THE CRISIS OF LITTLE ROCK

THE FLASHOVER THAT IGNITED PROGRESS

TARA ROBINSONHIST 301

THESIS• THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK RESISTED INTEGRATION EVEN THOUGH ARKANSAS

WAS PREVIOUSLY COMPLIANT WITH BROWN V BOARD OF EDUCATION OF TOPEKA.• POLITICAL COLLUSION BETWEEN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND POLITICAL

LEADERS.• BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL MILITARY UNITS USED AS WEAPONS• ACTIVISTS AND SUPPORTERS, BOTH BLACK AND WHITE, WERE TARGETED

WITH VIOLENCE.

VIOLENCE• STUDENTS WERE: HELD UNDER SCALDING WATER, SPAT ON, HISSED AT,

TARGETED BY SNOWBALLS WITH STONES, TARGETED BY HOMEMADE BOMBS, AND OTHER HARASSMENT• FRIENDS WERE: HARASSED, ISOLATED, PRANK CALLED, AND KICKED.• ACTIVISTS WERE: HARASSED, TARGETED BY BOMBS, DRIVE BY SHOOTINGS,

AND CROSS BURNINGS

WHY VIOLENCE? FEAR

• FEARFUL OF INCREASED COMPETITION FROM AND THE LOSS OF AFFECTION OF WHITE WOMEN AND GIRLS• FEARFUL OF INTEGRATION BEING A PART OF THE COMMUNIST AGENDA.

RED SCARE: ONE FEAR THAT SPARKED VIOLENCE