More on LRCHS and the Arkansas Gazette
Peruse these virtual exhibits at the UA-Little Rock's Center for Arkansas History and Culture:
https://ualrexhibits.org/legacy/
https://ualrexhibits.org/legacy/arkansas-gazette
Spend some time with them this week as we ponder Monday's 60th anniversary of the desegregation. For 25 points each (50 for the assignment), respond to each exhibit:
• What lessons can we learn today, 60 years later?
• Who were some of the heroes in 1957? Why?
• Can journalism still make a difference? Why or why not? Give examples.
• Where is the best place for us to go as a society from here?
50 points, due by 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 25.
https://ualrexhibits.org/legacy/
https://ualrexhibits.org/legacy/arkansas-gazette
Spend some time with them this week as we ponder Monday's 60th anniversary of the desegregation. For 25 points each (50 for the assignment), respond to each exhibit:
• What lessons can we learn today, 60 years later?
• Who were some of the heroes in 1957? Why?
• Can journalism still make a difference? Why or why not? Give examples.
• Where is the best place for us to go as a society from here?
50 points, due by 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 25.
We can learn a lot of lessons from the events that took place at Central High, but the most important one is that change is hard. Change won’t just happen overnight, although it was expected to in integrating at Central High. The first exhibit goes into detail about how after Brown Vs. The Board of Education of Topeka black students were encouraged to enroll at Little Rock Central. Only nine African American students decided to go through with the enrollment. This clearly didn’t go down as well as many people hoped. There will always be people like Orval Faubus, who stand in the way of change, even when change is needed. As a growing and changing society, we can expect social changes, like the ones in 1957.
ReplyDeleteChange can be made by anyone. Grace Lorch is one of the most underappreciated heroes in the nine eleven events. To some she was just a little old lady with white hair, but she made a major impact. Here is this young black girl being harassed by numerous people, sitting on a bench alone in the world. She clearly is on the edge of her wits. Then Grace Lorch, a white woman, encourages her and urges her “to not let them see her cry.” Sometimes it is the smallest things that makes a difference in someone’s life. By doing so, she stood up against a society which separated people based on the pigment of his/her skin. Elizabeth Eckford is also a real hero. She was only fifteen when she attempted to get into Central High and was confronted by a mob. She helped bring on change to a world that desperately needed it. It took a lot of strength and courage to stand up and go against society.
Journalism can make a difference in any society. For instance, media today helps shine the light on issues like racism and sexism. Journalism also showcases issues otherwise hidden by society, like police brutality. The second exhibit does a great job of showing how good journalism can help change society for the better. These journalists risked everything to bring the truth to the nation and that is what journalism is all about. Millions of dollars were lost due to the stance these journalists choose to take. The world needs more people like Harry Ashmore, John Heiskell, and Hugh Patterson. Journalists have to take risks, ask questions, and find the truth. It’s people like these that help change society for the better. The best way for society to progress from here is to be more accepting of those who are different. People also need to understand that not all change is bad. If more people were understanding and open to change, society as a whole would be much better.
There are several lessons we can learn from the events that took place sixty years ago. We can all learn about the different media and cultural aspects that were present. From the viewpoint of how media should address controversial events, we can see that reports should follow the Gazette's footsteps and simply report what happens. While the Gazette did have an editorial viewpoint of the segregation, they still promptly recorded and shared the actual events that took place. If Heiskell was worried about the financial situation and prosperity of the Gazette, he could have easily followed a few other newspaper companies plan by covering the event in favor of the majorities view point rather than the actual events. In a social and cultural aspect we can see how to truly inappropriate it is to treat someone differently just because of the skin color, gender, sexual orientation, etc. During 1957 these people were not allowing children to go a specific school because of their skin color. Based on the fact that there were not only black and white schools, but also restaurants, water fountains, and any other proper aspect of life we can clearly see how unequal and unfair the government and citizens were being.
ReplyDeleteThe families of the Little Rock Nine and the nine children can all be considered heroes of this era. The individual families were able to risk their safety and well-being to start a movement of integration. I cannot think of many or any families that would actually allow their children to take such risk even considering the circumstances. The nine children also had the choice to go home and live their 'teenage lives'; however, they took this chance to truly make a difference for the nation disregarding the risk. The reporters are also heroes of course, but without these children and families there would be nothing for the reporters to report.
Journalism can still make a huge difference in the world. When you think about all of the information a person obtains is through some sort of journalism. Everyone still needs to have a reliable source to keep with international events; therefore, they turn to journalist. Journalist can take world events and run with them. This can be negative or positive. Journalism has the possibility to change the lives and view points of everyone. As long as journalist do not take advantage of this opportunity, there is still a great chance to still make a difference in this world.
As a society one can only hope to go up; however, the big question today is the presence of a stopping point. The society should be one that is accepting and showing equality towards to all people no matter the skin color, gender, sexual orientation, etc. If we could all collectively decide to like each other and be happy the world could be an amazing place.
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ReplyDeleteRyan Bradford
ReplyDeleteToday we learn that we have come far since then as a nation. Despite our achievements, there is still work to be done as we continue to march for equality.
I really respect the journalists who quite possibly put their jobs on the line to stand up for what is right. Of course, the Little Rock Nine are heroes as well. They chose to brave what they knew would be an unpleasant and dangerous journey, and because of it they brought light to the hateful racism that was still rampant throughout the south.
Journalism always makes a difference. Journalism is how the average citizen knows what is going on in the world outside their view. Like what is currently happening in politics for example, the republican healthcare bill, most citizens would not know if it were not reported on and because of that they would suffer without having a chance to stand against it.
As a society we must always move forward, never backwards. We can’t waste time on outdated ideals or hatred of the past; we must look forward to make the world a better place for everyone.
The lessons we can learn from the events that took place 60 years ago are vast and endless. Most importantly, we can learn how a newspaper or other form of media can take a stance on a controversial issue without being biased. We can also learn about the different viewpoints and opinions that were present in the country in 1957.
ReplyDeleteThere are many who are considered heroes in 1957, such as Harry Ashmore and the nine students who courageously battled opposition to attend Central High. J.N Heiskell is also a notable character. Whether or not he believed in integration, he still stood up to Governor Faubas and the other segregationists by taking a stand supporting law and order. I respect that immensely due to the personal loss and criticism he, his family, and his livelihood faced by doing the right thing in 1957. I believe the Journalists who covered the story, the ones who formed a line between Elizabeth Eckford and the mob hurling insults at her, are also the unsung heroes of this event. They, too, faced threats, criticism, and the knowledge that they could be booted from their stories if there was any perceived bias.
I believe that Journalism will always make a difference. Considered the watchdogs of society, a journalist's sole job is to seek the truth and report it back to the people. The truth will always be important in this society, and people will always want/need to know what is going on. For example, we would not know half of the things that are going on in politics (new healthcare bill, travel ban, etc.) if it wasn't for the journalists reporting it.
The only place we can go as a society today is to march onward. We can't let history repeat itself and bring us back into the times where entry to restaurants and schools were based on skin color.
Many people would agree on what lessons we can learn today, and one of them would be that sometimes you have to make bold calls. For Heiskell to decide to publish their editorial position was a bold move because he knew the potential consequences and it ended up costing them $1-2 million. Another bold call was for Governor Faubus to stop the desegregation. This is obviously a bad example of a bold call, I don’t know how he thought it was a good idea.
ReplyDeleteThere were a few heroes in ’57 including Harry Ashmore, J.N. Heiskell, and Hugh B. Patterson. These three were able to change the public opinion without going too far. Heiskell had published the editorial position in the Gazette knowing that he would most likely take a hit. All three men received multiple threats during this rough time, yet they stood strong and displayed their leadership through the Gazette.
I feel that journalism can still make a difference and will always continue to make a difference. It’s an effective way for leaders in society to portray their leadership and take these “bold” moves as I mentioned above. Journalism is also an easy way for citizens to stay in tune with current events and hear different opinions on what is going on in their town or all of America. For example, a recent issue involves POTUS Trump and Stephen Curry of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. As usual, the NBA Champions receive an invitation to visit the White House from the President, however, this year Stephen refused to visit the White House with Trump in office, as he doesn’t agree with how he has handled recent situations. Trump then reacted to this by withdrawing his invite to the Warriors. This was a redundant action, compared to firing an employee that has already quit. It has no effect on the situation besides making Trump look a little silly.
The only and best place for us as a society to go is forward! We won’t get any better by constantly worrying about our past and trying to perfect it. Instead we need to move on and move forward, creating bigger and better things. We don’t need to try to blame current citizens for the racism in the 50s with their relatives, as we have seen. Rather, we need to continue to focus on world issues that are important and continue to come together as a nation, helping out with the recent natural disasters is a great example. So many Americans have helped out with Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma evacuations and cleanups, offering up their homes and resources to save many lives.
Sixty years after the events at Central High we can use that sordid history as a lesson in individuality. The Gazette could have easily taken the easy way out of the integration crisis and covered it as other papers did, but instead J.N. Heiskell decided that he and his paper would stand stalwart and cover the issue as it needed to be covered. Even though they faced financial hardship in the short term from doing so , in the end they came out on top by winning a Pulitzer prize. Standing up for what’s right will always prevail, just not necessarily immediately.
ReplyDeleteHarry Ashmore and Daisy Bates were two of the heroes of the crisis in 1957. Ashmore took a very controversial stand on the integration and challenged the governor. He was unpopular with those who supported segregation, but someone needed to try to throw a wrench in the system; nothing of note has ever been accomplished by rolling over and letting something happen unchallenged. By taking the stance that he did, Ashmore was able to bring the injustice in the state to national attention. Daisy Bates is another hero from the crisis. She was the mentor and coordinator for the Nine, even though she did not have to be. She stepped up and gave the students a leader and protector so they could actually go to school.
Journalism can always make a difference. Without journalists covering stories, many events would never be brought to light and the normal citizens wouldn’t have information on what is going on in their world. For example, without journalists covering the stories of police violence toward African American males over the past several years, most people would have no idea of how bad the situation had become. Most would not have heard of Philando Castile or Alton Sterling or Michael Brown, and they would have been oblivious to the problem.
The best place for this society to go is onward and upward. We’ve made progress since 1957 but not enough. Race relations are still experiencing strain and there is still injustice that goes unnoticed. We need even more coverage of major issues and we need as many members of the society as possible to be informed of the current events and not just blissful idiots.
There are many lessons we can learn today based on things that happened in the past. Many would agree that we have come far as nation, but have many opportunities for improvement. Standing up for something that is important is one thing that J.N Heiskell did with the Arkansas Gazette and it may have cost them at the time, but it is a part of history and we are still learning about it today. Media has a big way of impacting the way people think and that can help or hurt any situation.
ReplyDeleteThere were many that could be considered heroes that day in 1957. Elizabeth Eckford and the others that made up the nine paved the way for generations to come, the boldness they showed and how much they wanted it had many people looking up to them that started that day and will continue for years to come. Another person I would consider a hero that day is the little lady that sat next to Eckford at the bus stop that day. She sat next to her and tried to comfort her while the mob stood around her calling her names and saying awful things to her, and not to mention she was white, and that in my opinion speaks volumes. Lastly, I would consider the journalists that stood between Eckford and the mob that day to be heroes. Thats something journalists don't normally do, but I think it was right for them to step in and take action the way they did. It had an impact on Eckford and thats whats important.
Journalism can definitely make a difference. Today the use of journalism is not what it used to be, the way we use media is changing and evolving everyday, but it still has the power to make an impact. A lot of journalism today is shedding light on things that the people deserve to know and keeping people up to date on things happening around the world immediately as it is happening, like all the hurricane disasters that have been happening recently for example.
The best place for our society to go is up. We have made outstanding progress since 1957, but we must continue of march onward and upward. Letting history repeat itself is not an option, we have to continue to grow and move on. Yes, it will be challenging, and yes we will face struggles, but I believe as a society we have to do whatever is necessary to evolve and continue to grow for the better.
The Little Rock Crisis can teach us as Americans and as human beings a lot about what not to do. The Crisis showed us how people have the ability to have horrible views and actions because it is what their culture dictates and what those they associate with dictate. We can learn the if we are not careful, our views and beliefs can go down morally dangerous paths because of a herd mentality. Today, very few people believe segregation is acceptable, but another moral issue could arise that, if views are split between political parties or other factions, could lead to some believing and supporting awful things because their party says so. We need to look back at Central High and see the dangers that can lead to. The Crisis also taught us how important journalism can be. If it were not for journalists, this would not have been a national issue. The country would not have seen Little Rock and would not have stepped in to help. If it weren’t for journalists, Central High School could have stayed segregated for much longer.
ReplyDeleteSome of the heroes of the Crisis included the Arkansas Gazette as a whole, since they brought the event to national attention and called for integration, Woodrow Wilson Mann, the mayor of Little Rock who called for federal help, President Eisenhower, who federalized the Guard and sent the Army to escort the Nine in, those who supported the Nine, and of course the Little Rock Nine themselves.
Honest, ethical journalism will always be able to make a difference in any society where they are free to do so without restriction. From small examples like student journalists in Kansas ousting their principal as a liar (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/04/05/these-high-school-journalists-investigated-a-new-principals-credentials-days-later-she-resigned/?utm_term=.1e53db8aa64c) to exposing Russian interference with the election, journalism can and will make a difference.
As a society, we must move forward. Race relations have improved since the 50’s, but there’s still a whole lot of work to be done. We need to look back at our mistakes and learn from them, not repeat them, and we need to put our focus on fixing society’s big problems, not trivial issues. We have work to do, but I believe one day Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of a fully integrated and loving society will finally be fully realized.
Many lessons can be learned from the Central High Crisis that took place 60 years ago. One lesson includes the idea that courageous pursuit of a change that the majority isn’t keen to accept can lead to radical and necessary progression. Another lesson we can learn from this historical event is that media coverage is essential in order for this widespread progression to take place, this unpopular idea was broadcast throughout the country, and acceptance and realization started to spread as the news of the Little Rock Nine reached all corners of the nation. The Central High Crisis taught people throughout the world countless lessons, yet I believe we’re still learning from some, such as the ideas that equality is essential, changes are necessary, though to some, unwanted, and that doing the right thing will never, in any aspect, be wrong.
ReplyDeleteThere were many heroes involved in the Central High Crisis, most commonly known were the Little Rock Nine. These nine children had courage in the face of what seemed like an entire nation against them. Of course, heroes such as Harry Ashmore, J.N. Heiskell, and Hugh B. Patterson cannot be overlooked. Journalism is a business meant to serve the public, and when your journalism loses the public’s approval, you could quite easily run the risk of losing that business. Disregarding that fact, the Arkansas Gazette remained persistent in pursuit of letting the truth be known and the right thing be done.
I absolutely believe that journalism always makes a difference. Without journalism, citizens have a very narrowed perspective of happenings in the country or around the globe. Journalists are able to knowledgeably cover and spread news of events that some people may have no access to. From events such as the recent hurricanes, to the new health care bill, to Trump’s recent scuffle with NFL players, journalists have proved essential in letting all the facts be known. Journalism makes a difference by educating the world. An educated world can make all the difference in the decisions of today, as well as the decisions of the future.
As a society, it’s best for us not to repeat our nation’s mistakes, and to keep up our attempts to further the world’s progress in change, acceptance, and educated mindsets.
Kennadi Harris
ReplyDeleteWe can learn many lessons from the events caused by the Little Rock nine. I believe the most prominent lesson is to speak out against justice. If it wasn’t for civil rights leaders such as Daisy Bates and publications such as the Arkansas Gazette, the events that took place back then would barely make noise today. The people that spoke out and televised these events caused the problems to come to the light and as a result be dealt with. Another, important lesson to learn is to be very selective with choosing people in power. In 1957 Governor Orval Faubus dealt horribly with the situations that occurred a Central High. He refused the then President of the United States Eisenhower’s orders for the nine African-American students to be admitted into the school. He also made other ludicrous decisions and actions that he tried to justify until his death. That type of person should not be in power. The last and hardest lesson to confront is in order to change things must get ugly. As I alluded to in my first point, in order for things to get better people have to see the worst case scenario to decide it is time to stop.
In a time of hatred and violence there were ,thankfully, a few people who arose as heroes to the situation. To start off, I believe it is very necessary to point out the Little Rock nine themselves as heroes. They were the main target of it all. They endured days of prejudice, nasty language, and vicious acts but throughout it all they kept going to get a better education and to allow future generations to do so also. Daisy Bates was a key hero in the story, also. She organized the nine, trained them, mentored them, and offered her home as a safe space for the nine. She also worked heavily in the NAACP to help further equality for all African-Americans. Also all the people that defended the nine such as The Lorches, Elizabeth Huckaby, and Brooks Hays should be named as heroes for their contribution to equalization.
I feel like Journalism can definitely make a difference. It did then and it still is now. It gives the unheard voices heard and gives the people insight to stories we never discovered. After journalism does its part it is then on society to make the next move. The best place for society to go from here is just to have an open mind, seek all sides of the story, and fight to stop injustice towards anybody regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexuality.
I think we can learn how important the media is when it comes to showing us how things are. when I looked back on what happened it was amazing to me how the media was the reason people came the conclusion that the way things were was wrong. the media gave us a way to see ourselves and for others to see what was going on. It was like the media told the truth and did not try to hide what was real. we can learn how the media works for our good. John Netherland Heiskell and his family and everyone who worked for the Gazette are hero's because they all shined a light on what was happening. They made it possible for people to see what was going on and I think that was the first step in order to bring about change. journalism can make a big change today. For example when the hurricane hit Houston and other places the media was the reason people all across the world was aware of what was happening and was able to give back and help. I think as a society we need to help each other and stand as one. we are not where we need to be but if we look how far we came we can see a little improvement. situations like the little rock nine shows us how pointless racism is. we all are people and we can get more accomplished together.
ReplyDeleteThe Little Rock Nine, occurrence of segregation, and the blessing of desegregation are all moments in history that we can still learn from today. Lessons on how to be courageous, standing up for what one believes in, and never losing hope are all present through these past events. Although sixty years have passed since these events, the lessons are timeless. Many heros also emerged in 1957. Obviously the Little Rock Nine were very influential characters in not only Arkansas desegregation but nation wide. The courage that was needed to be the first African-American students to attend Little Rock Central High School and push through the screaming crowds is unimaginable. On the other side of this pivotal point in history were the employees of the Arkansas Gazette. Owner John Heiskell, editor Harry Ashmore, and publisher Hugh Patterson, showed the world the importance of standing firm in one’s beliefs no matter the consequences because of the financial and reputational risk they put themselves in.
ReplyDeleteJournalism can definitely still make a difference in our world today. Media is still, and even more, relevant and prominent in our culture today. Just how new needed reporting 60 years ago, news needs reporting today. Without journalism, we could miss out on events just as important as the covering of the Little Rock Nine. Journalism provides us with insight to events as large-scale as world relations or as local as city/state elections.
There is always hope for a society. In remembrance of these events we see the evil that people are capable of showing and hopefully realize that we want to stay far from repeating such events. This should help us learn from history and our mistakes of the past. As a nation and society we can take to heart our mistakes and attempt to shift society for the better.
When looking at the past and what happened during the racial issue featuring the Little Rock Nine, I believe that there are many things we, as a society, can learn from media, even today. For instance, one thing we have learned is how far media has come since that issue and even how much of an impact media can have on any given situation throughout the world. When actually looking at the Little Rock Nine and what they went through, we can also learn how important it is to fight for one another and to stop thinking about yourself beforehand. The way in which many people stepped in to either protect or help out the Little Rock Nine was inspiration and I believe that it had an affect on the aftermath of the issues
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at what happened, I feel that the biggest heroes during the desegregation of Catholic High School were the Little Rock Nine themselves. Not only were they the main focus during the issue but they also set aside everything and accepted the idea of helping with the desegregation of the school even though they new the difficulties they would face, such as people rallying against them, spitting on them, cursing at them, basically trying to scare them off, which in my opinion is inhumane and there is no need for it. The other people who showed hero characteristics, were that of J.N. Heiskell and Harry Ashmore, who were news reporters during the situation of the Little Rock Nine. They risked not only their position at the Arkansas Gazette but they risked how people would look at them after they shared the truth behind what happened during the desegregation.
I feel that journalism can most definitely make a difference within the society. Not only, does it help sometimes show the truth about an entire situation but also based on the type of media a journalist goes by, there may be different views and sources a person can receive by the way a certain journalist interprets the situation and describes it. I think that the best place for society to go is to learn how to focus on the situation and not on the individual people involved. In the case of the Little Rock Nine, too many people were focused on their skin color and not on how inhumane and unnecessary the situation was surrounding them. This would have made the outlook of the situation, in my opinion, a little better and people would have put emotion into what was happening rather than thoughts and standards they have had their entire lives.
I think that as we sit here today almost 60 years to the day of the integration of Little Rock Central we have learned and can learn a lot from the event. I think that what happened at
ReplyDeleteLittle Rock Central is an example we can look back to as something that we don't want to repeat. We can learn that standing up for people and becoming unified is something that we can all learn and become better at. As for heroes, I think that there were many heroes during what occurred in Little Rock. I think that many of the heroes were those who may not have gotten as much attention but made a big impact. People like the journalist who whispered in the ear of the girl who was on the bench. That wasn't anything heroic or something that many people probably remember, but it was something that mad an impact and you could see that many years later when they were able to see each other again. However, I also think that the gazette was a massive part of this and had many heroic people who were involved with the event. The fact that the gazette was willing to lose as much money as they did just to do the right thing, says a lot about the integrity of the company. I think that the media and journalism can definitely still make a difference. I think that journalism is a lot of times how someone makes a decision on a particular topic. A lot of times when people aren't sure what to think about a particular topic they read and try and find out more and are often persuaded by journalism into making a certain choice. I think that as a society we are clearly not where we want to be in terms of race relations and things of that nature. Its evident everywhere, even in things such as the NFL where players and teams are starting to sit and even not come out of the locker room during the national anthem. However, despite how things might be in present day, I don't think anyone would dispute that the way things are today are clearly better than they were 60 years ago and they will continue to improve. I think as long as we stand together we can continue to make progress as a nation.
As with any significant event in history, citizens of the present can learn from the events of the integration of Central High. We have learned that our country has improved in civil rights since 1957, but we still have a lot of room for improvement. The events of the Central High Integration also teach us that the media can help society. The Arkansas Gazette played a pivotal role in shaping the public opinion of the Central High Crisis. They managed to bring the ugliness of the situation to light while still staying objective. The publication simply presented the facts no matter how unpleasant they were to those protesting the Central High Integration.
ReplyDeleteI believe there were several heroes during 1957. Elizabeth Eckford and the rest of the Little Rock nine were certainly the most important. As far as heroes in the media I believed Mr. Heiskell was very brave. By allowing the Gazette reporters to criticize the actions of Fabus, at the risk of losing newspaper descriptions, he spoke for the truth. He stuck to his belief that “newspapers are not sawmills” by showing an ugly truth rather than a profitable lie.
Journalism is still making a difference. Without the “watchdog” journalists now and in the past, it’s harder for corporations and officials to hide atrocities from the public. The journalism of today is helping save lives with the hurricane coverage. The journalism of the past is also important. By looking through the virtual exhibits of the Arkansas Gazette we can see some parallels to the civil rights movements of today. One thing that struck me was notecards with racist songs written on theme. This attempt of normalization of racism is still present in some forms of media. Stereotypes on tv, and youtube videos that appeal to young kids are the biggest perpetrators of this. Largely in the video game community, youtube gamers will make videos shouting anti-Semitic speech or slurs in frustration at the game they are playing. Younger children watch the videos because they enjoy the video games. Then they pick up the language without knowing its meaning, and when they do learn they don’t often change their patterns.
There’s a lot of things we need to improve on as a society. I believe everyone should become media literate. Learning how to tell truth from propaganda is imperative. Media, if used correctly, can play a large part in shaping a better, brighter future. Bring more diversity to mainstream content creation will help expose more people to different ideas and culture. As a society, I believe the skill we need to improve most on is empathy.
We can learn many lessons from this extremely powerful point in our nation, and state's history. The main lesson we should take away from this story is that even though the government allows something to happen, doesn't mean it is always right or ethical...and we should always stand up for what's right, even when it's hard and the world or society may be against us. We should also learn from this story and let it be an example to us today as it proves how even people of different races and backgrounds and even people who disagree on certain issues can still come together to defend each other's humanity and stand up for each other simply because it's the right thing to do. I feel as though Elizabeth Eckford was the main hero in this story because she had such courage and bravery to not only stand up for herself, but to represent her people alone. However, she was not the only hero in this story, as the Arkansas Gazette paper played a hugely important role in going against the crowd and even the government and many reporters sacrificed their own well-being, all to stand up for what they believed in. Many white reporters fought other whites who were against desegregation and stood up for the minority, because it was the right thing to do. This just shows how important journalism can be and what a role it can play in changing the future of an entire nation. This fact stands true today given the fact that journalism is one of the main areas of media through which people still receive filtered news and important things that are currently happening. Journalism is a much more reliable source than other forms of media such as television or social media. As a society I believe we should turn to journalism more than we currently do, rather than other forms of media mentioned. Journalism is a much more reliable, ethical, and trustworthy source due to the reporter's code of ethics. We should also still strive to live together in peace although we are diverse, with this powerful story in mind as an example of what could happen when people simply choose to do the right thing.
ReplyDelete60 years after the segregation of Little Rock Central High School, it is sad to say that the lessons we have learned and are continuing to learn from that historic event are being put to use today in a society that still seems to be somewhat racially divided. We can definitely learn that people who are well known have the opportunity to use their platform to shine light on things that society should be discussing. In 1957, John Netherland Heiskell allowed the Arkansas Gazette and its writers to use their platform to inform people about the world changing events that were taking place at Little Rock Central High School. Well known people today are still learning to use their platforms, just like the NFL players who are choosing to take a knee during the National Anthem before each game. Both the Gazette and the players decided they would not sit back and not inform the world about social injustice. Some of the heroes in 1957 were the nine African American students who chose to be the first black students who attend Central High School and John Heiskell. I view the Little Rock Nine as heroes, simply because to make a change there has to be someone who is willing to go against what is considered normal and instead do what is right. The Little Rock Nine did exactly that, and even though it was not easy, they did not face change without a fight. Their efforts and determination allowed students like myself to be able to attend school with not only white students, but people from out of the country as well. I view John Heiskell as a hero, because if it wasn’t for his decision to allow the Arkansas Gazette to cover the story, we may not know now how impactful a news article can be to society. I still feel journalism can make a difference, because people still look to writing for information and insight. For example, journalists played major roles during the police brutality tragedies and during the presidential election. What is written in newspapers, magazines, and blogs about these topics, are the things that the public will read and have to decide their stance on the issue after reading each story. The best place for us to go as a society is forward, but we must first learn that we cannot move forward if we are still holding white supremacist rallies and innocent people are being killed in the hands of the law. History often repeats itself, but if we learn and understand where we have been, we must learn from the past and keep going forward.
ReplyDeleteI’m sure that most people would agree that we can learn quite a bit from the things that have happened in the past. We can learn that sometimes it is important to stand up for you we know is right even though those around us may not agree like J.N Heiskell. We can learn just how impactful the media is during a time of great conflict. We also can see just how hateful people can be. Even in todays media we see this often. The media can easily be used as a weapon but even better it can be used as a means to support people when they world is against them.
ReplyDeleteOf course the Little Rock Nine would be considered heroes for everything that they had to endure while attending the school. There are not many people today who would be able to withstand what they did. Some other hero are Ashmore, J.N Heiskell, and Patterson. These three men took an unpopular stand and stuck with it through the duration of the crisis. They stuck with it despite the lost in profits. Even more important they didn’t let those who work for them ever know that they were in trouble. There are many different people who would be considered heroes but those are the ones who stood out to me.
I believe that journalism can still make a difference, especially now more than ever. For example the events of what happened in Charlottesville. Journalism has the power to shed light on the events that are going on around the world. Sadly journalism has trouble doing these because sometimes stories such as a celebrities being pregnant outshines actual news stories.
Society has a long and challenging roading ahead. We have done better than 1957 but we can still do better. I believe which each generation we will continue make progress and achieve things that the past generation wasn’t able to.
60 years after the Little Rock Nine we learned we have came a long way, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. The most important lesson that could have been learned is to stand up for what is right despite of anyone else's or society's views. Racism was taught, hatred was taught instead of equality and love. Although, most people were scared to voice there opinions and to act against society, there were some hero's who did speak out and try to come together and unify during that time.
ReplyDeleteDaisy Bates and of course the Little Rock nine were the considered the leading forces to help desegregate Central High School. After Brown vs. Board of Education passed, which said that segregating schools was unconstitutional, they went forth to try to gradually integrate. Nine African Americans kids being tormented because of their skin color. They were the most influential because of the courage they had. Each day they knew what was coming. Mobs, what seemed like all of society, yelling at them while trying to go to school, but they did it in hope for a change. Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine advocated one of the most pivotal movements. Without their drive and determination segregation would still be here. I view them as influential because they were willing to go against the majority and stand up for what is right despite the outcome.
I think journalism can definitely make a difference because people look to it for an insight for what is happening. It can show many different viewpoints and help to enlighten the truth. Honesty will always be valued in this society. As long as journalists use their platform for good it can make a huge impact in the world.
The best place to go from here as a society is forward. To keep improving, to be more accepting and open minded, and to stand up for what is right. I think there is hope as a society to progress as long as we don't continue to back track. There is more challenges to overcome as a nation and it is possible to move forward as long as we work together.
There are many lessons that come from LR9, but the one that stands out to me the most is that change happens in a ripple effect. Once you start pounding on the door, you gain enough people to stand with you, you can knock the door down. Change doesn't happen at once, and it rarely can occur without support of allies as well, in the matters of change, you need the people who might not experience it with you but understand that it is wrong to also stand with you.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many people who contributed to the success of the LR9, but the hero I gravitate to the most is Daisy Bates. She didn't allow them to believe they were inferior, she continued to push them hard so they believed they could achieve anything they wanted. She risked her life, just like they did for the betterment of their people and children. She was the driving force behind them, and as person who had a teacher be that driving force I know how important and crucial that is.
Although the media has its pros and cons, I believe it can still make a difference. The media is where we receive our information, it plays apart on how ideals can be shaped based on how they word it of course. The media has the opportunity to shine a light on crucial topics, and spread it at large. It can project a positive voice while I believe still remaining objective, to get people to listen. An current example would be covering the protest going on in the NFL and its boycotting of going/watching games. The media covering these stories need to hear both sides, but emphasize why protesting is important, and why these players have fundamental rights to do so without bashing the meaning behind the protests or the players.
Where do we go from here? The question is so easy, but the answer is so complex. We need acknowledge that there are things in this country that are still deaminizing and unequal. There are people still being overlooked and disrespected. We need to understand the issues on a deeper level and not just look at the surface. People have to be willing to get dirty and become uncomfortable to make change. And then we need to fight together and not against. J.Cole said that "Change happens inside, and the only real revolution happens right inside of you."
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DeleteIt has been sixty years since the Little Rock Nine and people can still learn from this event. One lesson that can be learned is how speaking out against something is how you are heard. You have to stand up for what you believe in whether that's what majority is for or not. Bystanders through The Crisis got nothing done because they were too scared or afraid of what others would think of them to use their voice in this time of change. Another lesson to be learned is that media can tremendously help an issue. The Little Rock Nine got so much attention because everyone was covering it- newspapers, radio broad casts, and photographers were making sure to cover every angle on the brave African American's.
ReplyDeleteThere were an abundance of people who helped this key event in history but some people to high light would be the nine courageous students that faced all of the name calling and bullying to create change and make history. Virgil Blossom was the one to submit a plan to the Little Rock School Board to implement a gradual desegregation. The Little Rock Nine then came to school facing mobs and were turned down. President Eisenhower took notice of this and knew there was something to be done to help this crisis. He had the Arkansas National Guard send the 101st airborne division of the U.S. Army to Little Rock the escort the Little Rock Nine to their first day of school. Through out this whole process the Arkansas Gazette was their getting the coverage. The owner, John Netherland Heiskell believed that, "..a newspaper was an institution first and only incidentally a business." Heiskell said that Little Rock could be a model for the rest of the country.
Journalism can make a huge impact on things, it can bring light to topics that some are trying to push under the rug. Journalism informs the people of events and occurrences that they may not know and need to be aware of. It can also make a difference in the way an individual looks at a topic and their opinion on it, reading multiple articles on the same subject could help mold your opinion on that topic.
The best and only place for us to go from here is forward. We have to accept history for what happened and know that we cannot change it, we can only learn from our mistakes and keep marching on as a society. We are still making mistakes but everyone is still learning from the past, as long as people live there will be difference in opinion's but we have to figure ways to help use those different voices to compromise and understand other's views.
Central High School:
ReplyDeleteI think, 60 years later, we can learn many lessons. We can learn things like being more compassionate towards others and standing up for what is right even if you stand alone. If everyone was to use their voice, then change could happen. Most people think their voice doesn't have an impact or is unheard. However, it has to start with one. "There comes a time when silence is betrayal" - MLK. I think more people nowadays need to be more empathetic and put themselves in other people's shoes. The heroes in this situation were the Little Rock Nine. They showed immense bravery and set an example for generations to come. They could have given up after being yelled at and humiliated, but they continued on. They could have fired back to everyone that abused them, but they remained strong and went about their business. While there are times to stand up for yourself, sometimes letting the bully just talk and receive no response is more effective. It probably took a great amount of strength to remain silent. I think journalism can most definitely still make a difference. We are still people and, unfortunately, racism still exists today. Our media and news has gone more digital but it has not disappeared. I think the best place for us as a society to go from here is practicing compassion and understanding. Understand that someone may be different than you, but that does not mean they deserve to die or are less than you. Skin color is just as important as hair color, eye color, the color of your t-shirt. It does not define you.
Arkansas Gazette:
Today, 60 years later, people still have trouble with the fact that, yes, everyone is entitled to their own opinion and have the freedom to express it, but when your opinion invalidates someone's existence/race, then you are wrong. That is not an opinion. That is merely ignorance. The heroes here were definitely Harry Ashmore, J. N. Heiskell, and Hugh Patterson. They used their voice for good and illustrated the ugly reality of what was happening in their newspaper. The raw, unedited story allowed for nothing to get misconstrued. They stood up for what they believed was right and never backed down despite the fact that they got criticized for it. Again, yes, journalism can still very much make a difference. News, stories, people - none of that has disappeared, only changed. What you read is someone using their voice, even though you aren't hearing them say it. From here, as a society we can learn to use of voice. It truly can make a long lasting difference. We can also learn to hear all sides to a story before coming to a verdict.
Some lessons we can learn today, sixty years later, is that the media will always play a huge part in the public’s opinion. Also, that any kind of change, especially a change like this one, is not going to be easy for the public to accept. Media outlets are always going to deal with it. Only nine black students decided to attend the school. Grace Lorch is, in my opinion, the strongest hero of them all. If it had not been for her, the young black girl would have felt all alone. She decided to sit beside her on that bench and comfort here when everyone else was basically mutilating her. Journalism makes a difference in our everyday lives. Especially when it comes to bringing attention to racial issues. The second exhibit shows well how the media can bring out the truth in what is actually going on. I think journalists should be more like John Heiskel and risk their reputations in order to bring the truth to the public. As long as society can try and be more open to change, journalists can make a huge impact.
ReplyDeleteLessons that can be learned today is never give up on what u believe in. Always take a stand for what is right even if no else believes in you. If it weren't for Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine having this mindset, then we would probably still be segregated today. They are considered heroes including Heiskell, Ashmore, and Patterson because they all took a chance and stood up against society for a good cause, meanwhile jeopardizing there safety and income. Journalism made huge difference then and it still can today. Especially with our president. He is always up to something and as long as journalists stay on him he will not be able to do bad things without society knowing. As far as our society goes, I believe we should stop the hatred and love one another. We have to do that anyways to get to heaven.
ReplyDeleteTobias Peoples
ReplyDeleteWe can learn a lot from the events of sixty years ago. We can see that change is not always easy, but it is important for us to push to make things right (or at least better) for all people. Things may never be perfect, but as long as we keep making progress, we can make things better. Integration was certainly a milestone in American civil rights progress, and its heartbreaking to see the reaction that many people had to it. But it is that conflict that helps to illuminate who the true heroes in this situation were. Each of the Little Rock Nine were heroes. They were willing to take this risk in order to advance progress. The reporters who reported objectively and showed the world what was going on were also heroes. The Arkansas Gazette took a big risk running the articles and editorials that they did, but they still did what they believed was right, even if they did suffer for it. It's important to remember that journalism can make a difference. Without journalism, our eyes might never be opened to some of the things that are going on around us. The Gazette faced opposition when they were posting objective stories and editorials that may have been unpopular. Today journalists face just opposition from the white house, which attacks journalists and publications for not being in line with what strokes the president's ego,
and journalists still face criticism for unpopular opinions. In a world in which no one can be sure what is true and what is not, real journalism is as vital as ever, but there is still a lot to overcome.
Sixty years later, we can learn that while change is not always easy, it is sometimes necessary. We can learn to not be so selfish and to put ourselves in others' shoes. Be compassionate and caring. You don't have to do something just because everyone else is. Do what you know is right.
ReplyDeleteSome of the heroes of the crisis would be each of the 9. They put themselves in harms way to be the change that they wanted to see. They endured so much hate, ridicule, harassment, and cruelty just so that they could pursue their education and stand up for something that they believed in. Also, their families would be heroes too. They allowed their children to endure those things, and I cannot imagine what it would be like as a parent to watch your child go through those things. But they know that it was for a higher purpose. They knew it was time for change. Also, the reporters who put their jobs and reputations at risk were heroes too. Especially the one who told Elisabeth not to let them see her cry. He, along with all of the other reporters for the Arkansas Gazette, chose to do what they felt was right despite popular opinion.
Absolutely, yes. Journalism can still make a difference. Ethical journalism can play a major role in making a difference in society. If it weren't for the journalists today, we would not know half of the things going on in the world.
As a society, the best place to go from here is forward. It's okay to look back, but don't go back. Continue to learn from each other and grow from one another. Remember that what matters is how you treat people, not where you are from, your religion, race, ethnicity, how much money you have etc.