Name

   The Little Rock Nine

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List Number

   979

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Obverse

   Students at High School

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Reverse

   Names of the students

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Designer

   James Ferrell & John Mercanti

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Metal/Size Varieties

   Bronze/1-1/2"

The Little Rock Nine were the first nine African American students selected to attend Little Rock's Central High School, the first attempts at desegregation in the state. The children were barred from attending at first, being blocked by members of the Arkansas National Guard. President Eisenhower was forced to send the 101st Airborne Division to protect and escort the students to school and after almost a month, they were admitted to Central High. This did not end their struggle as they were constantly harassed with both verbal and physical abuse. Their time at Central High was very tough for all of them, but the courage they showed sticking to their desire to be educated in a culturally diverse setting helped to usher in the future Civil Rights actions over the next few decades. This is a bronze replica of the Gold Congressional Medal awarded to the nine students in 1998, and presented to them in November, 1999.