pbsthisdayinhistory:

Tuesday, Sept 4: “Little Rock Nine” Denied Entrance to School

On this day in 1957, the “Little Rock Nine,”  a group of African American high school students, unsuccessfully attempted to pass through angry crowds to integrate Central High School in Arkansas. Governor Orval Faubus had called out the National Guard to prevent them from entering the school.

Later that month, the students finally were able to enter the school under the protection of paratroopers dispatched by President Dwight Eisenhower.

Explore American Experience’s photo gallery from the southern school desegregation years of 1957-1962.

Photo: U.S. Troops escort African American students from Central High School, Little Rock, Arkansas on October 3, 1957 (Library of Congress).

It’s just so strange to think life was this hostile in America.

What were people afraid of?

Change?

Equality?

The unknown…

(via npr)