Bravery in Little Rock History Dilemma

Lesson by Chris Seeger

History Dilemmas encourage students to negotiate problems of the past through perspective-taking. Discussing the dilemmas encourages empathy and critical thinking skills.

This dilemma is historical fiction, meaning that it is based on true events, but some details may have been changed or imagined. After each dilemma, the "What Really Happened" section provides a research-based explanation of the real events that inspired the dilemma. 

Seven of the Little Rock Nine. Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Elmer J. Whiting, III, © Gertrude Samuels.

“Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” --Elie Wiesel

You are a student at an all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas. The government has ordered the superintendent to desegregate the schools. On the first day of classes, nine Black students are supposed to attend your school.

However, the National Guard and an angry mob of white people are preventing the Black students from entering the school. You see one Black girl alone, being harassed by a group of angry white men. What can you do to help her?

Grade level: middle school+

Time required: one class period

Guidelines for teachers using History Dilemmas

1. Do not ask students to "act out" the dilemmas. The dilemmas are meant to be read aloud by the teacher. 

2. To get the most out of the dilemmas, it is important to first build a safe, trusting, and mutually respectful environment in the classroom. 

3. Remind students that we can never know what it is really like to be someone else, but this activity can help us to consider the perspectives of others. 

4. Sharing is optional in a full class discussion.  

5. There are no wrong answers. With the exception of mean-spirited or disrespectful answers, it is important to validate every response as a valuable contribution to the class discussion. 

6. Always ask "why?" The dilemmas are an opportunity for students to practice critical thinking in complex scenarios. The reasoning behind their decision is more important than the decision itself. 

Procedure

1. READ. Give each student a copy of the dilemma. Read it aloud to the class.

2. WRITE. Students write their response to the dilemma.

3. SHARE. Students share their responses with a partner or a small group.

4. DISCUSS. The teacher leads a full class discussion. Students analyze each other's responses.