Calvin Cobbs

Reggie Birmingham

Candace Castle

Sylvia Patteron

Donna Jean Patterson

Gary Patterson

Sylvia Patterson

Calvin Cobbs

Leola Patterson

Aunt Bessie

Miss Ethel Washington

Lester Patterson

Aunt Bessie

Gary Patterson

Sylvia Patterson

Leola Patterson

Lester Patterson

Miss Ethel Washington

Aunt Bessie

Leola Patterson

"I am uncertain if I should be one of the first African American students to attend Central High School in September."

"I am friends with Sylvia's brother, Gary. I have meeting with Gary and his friends to plan how to resist racist violence and segregation."

"My mother, Miss Lillie, owns a flower shop. I'm the class clown. I have a good sense of humor!"

"My dogs attacked a young African American girl. I thought it was funny because I am a racist."

I am Sylvia’s brother. I have a bad temper. I believe that segregation should be ended NOW! I “may” have poisoned the dog that attacked my little sister. I become even more angry after I am attacked by white racist boys, knocked unconscious and dumped on my parents’ porch.

My father owns a local grocery store - My Dad is an Holocaust survivor - Rachel is my sister. Racists hate me because my family is jewish.

I am Sylvia’s Father. I am very conservative and do not want to "stir up" any trouble. During the week, I work in a brickyard, but on weekends, I'm the pastor of the local African American Baptist church. I love my family very much

I became a Social Studies teacher in 1975 and was an eyewitness (on Television) to many of the important events of the Civil Rights Era. I love teaching, but don't book bags and water bottles.

I am a mean spirited, nasty old man. I'm a white supremacist. I own a barbershop. I raised my son to be as mean and racist as I am. My dogs attacked a young African American girl because she was in my yard. I taught my doggies to hate African Americans too!.

I am one of Sylvia’s teachers at Dunbar Junior High. I am very strict and some students are scared of me. I believe that young Sylvia should be a candidate to be one of the first African American students to attend Little Rock Central High School

I own a small Grocery Store. I have a loving wife and a beautiful daughter Rachel that help me run the store. As a young man, my family was murdered in the Holocaust. I survived... obviously. Racist vandals painted swastikas on my front door because m family is jewish.

I run a small flower shop, that's next to the grocery store. I love designing colorful bouquets and creating floral displays for m7 customers' special occasions. My son, Calvin, I love him very much, but sometimes he drives me crazy because he is so silly!

I own a small Grocery Store. I have a loving wife and a beautiful daughter Rachel that help me run the store. As a young man, my family was murdered in the Holocaust. I survived... obviously. Racist vandals painted swastikas on my front door because my family is jewish.

I am Sylvia’s Father. I am very conservative and do not want to "stir up" any trouble. During the week, I work in a brickyard, but on weekends, I'm the pastor of an African American Baptist church. I love my family very much

I am a mean spirited, nasty old man. I'm a white supremacist. I own a barbershop. I raised my son to be as mean and racist as I am. My dogs attacked a young African American girl because she was in my yard. I taught my doggies to hate African Americans too!.

I run a small flower shop, that's next to the grocery store. I love designing colorful bouquets and creating floral displays for m7 customers' special occasions. My son, Calvin, I love him very much, but, sometimes he drives me crazy because he is so silly!

I am a teacher at Dunbar Junior High School in Little Rock Arkansas.Students think I'm very strict and mean because I expect a lot from them. Some of them are afraid of me, but I just want to prepare them to be the best people they can be when they get "out in the world."

I am married to one the town's wealthiest men. He runs the best barber shop in Little Rock. I serve on the Anti-Integration Committee to keep Central High School for white children only. My husband and I are not racist. We just want what's best for the community. Negro folks have their own schools, their own neighborhoods, and their own Barbershops. That's the way things are supposed to be.

I run a small flower shop, that's next to the grocery store. I love designing colorful bouquets and creating floral displays for m7 customers' special occasions. My son, Calvin, I love him very much, but sometimes he drives me crazy because he is so silly!

I am married with three children, two girls and a boy. I have a compulsion to keep my home very very clean. I love my family very much,but my son worries me. He is so hotheaded and is so anxious for change to come and bring about equal treatment for all citizens, regardless of race. I'm also worried that my husband is under a lot of stress from working too hard. Sometimes he loses his temper, especially at my son

I have a crush on Sylvia, but I like it when Candy Castle flirts with me. I am friends with Sylvia's brother, Gary. I have been meeting with Gary and his friends to plan how to resist racist violence and segregation.

I'm a vicious racist, just like my Daddy. I assaulted Gary Patterson and insulted and shoved his sister Sylvia. I hang out with these two odd looking brothers, nicknamed the "Smith Brothers" (After a kind of cough drops)

I am a 15 year old African American Girl. I'm friends with a jewish girl, Rachel and I have a crush on Reggie Birmingham. With my parents’ permission, I may be selected to integrate Little Rock Central High School.

I am Sylvia's mother's sister. I was delivering laundry to Mr. Crandall's house when Donna Jean was attacked by Crandall's vicious dogs.

Sylvia and Donna Jean are talking about whether a Negro could ever be President or Miss America. While Sylvia is trying to explain to Donna Jean, that racism would prevent that from ever happening, Gary pops into the room to tease Sylvia about her "boyfriend" Reggie.

Sylvia and Gary are talking about whether a Negro could ever be President or Miss America. While Gary is trying to explain to Sylvia, that someday, that's going to happen, Donna Jean pops into the room to tease Gary about his "girlfriend" Candy Castle.

Sylvia and Gary are talking about whether a Negro could ever be President or Miss America. While Gary is trying to explain to Donna Jean, that someday, that's going to happen, Donna Jean pops into the room to tease Gary about his "girlfriend" Candy Castle.

Sylvia and her father are talking about whether a Negro could ever be President or Miss America. While her father is trying to explain to Sylvia, that someday, that's going to happen, but nor anytime soon, Gary pops into the room to argue with his father about whether he should report the two boys who assaulted him to the police.

She writes a poem called "Scrambled Eggs" and writes in her diary. As she is falling asleep, her Mom comes into the room and sings her a lullaby she she used to sing to her when she was a little girl.

She writes a poem called "Yesterdays." She pick up the phone to call Reggie to tell him to "jump in a lake" after he had flirted with Candy Castle right in front of her. Before she can finish dialing Reggie's number, her Dad crashes into her room, loudly, and snatches the phone out of her hand. "Sylvia!" he yells, "I told you no phone calls after 9:00PM!" As he leaves, he slams the door behind him!

She writes a poem called "Scrambled Brains" and writes in her diary. Before she falls asleep, she decides that she's going to attend Central High School next year. Mom comes into the room to try to talk her out of it, but Sylvia shouts, "Mom! I'm not a little girl anymore!".

She writes a poem called "Green Eggs and Ham" in her diary. Before she is falls asleep, her brother comes into the room and invites her to attend a protest meeting with him and Reggie.

The song is called My Prayer by the Platters. Sylvia's Mom tells her she better not let her father hear her talk slang and sing those love songs. Sylvia says, "Daddy thinks anything fun is a sin." Aunt Bessie asks Sylvia, "What do you know about love, child?"

The song is called Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers. Sylvia's Dad says she better not let her Mom hear her talk slang and sing those love songs. Sylvia says, "Mommy thinks anything fun is a sin." Aunt Bessie asks Sylvia's Dad, "What do you know about love, Lester?"

The song is called You Can't Always Get What You Want, by The Rolling Stones. Sylvia's Dad tells her that she can't always get what she wants. Gary chimes in "but Dad, If she tries with hard she just might find, she gets what she need!" Sylvia replies, "I'm going to go to Central High School whether you like it not, Dad!" Sylvia's Dad shouts "What do you know about love, child? go to your room!! NOW!"

The song is called Why Do Fools Fall in Love? by Franklie Lyon and the Teenagers. Sylvia's Dad tells that she'd be a fool to fall in love with Reggie. He continues "Love is a losing game. Love can a be shame. I know of a fool, you see Love is a losing game and that fool is you!" Sylvia starts to cry, "Lester!" says her Mom, "Don't talk to her like that." Sylvia's Dad shouts back, "What do you know about love, child? Get out of this house... NOW!"

"Sylvia Faye is an excellent student! I'm very proud of not only for her academic abilities, but but her poise and thoughtfulness as well. She could handle the pressure."

"Sylvia Faye is an excellent student! I'm very proud of not only her academic abilities, but because she has the pride to fight back just as hard as she could. She will do whatever it takes to get back at those white folks for assaulting her brother Gary!"

"Sylvia Faye is an average student, but I'm still very proud of not only her poise, but but her power to impose her will on anyone who stand in her way to glory."

"Sylvia Faye is an excellent student! She can attend Central until Gary recovers from his injuries. Then Gary will take her place. Sylvia Faye is a team player. There is no "I" in "team."

She's like hot chocolate.., Melted sweet, soft, and delicious.

She's a skinny girl, with a powerful laugh. She never seems to have a bad day. She's always cheerful and carefree.

She gets low to average grades. She wasn't going to asked to consider Central High next year.

She's been going "steady" with Otis Herman since the beginning of 8th Grade.

Miss Ethel Washington inspired her

Mr. Frank Tuttle taught her the Odyssey.

She memorized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech.

Her father taught her to read the Bible, specifically the Book of Psalms.

The title explains how the integration of Little Rock Central High School in 1957 caused a lot of unrest and racist violence. There were many horrible things the happened to African Americans as they struggled for full citizenship and freedom. The Fire is the struggle for integration and equally. The Rock is a nickname for Little Rock Central High School.

The title explains how the segregation in Little Rock Central High School in 1957 was preserved by a violent uprising of angry white racists. The Fire is the struggle for segregation and to preserved Central's status as a "whites only" high school. The Rock is a represents the unshakeable white racist belief that there must be separate schools for African American students, Jewish students, and white students.

The title describes the terrible fire that almost destroyed in city of Little Rock Arkansas in 1957. A fire started by a frayed electrical wire in the Horace Mann's boiler room caused an explosion and fire that devastated all buildings in a 10 block radius around the school, including Central High School. After the fire was finally put out, the white and African American citizens rallied together and rebuilt the school for students of all races to attend.

The title describes how the light and heat from the sun gives life to all creatures below. The bright light from sun sun shines on all the rocks around Little Rock Central High School. At 12 Noon, when the sun was directly overhead, the light illuminated how people of all races and religions must live together in peace in 1957.

Mr. Zucker is a Holocaust survivor. After escaping from the Nazi's after WWII, he again faces prejudice and anti-jewish violence from his racist neighbor, Mr. Crandall.

Mr. Zucker is a veteran of WWII. After fighting the Nazi army in the 101st Airborne Division. He was able to attend college on the GI Bill and start a profitable Supermarket, the largest store in Little Rock.

Mr. Zucker owns a barbershop that cuts the hair of Little Rock's Jewish residents. Mr. Crandall, the African American owner of a nearby florist's shop, sends Mr. Zucker's daughter a fresh bouquet of roses every day because his son Johnny and Zucker's daughter Rachel are engaged.

Miss Ethel Washington is persecuted by Mr. Zucker because she didn't give his daughter, Rachel, an "A+," in Physics class. Zucker accused Miss Washington of Anti-Semitism (Hatred of Jewish people) and was blamed for vandalizing her home and letting the air out of her car's tires.