Students are Activists

Today, we drove to the Little Rock Central High National Historic Site. I was particularly excited for this trip because in 7th grade, I did a project about the integration of Little Rock Central High and on the Little Rock Nine/Ten. It was surreal to see the actual high school that I had spent many hours researching. We learned about all of the horrible things the Little Rock Nine had to endure. There were very few students, or even teachers, who would interact positively to them. My favorite story from the experience of the Little Rock Nine was one about Minnie Jean, the only member to be expelled during their time there. The story starts when Minnie went to the cafeteria to buy herself some chili. After getting her food, a group of white students threw chairs at Minnie and yelled egregious slurs at her. At this point Minnie was done with being bullied and and yelled at by racist white students. She took her chili and dropped it on top of the boys’ heads. Later, in the principal’s office, Minnie was asked what happened in the cafeteria. She responded with “I accidentally on purpose dropped my chili on both of those boys.” I like this story because Minnie stood up against abusers and bullies because she didn't believe she was being treated fairly. 

After learning about more of the history, we were able to take a tour of the high school. It was interesting to be in a ‘museum tour’ while kids are in classes. I had never been in a “museum/historical site” that is still being used for another purpose other than telling history. 

After the tour of the school, we were greeted by Dr. Sybil Jordan Hampton, the first black student to have attended 10th, 11th, and 12th grade. She told us about her experience continuing the integration of Little Rock Central High after the “Lost Year.” She told us that although she wasn't physically harmed to the extent that the Little Rock Nine was, she was definitely ostracized by the entire school; no one spoke to her for all of the three years she was there. But she did not let it get to her. She was incredibly strong and was able to stay focused and do extremely well in school. Reflecting on her strength back then, she told us to “not let people cause us to hate.”

Jack Kalvar, The Park School of Baltimore

Understand first before we judge

Our first stop was Little Rock Central High School. The school contains 2,500 students. We got to meet one of the first students who graduated from Central completing all three years of high school. I loved when she was told us to understand first before we judge. I think that is important, because people judged her, and later realized she is an amazing lady. It surprised me when she talked about how she was able to forgive them. I don't think I would be able to forgive them if that were me. Later we went to visit the motel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. I was very emotional, because I don't know how I would feel if the only person who was giving me hope was killed. I would feel the loss of hope and there is no way any problems would get solved. 

-Rosa Medrano, Hope High School

Mississippi

Today I visited the house where Medgar Evers lived and was assassinated. We got to see the bullet that went through the kitchen wall. Later we took a trip down to Tougaloo college. I felt so much energy in the trees as I stood there to observe each one precisely. Toward the end of the day we got to spend some time with these students of Sunflower County. They made me learn to feel grateful, because they don't have much and they all strive for an education that we receive everyday. I loved their attitude towards life, and are very optimistic. I hope one day I can give something to their community that can help them.

-Rosa Medrano, Hope High School

When they go low we go high

Michelle Obama once said "when they go low we go high." Today I questioned how low can one go before they impart on someone a hellacious reality. Throughout the trip we've went to these landmarks and museums and asked ourselves questions about things like race, gender and class but we never asked how low can someone go? While walking through the Lorraine Motel I was angry, happy and inspired but I learned that we must try to reach as high as we can be cause they will go lower than the depths of hell. They will try to take our joy, right to an education, life, leaders and so much more but we need to know that it's not theirs to take it's ours and me must go higher and fight harder because they will fight harder and lower. I initially asked, "how low can one go before you impart in someone a hellacious reality" but I guess that doesn't matter to an extent because I know that my fight and joy has no limits. 

-Dominique White, Baltimore City College

Little Rock/ Memphis

Meeting Dr. Sybil Hampton today was definitely a pivotal moment on the trip for me. After hearing during the tour about how painful desegregation was for the Black students integrating Little Rock Central, it was amazing to see someone so hopeful and strong who came out of that traumatic experience. I feel like I understand better, now, what school integration really was. It used to feel very abstract and distant to me; now, I see how it came down to individual children choosing to sacrifice (but also to do that which Dr. Hampton implored us to do: loving themselves enough to know they deserved equality).

Anonymous 

an attitude of joy and hope

Hope is such an amazing and intriguing thing. When I walked into the Sunflower County Freedom Project I didn't see it as something out of the ordinary until I saw the kids. The honesty, tenacity and love that was in their eyes brought me to tears because they didn't have to be happy or hopeful but that's what they chose to be and it was beautiful. We thought we were suppose to go and teach them something but instead they taught me to do my best to choose joy and hope in times of struggle and despair. Children always seem to amaze me, they are so untainted by the world around them. they seem to walk through life with this level grit, unmerited hope and joy that has slipped through my fingers.  The children today showed me the attitude that I should always try to adopt no matter how hard life gets and that is an attitude of joy and hope. 

-Dominique White, Baltimore City College

Little Rock, Central High School

I enjoyed going to Little Rock, Central High School today. The way the school looks is amazing like I've never seen a high school look like that. It definitely reminded me of a castle! I loved the architecture, I like how there's the little pond that shows a reflection of the school when u look in it, and I liked how the front doors are huge and made out of wood . Another thing I like about the school is the little Greek gods they have over the top. I found that interesting because it was an all white school so I wonder why they chose to put Greek gods on it. One thing I don't like is how the kids that go there barely even know the history of their school. I feel like they should know it because there school is very good academically and they were the first school to integrate! Hopefully in the future the school stays popular and ranked high when it comes to academics and also I hope the students do try to learn about there school and embrace the history.

Kelley Sellers, Hope High School