The boundaries of the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site would be expanded under bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR) on Wednesday to include seven nearby homes that played roles in school desegregation.
The bicameral bill would include seven homes that can be seen in the background of historical photos of efforts to desegregate Little Rock Central High School. A group of African-American students that become known as the “Little Rock Nine” gathered in the homes for the walk to school each day.
“Little Rock Central High School was ground zero for the civil rights movement in the state of Arkansas,” Hill said. “Expanding the boundary of the National Historic Site at Central High ensures that the entire story of the Little Rock Nine and their brave role in the fight for equality of all children will be preserved for generations to come.”
Little Rock Central High School became the national symbol for the struggle over desegregation after the Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that segregation of public schools was illegal. In 1957 the Arkansas governor mobilized the National Guard to prevent the nine students from entering the all-white school. President Dwight D. Eisenhower intervened to restore order.
The legislation, which Hill introduced with U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) and U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), would follow recommendations made by the Interior Department in 2001 and 2004 to include the seven homes in the school’s National Park Service (NPS) designation.
“I appreciate the leadership of Sen. Cotton, who worked on this legislation in the Senate with Sen. Leahy, and I am even more appreciative of the lifetime of leadership on the issue of civil rights of Congressman John Lewis,” Hill said.
The measure does not outline a change of ownership of the homes. Rather, it would encourage current owners to work with NPS to preserve the exterior facades of the homes.