On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Before this Brown vs. Board of Education decision, many states had segregation laws stating African Americans and Caucasians should attend separate schools. In response to this, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People adopted a plan for the integration of schools. The first schools to integrate would be high schools. Despite this opposition, nine African American students registered to enroll in Little Rock Central High School.
On the morning of September 4, 1957, the Arkansas National Guard blocked nine African American students from entering Little Rock Central High School. Two weeks later, a federal judge stated
On the morning of September 4, 1957, the Arkansas National Guard blocked nine African American students from entering Little Rock Central High School. Two weeks later, a federal judge stated