More than 60 years after they defied segregationists for the right to attend public high school, members of the Little Rock Nine reunited to speak about their experiences.
Their stories have been unfolding at the Sheen Center since May 30 in Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj’s new play, Little Rock. The Nine attended opening night and spoke with the cast members that portray them.
“They’re just regular people that just believed in something,” says cast member Damian Jermaine Thompson of the Little Rock Nine.
“If we hadn’t done what we did, it would probably have taken much longer for this piece of integration to take place in the classrooms,” mused Carlotta Walls LaNier, the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine.
Little Rock is based on the true story of nine African-American students who ignited a national crisis when they enrolled in Little Rock Central High School during the early days of desegregation.
Little Rock runs through September 8. For more information, visit littlerockplay.com