Ernest Green, the first black graduate of Little Rock Central High School is shown here in a 1962 interview as he responds to a reporterŐs question about what he remembered most about his first day at Central High. Click on the icon to see Ernest give his answer or read the transcript below.
"In looking through my clippings, I think of all the things that have happened at Central, the most significant thing was the friendly attitude that students showed toward me the day of the rioting.
The type of thing that was going on outside, people beaten, cursed, the mob hysterics and all of this going on outside...we inside the school didn't realize the problems that were occurring and continually students were befriending us.
I remember one case in particular in my physics class. I was three weeks behind in my assignments, and a couple of fellows offered to give me notes and to help me catch up the work that I had missed. I was amazed at this kind of attitude being shown toward the Negroes."
