The Little Rock Nine: Student Profiles

Carlotta Walls, 14, 10th Grade 

Carlotta was the youngest of the Little Rock Nine. She enjoyed swimming and bowling and was one of the best baseball players in her neighborhood. Her father, a brick mason, had served in World War II, and her mother, a secretary, had completed three years of college. They lived in a quiet integrated neighborhood in Little Rock, a mile away from Central High School.  

Jefferson Thomas, 15, 10th Grade

Quiet and soft-spoken, Jefferson dreamed as a child of becoming a great architect. He had been president of the student body at Dunbar Junior High and was an outstanding track star who had won several awards for his athleticism. He chose to enroll at Central High, aware that he and the other Black students would not be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. 

Melba Pattillo, 15, 11th Grade

Poised, pensive, and talented, Melba dreamed of becoming an entertainer. Her mother nurtured her creativity, making it possible for her to study ballet, voice, and piano at an early age. By 15, she had already copyrighted two songs, “Teenage Dreams” and “Let’s Make Up or Break Up.” She lived with her mother, brother, and grandmother. 

Terrence Roberts, 15, 11th Grade

Soft-spoken and pensive, Terrence was the eldest of seven children and the most studious of the Little Rock Nine. His father was a World War II veteran and his mother operated a catering business from their home. When the media asked if anyone pressured him to attend Central High, he responded, “Nobody urged me to go. The school board asked if I wanted to go. I thought if I got in, some of the other children would be able to go … and have more opportunities.”

Thelma Mothershed, 16, 11th Grade

Studious and determined, Thelma was born with a heart condition that led her to be tutored at home for three years while in grade school. Her two older sisters attended college, and the eldest, Lois, became the first Black student to attend the University of Oklahoma in Enid. Initially, her mother did not give her permission to enroll in Central High, but after a family meeting, the family agreed to let Thelma transfer to Central. 

Minnijean Brown, 16, 11th Grade 

Friendly and outgoing, Minnijean was the oldest of four children, the daughter of a stonemason and a nurse. She sang well, loved to dance, and was good at sports. She wanted to attend Central High School because it was closer to her home than the all-Black Horace Mann.

Elizabeth Eckford, 15, 11th Grade 

Shy yet strong-willed, Elizabeth dreamed of becoming a lawyer and believed that an education at Central High would help her accomplish that dream. Her mother taught blind children and her father was a maintenance worker for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Her grandfather was an independent grocer and was well respected in Little Rock’s Black community. 

Gloria Ray, 15, 11th Grade

Gloria dreamed of becoming an atomic scientist. Her mother was a social worker for the Department of Welfare and her father was an agent for the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, but due to a heart condition he was forced to retire early. Gloria signed up to attend Central High without her parents’ permission. Her father learned of her choice when he heard Gloria’s name mentioned on the radio on September 4, the first day of school.

Ernest Green, 16, 12th Grade

A natural leader who showed maturity beyond his years, Ernest was the only senior in the group. He was an Eagle Scout and a church usher, and as a sports enthusiast, he closely followed Jackie Robinson’s baseball career. His father was a World War I veteran, and his mother, an elementary school teacher, earned a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas; however, she, along with other Black students, was not allowed to participate in her graduation. ¹  

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• 1Profiles of the Little Rock Nine adapted from Daisy Bates, The Long Shadow of Little Rock: A Memoir (David McKay Company, Inc., 1962), 116–49; Elizabeth Jocaway, Turn Away Thy Son: Little Rock, the Crisis that Shocked the Nation (Free Press, 2007), 103–05.