Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, holds a significant place in Black history as the site of the Little Rock Nine crisis in 1957. The Little Rock Nine were a group of nine African American students who were enrolled in the previously all-white Central High School as a result of the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

When the nine students attempted to enter the school on September 4, 1957, they were met with violent opposition from an angry mob of white segregationists and the Arkansas National Guard, which had been called in by Governor Orval Faubus to prevent their entry. The crisis gained national attention and drew condemnation from then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Ultimately, President Eisenhower intervened by federalizing the National Guard and deploying troops to escort the Little Rock Nine into the school, ensuring their safety and enforcing the desegregation of the school. The bravery and resilience of the Little Rock Nine in the face of intense racism and hostility paved the way for further desegregation efforts in schools across the United States.

Today, Little Rock Central High School is a National Historic Site and continues to educate students from diverse backgrounds, serving as a reminder of the struggle for civil rights and the ongoing fight for equality in America.