To our mayor, the city manager, bruce moore, the city board of directors of little rock, to skip rutherford, to the 60th anniversary committee, and for most of all, the little rock nine and their families. We welcome you to the 60th Educational Forum for the city of little rock and the state of arkansas. We thank you for being here and we hope something is said or done that will give you a better understanding when you leave here today and let me digress for a minute, and say that the naacp was the organization that worked and spearheaded the little rock 9. A terrible time in our history. I remind you this was way before the march on washington. Its way before in 1964 civil the 1964 civil rights act. It is way before the 1965 Voting Rights act. People wanted to do to get an education. That is all they were trying to do. But our system at that time said , you will not be able to go to school based upon a decision by the United States Supreme Court. Marshall, whoood went on to become a s
Sondra i consider the theme of this particular panel Something Like triumph over adversity. Each of the panelists experienced segregated schools education. Some were directly involved in the crisis year and others were victims of the lost year when all little rock high schools were closed for an entire academic year. Some experienced all three. Despite being used remember, teenagers, like some of you in the audience, they were teenagers during the little rocks chaotic events. All of these guests persevered and succeeded. They lived productive lives, are still living productive lives. They had a remarkable careers and they have given service with distinction. So they obviously all have long resumes. For that reason what i will do is shorten their resume so they have more time to speak. Because there are five speakers up here, we are going to have to move it along pretty quickly. Lottie shackleford has made history throughout her life in politics appointed to the little rock board in the
And as i grow, i continue to sprout bits and pieces of that history. And im thankful. Im thankful because without the central high crisis, my life would be totally different than what it is now. But because i have learned to love and still love to learn, i am blessed with the opportunity to introduce to you some panelists that will talk about whats happened since the crisis. First of all, i will say that our first two speakers will be members of the little rock nine. And you have to forgive us because this is a very busy day, they will be exiting as soon as theyre finished speaking because they have other events they must attend. Let me introduce the panelists and then well get started. One of our youngest members is krystle c. Mercer, little rock born. She is the proprietor of columbus arts. Her artistic talents have been displayed around the state in new york and canterbury, england. She fuses art and activism to tell social justice narratives through merchandising and storytelling.
This morning and next up here on cspan a look at the supreme courts landmark brown v. Board of education ruling, ending segregation in Public Schools, may 18 was the 63rd anniversary of that ruling. Educators and historians this week examined the impact of the decision. This three and a half hour forum is hosted by the Thurgood Marshall college fund. Good afternoon. I am its kind of quiet in here. Looks like i walked in and i felt i was at a funeral. We have to do something about this. Were going to the body is not here. You know it was really somber and everything. Id like to welcome you. My name is johnny taylor. Im the president and c. E. O. Of the Thurgood Marshall college fund. Welcome to our headquarters. This is home for us. We share this building with gallop, our partner in the work were going to be embarking upon over the next several years. But we just want to welcome you to our home. Id like to start off, though, before i tell you why were here and turn it over to the paneli
Good afternoon. Its quiet in here. I felt like ways in a funeral. We have to do something about. This the body is not here. You know, it was really somber and everything. I know the weather is impacting us. Id like to welcome you. My name is johnny taylor. Im the president and ceo of the Thurgood Marshall college fund. Welcome to our headquarters. This is home for us. We share this building with gallup, our partner in the work that were going to be embarking upon over the next several years. But we just want to welcome you to our home. Im going to tell why you were here and turn it over to the panelists. Were here toinlt deu introduce of special people in the room. A very special person here is the founder of the Thurgood Marshall college fund dr. Join payne. None of this would happen, we would not be here fit wasnt for her vision to create an organization that would really focus on the historically black college and university community. Our members are the state supported institution