Terrence Roberts of the Little Rock Nine Addresses Upper School

Terrence Roberts, a member of the Little Rock Nine, spoke with the Upper School on March 5. 

 

In 1957, Mr. Roberts and eight other African-American teenagers were the first students to integrate the public school system in Arkansas. Because of overwhelming hostility from many locals—including the state’s governor at the time—the Nine attended class escorted by the US Army.

 

Mr. Roberts began the assembly by shedding more light on US race relations in the mid 20^th century. He explained that bigotry became an institution in this country by the time he was born.

 

“Imagine being told that you’re not the proper definition of a human because of the color of your skin,” he said. “From birth, I was encouraged to let the institution stand and not cause trouble.”

 

He framed his decision to attend the all-white Little Rock Central High School as a choice based on personal betterment rather than civil rights activism. Mr. Roberts talked about a first grade teacher who challenged her six year-olds to become the “CEOs of their own learning experience.” When the NAACP asked volunteers to register at all-white schools, Mr. Roberts seized the opportunity to attend a school with brand new books and other resources previously unavailable to him.

 

Despite the presence of the Army throughout the school year, white students harassed and beat members of the Nine almost everyday. Mr. Roberts did not let that dissuade him from his primary purpose of obtaining the best education.

 

“Fear does not have to interfere with goal-directed behavior,” he said.

 

In one last effort to prevent desegregation, the governor closed down Central High in the summer of 1958. With his options limited in Little Rock, Mr. Roberts completed high school in Los Angeles, where he had relatives. He eventually earned a PhD in psychology and made a career as a professor and practicing psychologist.

 

After telling his story, Mr. Roberts took questions from the audience about topics as diverse as peer pressure and affirmative action. He concluded the assembly with a question: “When was the last time you did something for the first time?”