Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas holds a significant place in Black history as the site of the historic integration known as the Little Rock Nine. In 1957, nine African American students—Minniejean Brown, Terrence Roberts, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Patillo, Gloria Ray, Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls—attempted to enroll in the all-white Central High School.

Their entry was met with fierce opposition from segregationists and the Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus, who ordered the Arkansas National Guard to block the students' entry to the school. This led to a standoff and a legal battle that ultimately culminated in President Dwight D. Eisenhower federalizing the National Guard and ordering the 101st Airborne Division to escort the students safely into the school.

The bravery and resilience of the Little Rock Nine in the face of violent protests and racial animosity helped to galvanize the Civil Rights Movement and push for the desegregation of schools across the United States. The legacy of Central High School and the Little Rock Nine serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for racial equality and justice in America.