USA. Arkansas. Little Rock. 1957. Reporter interviewing one of the "Little Rock Nine." Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas was set to begin the 1957 school year desegregated. The Governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, defied the Federal Court's decision in the case Brown v.The Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, that school segregation was unconstitutional and ordered the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the first nine African American students, the "Little Rock Nine," from entering the school. In the ensuing crisis an injunction was issued against Governor Faubus and the 9 students returned to school. But this time they were met by a angry mob of townspeople who prevented them from remaining at school. Finally after many diplomatic efforts President Eisenhower intervened and dispatched 1,000 paratroopers and 10, 000 National Guardsmen to Little Rock. The Little Rock Nine finished the school year under federal protection.

Photographed on the right is "Little Rock Nine" member Melba Pattillo.