The Little Rock Nine: A Primary Source Exploration of the Battle for School Integration (We Shall Overcome)

The Little Rock Nine were a courageous group of students who became the center of the fight to end school segregation. They endured violence and vicious words. But they stood up for their beliefs. Explore the points of view of the Little Rock Nine and the people who opposed them through powerful primary sources and historical photos.

Gr 6 Up-First-person accounts from white and African American activists, protesters, politicians, and eyewitnesses are woven into the text of this informative series on the civil rights movement. The quotes, borrowed from newspapers, government records, interviews, and speeches, reflect a variety of viewpoints. For example, there is the vehemently pro-segregationist Governor Wallace: "I say, segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever," as well as concerned college student and activist Diane Nash: "It was critical that the Freedom Ride not stop, that it be continued immediately." The illustrations are revelatory and sometimes chilling. One 1957 photograph shows stone-faced National Guardsmen forming a barricade with their bodies to block black teens from going to school in Little Rock, AR, while another depicts a 1965 KKK nighttime rally in which hooded members congregate beneath a tall burning cross. An ideal purchase.α(c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.