I am glad to know that Arkansas is the home state of Senator J. William Fulbright, the founder of the Fulbright Exchange Program. Each Fulbright meeting fills me with pride as I participate in this wonderful exchange opportunity. The host city, Little Rock, holds significant importance in this context.
As a member of the Central School System (Kendriya Vidyalayas) in India, I would like to highlight the historical significance of Central High School in Little Rock, USA. In September 1957, Central High School became a critical battleground in the struggle for civil rights when nine black students attempted to enter the previously all-white school. A hostile crowd watched as Arkansas National Guard troops blocked their entrance.
Three weeks later, after failed negotiations between Arkansas Governor Orval E. Faubus and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the President ordered the Army's 101st Airborne Division to escort and protect the nine students as they entered the school. This marked the beginning of a broader conflict, which included the intervention of the Supreme Court. Little Rock came to symbolize the federal government's commitment to eliminating the separate education systems for black and white students.
I had the great opportunity to visit the school and its Visitor Center, where I observed two math classes. In the photo, I am standing next to one of the statues commemorating those nine remarkable students.
Watch the video to see what has happened that day.
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