Crisis in Little Rock: In Her Own Words

After the Federal Judge ordered integration in Little Rock, Arkansas, the "Little Rock Nine" prepared for their first day at Central High School. Governor Orval Faubus, in defiance of the order, called out the Arkansas National Guard. The night before school opened, he announced:

Units of the National Guard have been and are now being mobilized with the mission to maintain or restore the peace and good order of this community. Advance units are already on duty on the grounds of Central High School.

The NAACP arranged for the African American students to be escorted to school on the day after Governor Faubus's speech. One of the students, Elizabeth Eckford, could not be reached and was therefore not informed of the plan.

Click on the links, below, to hear Elizabeth's personal account. Or, choose a text-only version of her story.

• "I am Elizabeth Eckford..." (audio 1 of 5)
• "I was more concerned..." (audio 2 of 5)
• "On the morning of September 4..." (audio 3 of 5)
• "I expected I would go to school..." (audio 4 of 5)
• "As I stepped out into the street..." (audio 5 of 5)
• In Her Own Words: text-only version of her story