Arkansas' Integration History
Arkansas' Integration History
The Brown v. Board decision in May 1954 found racial segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional. Though Arkansas gained national attention with the 1957 integration crisis at Little Rock Central High School, the stories of schools and districts across the state that integrated before 1957 have gone largely unheard. We want to highlight the more successful integrations, as well as the struggles faced as districts worked to meet the Supreme Court’s May 1954 ruling in order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of Arkansas’ integration history.
Hoxie
In 1955, Hoxie became one of the first school districts in the state to desegregate. Their first day of school was featured in Life magazine, and the national attention this brought, combined with the mounting tension between segregationist groups and the Hoxie School Board led to a court battle that challenged the Brown decision. Though among one of the first districts in the state to integrate, its story has gone largely unheard. With this in mind, the Hoxie School District partnered with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to create lessons to help tell this story. Please note: though some of these lessons can be taught in a standalone manner, others will need to be taught together or in conjunction with similar lessons in order to provide background knowledge and context.
For more background information, see CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas entry
Hoxie - The History We Didn't Know (PDF/DOCX)
What Photographs Can Tell Us: Little Rock and Hoxie (PDF/DOCX)
Life's Good Intentions (PDF/DOCX) - also available for elementary students (PDF/DOCX)
Words of Encouragement (PDF/DOCX) - also available for elementary and middle school students (PDF/DOCX)
The Fight for Equal Education - only available for elementary students (PDF/DOCX)
Actions Speak Louder Than Words (PDF/DOCX)
That Escalated Quickly (PDF/DOCX)
Chronological Events of School Integration (PDF/DOCX)
Fayetteville
On May 21, 1954 - just four days after the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board - the Fayetteville School Board unanimously voted to integrate. Grades 10-12 integrated that fall, with grades 9 and below being added one at a time each successive year. Though the district’s public announcement regarding the integration drew some complaints and obstacles, Fayetteville was able to move forward in becoming one of the first districts in Arkansas to integrate. The Fayetteville School District partnered with the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to create lessons to help tell this story. Please note: though some of these lessons can be taught in a standalone manner, others will need to be taught together or in conjunction with similar lessons in order to provide background knowledge and context.
For more background information, see CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas entry
For more information, please contact:
Cassandra Barnett, Library Media Specialist
Curriculum Support
Arkansas Department of Education
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
Four Capitol Mall, Room 202-B
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-682-6576
