View of Central High School, Little Rock Arkansas. Former student, Jefferson Thomas, one of the nine African American students who integrated the school in 1957, is revisiting the school. View of integrated student track and field team practicing.View of the front of the school. Flashback scenes of the "Little Rock Nine," black students trying to enter Central High School, Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957, during civil rights movement. Police officer keeping back jeering local students. Racial fighting breaks out among people watching the event, and police try to maintain order. African American students unable to enter school while white students enter and police stand by despite federal school integration orders. Scene returns to 1964 briefly and then back to September 27, 1957, when on orders from President Eisenhower, a company of U.S. Army soldiers marches up takes up positions at the school. They set up barricades, maintain order, and provide armed escort for the nine black students entering school. The nine students enter army station wagons and drive to school accompanied by soldiers in an army jeep.Views of people mingling around the school as U.S. Army soldiers stand amongst them.
Shows crowd gathered outside the Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, in 1957, protesting admission of African American students during civil rights movement. Shows "Little Rock Nine" in station wagon being escorted to the school by armed Federal troops. Ernie Green reflects on the experience of the troop escort. Views of Ernest Greene at Michigan State University in a library and Professor Greene teaching in a classroom. Green is seen on a building site working to encourage black apprenticeships in the building trades. Ernest Green seated in an office.
Two soldiers exit from the doors of Headquarters of United States Army Military District Arkansas. Cars are parked in front of the headquarters. Two soldiers enter through the doors of Headquarters. A Sergeant exits from Headquarters and boards National Guards coupe parked outside the headquarters. 'Arkansas Army National Guards' is stenciled on the rear of the car.
A priest carries out Catholic services for the soldiers of 101st Airborne Division of United States Army billeted at Camp Robinson. The priest holds a cross and a soldier holds a Bible. Soldiers in kneeled down position pray. Major General Edwin Walker talks with the soldiers. Soldiers and Major General smile.
Major General Edwin Walker; Major General Sherman I Clinger, State Adjutant General for State of Arkansas and Lieutenant Colonel Ernest B Bowden, Commander of the 1st Battalion 153rd Infantry Regiment, Arkansas National Guard, stand and chat in front of the Central High School. United States Army Soldiers escort African American students up to the steps of Central High School. Other students line up along the stairs and watch.
Barricade on the road guarded by soldiers. Building of Little Rock Centrale School. Students sit, move and chat in campus of the School. A guard with gun on his shoulder stands at the entrance gate of the school.