DEAR MR. PRESIDENT EISENHOWER, THERE IS STILL SEGREGATION.

By: Oghogho Notemwanta

During President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s second term of presidency, in the South and other parts of the U.S.A., segregation was still going on. Even though in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that segregation of public school were unconstitutional, they didn’t listen nor followed the rule.

The Year of 1954

In September 6, 1957, the governor of Arkansas, Orval Faubus, tried to stop African-American kids from coming to, what is now called, Little Rock Central High School. He called the state’s National Guards to keep African-American kids out. Because of his actions, mobs were encouraged to form outside the school so that they can scare any black students away.

Luckily, President Eisenhower heard the news and decided to step in. He was very upset that a state governor would do such thing. So, he called Arkansas’ National Guards and ordered them to follow his rules and not the governor’s. Later he send 1,000 troops from 101st Airborne Division. The next day, nine black students arrived surrounded by the troops who were protecting them from the mob. The nine students were Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Minnijean Brown, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed, and Melba Pattillo Beals.

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

Three options:

1) Take no action yet Since Eisenhower doesn’t know what to do, maybe he

does have an idea but doesn’t know how it’s going to work, it is best to just take no action until we have a fully planned procedure.

2) Talk to Governor Orval Faubus Eisenhower can have an important conversation with

governor Orval Faubus. The conversation would be about segregation in school and why it’s wrong.

3) Pass a rule saying that all schools, private and public, should not be segregated.

Segregation is wrong and almost everyone should know that by now. Everyone is different in their own special way, not by the color of their skin. And all of the kids need good education, not just certain group of kids.

President Eisenhower chose the best decision which was option number three. In 1957, the Civil Rights Act of 1957, was passed. The law is basically like option number three but it also has rights for African-Americans , kids and adults . This option is the best because taking no action would most likely be the worst option. What if the white people start to take an action of their own? And option number two is probably useless because what if governor Orval Faubus doesn’t listen? So, option number three is the best option.

The Decision

THE RESULTThere were a lot of people who supported the

civil rights movement. Lyndon B. Johnson was very supportive with the civil rights movement. One reason why he was supportive was because no civil rights act had been introduced into America for more than 80 years. If that act goes through successfully and is supported by both parties, democrat and republican, this would be really great because he had plans in 1957 to be the party’s future presidential candidate. Other people like Martin L. King, had supported it.

This decision has impacted America because now African-Americans were able to go to the same school with white kids and also able to vote and do much more things. Later, most whites and African-Americans started to get along.

SOURCES "Dwight D. Eisenhower." Encyclopedia

Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/181476/Dwight-D-Eisenhower>.

Little Rock Nine History Project Documentary . Dir. Shea Higgins. 28 July 2007. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iH4Zx96xbY. Web. 12 Oct. 2011.

Raatma, Lucia. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Minneapolis, MN: Compass Point Books, 2003. Print.

"The 1957 Civil Rights Act." http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/. N.p., 2000-2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2011.

Weisbrot, Robert. Marching Toward Freedom:1957-1965. Chelsea House Publishers, 1944. Print.