Skip to main content

Lesson from Little Rock

View
@ University of Arkansas

Description

Essay by Reverend Colbert C. Cartwright condemning the Little Rock School Board for not better preparing for integration. LESSON FROM LITTLE ROCK - On the day that Arkansas National Guardsmen first formed a cordon around Little Rock's Central High School to block the entry of nine Negro students, a Lutheran pastor had the occasion to make a sick call at a house across from the school. As he walked past a rocket launcher partially blocking the street, he asked one of the guardsmen if he thought such heavy weapons were necessary. 'If you'll pardon the expression, sir" was the reply, "I feel like a damned fool - protecting 2,000 white high-school students from 9 colored students." There are many aspects of the Little Rock school crisis which can only be termed foolish - regardless of one's choice of theological modi- fiers. However, behind Gov. Orval E. Faubus' action lie facets of the Little Rock school problem which are in danger of being overlocked. It will be tragic if the Nation sees nothing more at Little Rock than a pic- ture of Faubus' folly. Others Share Responsibility The Little Rock school board and Superintendent Virgil Blossom must share responsibility for the Little Rock debacle. Their whole approach to the task of making a transition from a dual to an integrated school system unwittingly invited the drastic action which Gov. Faubus took on Sept. 2 when he called out the Nation Guard. It has been Faubus' contention that the Little Rock community...
Type:
Text
Created Date:
Ca. 1957
Rights:
Please contact Special Collections for information on copyright.
View Original At:

From Collection

Land of (Unequal) Opportunity

Record Contributed By

University of Arkansas