Doctor Roberts was one of the first nine black students to integrate into a largely white high school in Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Although they were within their rights since the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision overturned the original ruling of Plessy v. Freguson which enforced segregated schooling as long as they were “separate but equal”. Brown ruled that they were inherently unequal and thus legalized integrated schooling. However, old habits die hard. The state of Arkansas disapproved of this ruling so adamately that when the nine students attempted to exercise their right of getting an education, the National Guard barred them from entry on orders of the governor. Some weeks later after the nine students were continuously refused entry, President Eisenhower ordered the National Guard to protect the students in order to uphold the law.
It was truly a pleasure to interview someone who is so essential to the Civil Rights Movement, a movement that Roberts believes is still going on and will continue to go on until the public begins to change their ways of viewing others.
Truly an intriguing talk by a gifted speaker.
Click below to listen to the Interview with Terrence Roberts aired January 27th, 2011.
Below is a photograph of Terrence Roberts waiting outside Little Rock High School waiting for admission and being faced with resistance by the state police. This photograph was taken in 1957.
Terrence was 15 at the time
