not until Federal protection was
provided that the students would be able to safely attend school on
September 25. This Federal protection would remain until the end of the
school year, enabling African American senior Ernest Green to graduate.
But, sadly, this year of progress would be tainted by the Arkansas
Governor's decision to close all of the high schools the following
year.
The Little Rock Nine would remain champions of education and school
integration despite the fierce opposition. After the schools reopened
in 1959, three more of the Little Rock Nine would go on to graduate
from Central High. All of them would become productive, contributive
members of our society. From social work to education to government,
the Little Rock Nine were and remain represented in all professional
sectors. They have also continued their commitment to education with
the founding of the Little Rock Nine Foundation, which is dedicated to
providing educational opportunities to students of color.
On the 50th anniversary of the integration of Central High by the
Little Rock Nine, I am pleased to recognize that great progress has
been made in education. But I must also acknowledge recent setbacks to
the guarantee of opportunity and inclusion within our educational
system. A recent Supreme Court decision now severely limits school
districts in their efforts to achieve racial balance and diversity in
primary and secondary education.
But in acknowledging recent setbacks, I would be remiss to not
comment on the Jena Six. Just as the Little Rock Nine stood up to the
inequities of their time, we must lift up the Jena Six in response to
the inequities of their time.
The Little Rock Nine did not mean to make national or world history;
they were just standing up for what they believed was right.
In considering this resolution, I ask that all of our Members move
forward with this same kind of determination and understanding of what
our democracy is all about. On this 50th anniversary, let us all pledge
to continue the legacy of the Little Rock Nine and Brown v. The Board
by protecting and advancing equal educational opportunity for all.
I omit the great work that was done by President Dwight Eisenhower
and others that helped move this situation forward some 50 years ago.
And I note also that Arkansas was not a hot bed of segregation. It was
considered, frankly, a moderate Southern State. But things transpired
so that it became that one activity in which these nine boys and girls
have gone into American history. They have been celebrated, and they
have been talked about. I have been hearing about them all week long as
we prepare for this celebration. And I am so proud to bring this
resolution on the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock
Central High School before this body.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 668,
commemorating the Little Rock Nine, the African American students who
enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957 and were initially
prevented from entering that segregated school. I want to commend
Chairman Conyers for
[[Page H10726]]
bringing this legislation forward and our ranking member, Congressman
Smith, for his support of it as well.
President Dwight Eisenhower, following the landmark Supreme Court
decision in Brown v. Board of Education, sent Federal troops to enforce
integration and protect the Little Rock Nine. On September 24, 1957,
the President ordered the Army to Little Rock, and the nine students
entered the school the next day. Thereafter, each of the students was
given an individual escort inside Central High School to prevent them
from harassment by other students.
It was surely a sad day when the Federal Government had to use the
most powerful military in the world to integrate one high school in
Little Rock, Arkansas. But it was also a proud day as well, as it
demonstrated how our Constitution and each branch of government had,
since the Civil War, finally had been honed and fitted to fulfill the
promise of racial equality in America.
Chairman Conyers has already listed the Little Rock Nine, but the
efforts of which they themselves and their families must be most proud
are deserving of mentioning them again: Ernest Green, Elizabeth
Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls LaNier,
Minnijean Brown, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed, and Melba
Pattillo Beals. With each step they took through the schoolhouse doors,
they paved a path forward for countless other African Americans. And
when the school bell rang that day, it marked not only the start of the
school day; it rang for liberty and equality as well.
The Little Rock Nine were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on
November 9, 1999. This resolution renews our commemoration of their
courageous actions of the 50th anniversary of their historic first
steps into history. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased now to recognize the
distinguished gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Ross), who has been serving
in the Congress for a period of years and we have enjoyed a very good
working relationship with him. I yield him such time as he may consume.
Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution
668, a resolution honoring and recognizing the 50th anniversary of the
desegregation of Little Rock Central High School by the Little Rock
Nine. First, I would like to thank Chairman Conyers for his support and
leadership in moving this resolution from the Judiciary Committee to
the floor of the United States House of Representatives.
I am proud to be a cosponsor of this resolution, which honors the
anniversary of the nine students who gained national attention 50 years
ago when Little Rock Central High School was integrated.
Little Rock Central High School found itself in the spotlight of the
entire Nation on September 25, 1957, when nine students escorted by the
101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army walked up the front steps and
integrated the school.
The names of these nine individuals are barely recognizable alone,
but collectively as the Little Rock Nine they gained national attention
for their strength and unified determination to make our public schools
a place where everyone can learn regardless of race.
{time} 1615
This resolution honors their courage by commemorating the 50th
anniversary of desegregation of Little Rock Central High School and
encourages all Americans to recognize the historic contributions of the
Little Rock Nine, who not only secured integration for Little Rock
Central High School, but for hundreds of thousands of schools across
our country.
Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of this historic event, and I'm
also proud to be taking part in the celebration of this civil rights
achievement through the dedication of a permanent Little Rock Central
High School Museum and Visitors Center. I'll be joined tomorrow by many
of my colleagues, including the Arkansas congressional delegation,
Congressmen John Boozman, Marion Berry and Vic Snyder.
The Little Rock Nine have been acknowledged with numerous awards and
recognitions, including the 2007 Little Rock Central High School
desegregation 50th anniversary commemorative coin, one of only two such
coins that are done annually. And I want to thank my good friend from
Arkansas, Congressman Vic Snyder for leading the effort in securing
this as one of the two coins for this year. They've also been
recognized for the Congressional Gold Medal. That was back in 1999.
This resolution adds one more recognition to this important group of
individuals.
As we memorialize their legacies of bravery so that future
generations of Americans will forever know their struggle, we can never
forget the sacrifices endured by these nine individuals for the sake of
progress on behalf of millions. The Little Rock Nine are symbolic of
the victorious dismantling of school segregation, and as such, I am
proud to cosponsor this resolution honoring their contributions, and I
urge my fellow colleagues to vote in favor of it today.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased now to recognize the gentleman
from Illinois, Mr. Danny Davis, who, himself, grew up in Arkansas. He
was a distinguished alderman in Chicago before becoming a Member of
Congress. He has worked with the Judiciary Committee with particular
interest on re-entry programs, and he also happens to represent my
counsel, Kanya Bennett, who comes to the floor with me today. I yield
the gentleman as much time as he may consume.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Conyers
for, not only his leadership on this issue, but so many issues
involving civil rights down through the years and for bringing this
legislation to the floor.
On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court announced its decision in Brown
vs. Board of Education, holding that the segregation in public schools
was illegal. Three years later, nine black students entered Little Rock
Central High: Carlotta Walls, Jefferson Thomas, Elizabeth Eckford,
Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Terrance Roberts, Gloria Ray,
Minniejean Brown and Ernest Green. I feel a certain amount of kinship
to these nine students because, at that very same time, I was a
freshman in college, just 50 miles away at the University of Arkansas
at Pine Bluff. And so over the years, I had an opportunity to interact
with several of them.
Of course, the most well known is Ernest Green, who became an
assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Labor and is now the
managing director of Lehman Brothers investment firm.
Minniejean Brown, I spent a weekend with, down at Southern Illinois
University, where she graduated just a few years ago when we were both
there for some activity.
I did student teaching with Melba Pattillo's mother, Mrs. Pattillo,
who was a teacher in North Little Rock, Arkansas when I did student
teaching.
And so it's been a great move. It's hard to imagine that 50 years ago
I was there, but I guess I was, John. It's been a long time, but much
has happened since then.
I simply want to congratulate Governor Beebe, the Mayor of Little
Rock, all of the elected officials in Little Rock, for the tremendous
display of commemoration and celebration that has taken place over
these 3 days as they commemorate the tremendous movement. And I agree
with Chairman Conyers in suggesting that not only has Little Rock, but
the country has come a long way since 1957. We've made tremendous
progress, even though there is much further to go.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. If the
gentleman is prepared to close, I will yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself just a minute to close to
observe that Arkansas, I have always connected with the former Governor
of that State, the former President of this country, Bill Clinton. And
I understand he's going to be there tomorrow to cut the ribbon, and I
only wish that all of us who will be supporting and voting for this
resolution could be there with him.
I think Arkansas has come a long way. They've made a lot of progress,
and we're all working to make this a
[[Page H10727]]
color-free society, where the content of one's character is far more
important and significant than the color of one's skin.
I urge support for Resolution 668 and yield back the balance of my
time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, as we commemorate the 50th anniversary
of school desegregation in Arkansas and celebrate nine brave young
people and the families that supported them, it is a day of bittersweet
reflection because the dreams they sought to fulfill for generations of
African Americans remain still not fully realized.
Today, as in 1957, we believe that education will help African
Americans to get better jobs and to gain influence in American society.
But, 50 years later, the struggle is not over. While in 1957, African
American students struggled to get into high schools, today they
struggle to stay in school. In describing the current state of
education for African Americans, an author stated ``burdened with a
history that includes the denial of education, separate and unequal
education, and religion to unsafe, substandard inner-city schools, the
quest for quality education remains an elusive dream for the African
American community.'' The current drop out rate among African American
males is estimated at 40 percent, 72 percent are jobless, and the
likelihood of being incarcerated is 60 percent. Fifty years later, the
playing field is not leveled.
H. Res. 668, not only recognizes the 50th anniversary of that
momentous occasion on September 25, 1957, but it also calls for all to
commit to continuing the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education and the
Little Rock Nine by protecting and advancing equal educational
opportunity for all. This would be a great way to honor and continue to
pay tribute to heroic actions of the Little Rock Nine. Little Rock Nine
opened the door for education but we must continue to close the gap in
providing quality education for all.
I urge all of my colleagues to join us in honoring the people who
made history on that day, and to also join them and us in working
toward the day when there will truly be equal opportunity in education
in every part of our Nation.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, on September 25th, our State--and our
Nation--will recognize nine brave men and women who, when they were
teenagers, came forward to claim their Constitutional right to an equal
education despite protests, threats of violence and even the Arkansas
National Guard.
I strongly Support this legislation which honors not only a red-
letter date in our State's history, but a seminal event in the movement
to unite our country as truly one people, indivisible.
Fifty years ago, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green,
Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts,
Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls, climbed the steps of Central High
School. Few other moments in our history can compare to the ascent made
by the Little Rock Nine. It was an ascent to a new plateau in the
relations of Americans to their fellow citizens and a new plateau on
the path to the American we now know.
On September 25, 1957, when the Nine made it to the top of those
Central High School steps, they stood in a place where, up till that
point, others said they could not go. Then, they did what was, in fact,
the most important thing that day: They went inside to learn.
While Central High School will always be the event at the forefront
of our memories when it comes to the history of desegregation, it is my
hope that, as we remember the Nine, we can also remember the other
schools in our State which preceded them, including Fayetteville,
Hoxie, and the community of Charleston--who first broke down the
barrier in Arkansas on August 23, 1954.
I would also like to remember the names of Joe Ferguson, Jessie
Ferguson, Mary Ferguson, Barbara Williams, Robert Williams, Etholia
Williams, Time Freeman, Betty Freeman, Myrdle Freeman, Leroy Jones,
Raymond Webb, Duty Webb, and Henry Web, who joined their fellow
residents of Charleston to bring about peaceful change.
As we spend this day reflecting on our past, we should remember all
the brave children, families, and educators across the state who--by
their courage--set in motion a chain of events which created the
Arkansas of the present and will resonate in the Arkansas of the
future.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 668.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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