On Sept. 25, 1957, the brave determination of nine black children to walk through a hate-filled mob to integrate Central changed the course of history. The governor called out the National Guard to keep them out of school. Then President Eisenhower federalized the guard and brought in more soldiers–the first time court-ordered school integration was enforced by the federal government. Thus the crisis answered a fundamental question: whether constitutional rights, once defined by courts, would be made real through effective enforcement; and in a larger sense, whether we would be one America under law.
Thank goodness the answer was yes. School integration has expanded opportunity for millions of African-Americans and other minorities; it has enriched the lives of white students, and it offers us a road map as we become the world’s most diverse democracy.
Of course, integration has not solved all our school problems. In too many places it doesn’t exist, because of segregated living patterns. Far too many minorities still live in places without adequate educational or economic opportunity. And the failure to embrace high standards of academic excellence has hindered the education of children of all races.
Still, no one can doubt we are a better nation because of what happened in 1957. As we look back over 40 years, what are the lessons of Little Rock? First, when our fundamental values are at stake, we must act as one nation, if necessary through a national government strong enough to take effective action. Second, and more important, the work of building one America will always be at bottom an affair of the heart. Do we believe all our people are entitled to an equal opportunity to live out their dreams? Do we believe our own lives are enriched when we live and work together with people of different races and backgrounds who share our values? Do we feel better about all our lives when we lift others up rather than hold them back? We begin to answer these questions as young children. As Thurgood Marshall once said, ““Unless our children begin to learn together, there is little hope our people will ever learn to live together.''
