Crisis At Central High, 50th Anniversary

[Tricia]

All--

This has absolutely nothing to do with Custer, but today and tomorrow mark the 50th anniversary of the Central High crisis in Little Rock, AR. Nine black students--with the help of Daisy Bates and Thurgood Marshall--attempted to integrate the all-white high school, once named the most beautiful school in the nation by the AIA.

A new visitors' center is to open tomorrow; former president Bill Clinton and presidental contenders--former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Senator Hillary Clinton--as well as all of the "Little Rock Nine" will be among the guests in attendence.

Here's the NPS web address:

www.nps.gov/chsc

--t.

[Diane Merkel]

That is a beautiful building! How horrible that something so ugly happened there.

I'm too young to remember that event first-hand but I do remember seeing news film of Selma in 1965. One of my friends was a Baptist preacher (white) in Selma at the time, and he recently gave a talk at our local museum about the events of Bloody Sunday. Even more impressive was his description of the relationship between blacks and whites at that time -- very much still master/servant -- in rural Alabama. As he said, "Selma had to happen."

Thanks for posting this thread, Trish. I used to think I'd see MLK's dream come true some day, but I doubt it now. If there isn't a problem, there are enough agitators on both sides to start one.

To steal from Gordie's songbook, "When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?"

[George Armstrong Custer]

admin said:

To steal from Gordie's songbook, "When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?"

To continue in a songbook metaphor:

'The answer my friend,
Is blowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind....'

Regretfully as true today as when Dylan penned these lines.

ciao,
GAC

[Tricia]

GAC--

Funny ... the local coverage of the anniversary events featured "Times Are A Changin'" ... Bob Dylan was on everyones' minds. That said, our schools are a mess and nobody seems to be able to fix the Little Rock School District.

--t.