John Kirk commemorates integration of Central High School with Little Rock Nine
Dr. John Kirk (middle) speaks with members of the Little Rock Nine, Dr. Terrence Roberts (left) and Melba Pattillo Beals (right), during a book signing at Central High School.
In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the integration of Central High School, John Kirk, director of the Anderson Institute on Race and Ethnicity at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, signed copies of his books on African American civil rights history in Arkansas along with members of the Little Rock Nine.
On Sept. 2, 1957, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus called out the National Guard to prevent nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, from integrating Central High School.
Kirk was invited to participate in the book signing and discussion on the integration of Central High School with five members of the Little Rock Nine on Sept. 23 as part of the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site鈥檚 participation in Arkansas Peace Week.
Reliving history with members of the Little Rock Nine was both 鈥渉umbling and enlightening,鈥� Kirk said.
鈥淲hat is remarkable about the Nine is not just what they did back then in 1957 as teenagers in desegregating Central High, but what outstanding models of civil rights heroes they have continued to be ever since,鈥� Kirk said. 鈥淪till today, sixty years later, they rise to their responsibilities with incredible good humor and grace, while continuing to be steadfast and uncompromising in their ideals and in their pursuit of justice and equality.鈥�
Kirk autographed copies of his books, 鈥淩edefining the Color Line: Black Activism in Little Rock, Arkansas, 1940-1970鈥� and 鈥淏eyond Little Rock: The Origins and Legacies of the Central High School Crisis.鈥�
Members of the Little Rock Nine shared their stories with members of the public and encouraged students to continue to be strong and strive for equality.
鈥淭he most memorable and clear collective message from the Nine is that the struggle for educational equality continues today, and that they are still very much part of that ongoing struggle,鈥� Kirk said.
In the upper right photo,聽Dr. John Kirk (middle) speaks with members of the Little Rock Nine, Dr. Terrence Roberts (left) and Melba Pattillo Beals (right), during a book signing at Central High School.
