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HONORABLE CHARLES B. RANGEL
OF NEW YORK
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Monday, June 27, 2005

The Bravery of the Little Rock Nine

MR. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the bravery and courage of the Little Rock Nine as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. At the time, these nine young African-Americans took heroic and dynamic steps toward achieving an integrated academic experience that would enhance their opportunities for a quality education.

Fifty years ago, the idea that white and black students would sit in the same classroom, amongst other places, was unbearable to many. Individuals on both sides of the race line could not fathom the possibility of an integrated educational system. The racism and segregation that dominated the country at the time was also vile and vicious. Fear and intimidation had long been the mark of this country's racial past, evidenced by the lynchings that the Senate recently apologized for not taking action against. For those young men and women to take the brave steps toward equality by presenting themselves as instruments of change must have taken a lot out of them.

Their bravery and courage nonetheless were the steps that have led this country to greater tolerance and understanding. It took heroes, like the Little Rock Nine, to lay the path for the important advances of today. Imagine where this country would be if these individuals had failed to step forward, to demand a desk at an integrated school, and to walk into American history demanding the fulfillment of the American Constitution.

With machine guns at the ready, screaming mobs, and death threats hurdled at them, these nine young men and women bravely walked through the mob and into their classrooms. Their actions laid the foundations for a revolution in the American educational system. It called for an equalization of the way schools and communities would operate to ensure that all Americans received an equal opportunity to education and knowledge and that the doors of progress would no longer be closed to future generations of Americans, based on their race.

Today we have cause to applaud these valiant efforts. The Nation has moved significantly towards provided educational opportunities for all of our citizens and given them access to true opportunities of access and influence. There is still much to be done though. States still spend disproportionately more, per student, on white schools than black schools. The facilities of some minority schools lag way behind those of predominately-white schools. Whites often take advantage of private educational systems, draining the resources of public schools. The effect is a continued deficiency in the educational opportunities of our students.

Nonetheless, we have made considerable progress in our movement towards equality. That progress is largely thanks to individuals such as the Little Rock Nine. Without their bravery and courage in the 1950s, this country would still have much work to do in terms of equal opportunity.

I also want to thank my House colleagues for introducing and passing this resolution to recognize and honor those brave nine students. It is a sign that we have accomplished so much in this country.