Question

Take a point of view: You are an African American high school student living in Little Rock in 1957. You

are asked to be part of a small group of African Americans to attend the all-white high school next September.
Do you take the risk and accept the offer, or do you stick with the all-black school for now? Explain.

Answer 1

I would stick with an all black school because its very dangerous and can have a very serious impact on someone’s mental health

Answer 2

Deciding whether to integrate the all-white Central High School in Little Rock in 1957 involves weighing the immediate personal risks of hostility and violence against the potential for societal change by combating segregation.

Step-by-step explanation:

As an African American high school student in Little Rock in 1957, one would be faced with a critical choice: to join the attempt to integrate the all-white Central High School or to remain in the segregated black school system. Accepting the offer would come with risks of violence and extreme prejudice, as seen during the desegregation efforts led by the Little Rock Nine, who were met with hostility and needed the protection of the 101st Airborne Division.

However, it would also mean standing on the front lines of social change and fighting for an integrated future. Declining the offer might provide a safer and more nurturing environment at the all-black school, but it would also mean accepting segregation and its impacts on equality. Understanding the difficulty in such a decision, one must weigh the immediate personal risks against the potential for long-term societal benefits.