[applause] nancy russo, principal of little rocks Central High School. [applause] michael poore, superintendent of the Little Rock Schools. Dr. Henry louis gates, the Alfonse Fletcher University Professor and direector at the center of african and africanamerican and research at harvard university. [applause] the honorable mark stodola, mayor of the city of little rock. Cameron sholly, midwest regional director, National Park service. [applause] the honorable asa hutchinson, governor of arkansas. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the 42nd president of the United States, William Jefferson clinton. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please give a second welcome to the a special welcome to the little rock nine. [applause] elizabeth eckford, ernest green, minnijean brown, gloria ray karlmark, carlotta walls lanier, dr. Terrence roberts, Thelma Mothershed wair. Join us in remembering the late Jefferson Thomas. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the little rock nine. [applause] please welcome to the podium our emcee for today. He is an educator and Community Leader and the first africanamerican to attend Little Rock High School for 10th, 11th and 12th grades before graduating in 1962, dr. Sybil jordan hampton. [applause] dr. Hampton please be seated. Thank you. Good morning. Welcome to this historic day. Thank you to each of you who are here today. Some have traveled from down the block and others have come from around the country and overseas. As i look out into the crowd, i see many familiar faces, many longtime friends, and i also see many new faces. No matter how far you travel to be here or how many people in this room you know, please know that we are honored to have you here. Without you here in this audience, the event would not be complete. You are a key component of this commemoration ceremony. Now, please rise for the presentation of colors by the arkansas 31st air force junior rotc from Little Rock Central High School. This will be followed by the pledge of allegiance. This pledge will be led by the student body president s of each of Little Rocks School district five high schools. After the pledge, pamela smith, director of communications for little rock School District, will sing the national anthem. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Oh, say, can you see, by the dawns early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, oer the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming. And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that starspangled banner yet wave . Oer the land of the free and the home of the brave. [applause] our opening prayer will be given by rev. Laverne belltolliver, pastor of Bullock Temple christian methodist episcopal church. Good morning. I stand here first on behalf of little rock and members of Bullock Temple christian church, who has a rich one School Partnership with Central High School. To the remaining members of the little rock nine, i stand and thank you on behalf of the desegregation process, the first 25 to desegregate the five junior high schools. I am one of those. Thank you for blazing the trail. Let us now bow before the throne of grace. God of our weary years, god of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far on the way. Thou who has died by might lead us into the light keep us forever in the past we pray. We pray. E pray path father, as we approached you today, we rejoice and say thank you. We remember how far you have brought us and thank you for allowing this courageous work of former members, students, known forever as the little rock nine to willingly put on their armor as they fought injustice. We thank you for allowing their actions and those others around the state and country to ultimately topple many of the laws that prevented equal access to books, equipment, and schools that would not outdated or substandard. Thank you also, father, for allowing them to be the forerunners of change and eradicators of laws that held our four parents in the cruel grip of postslavery times. Now our father, we thank you for allowing this Group Present today to shine your clear, penetrating light on situations that continue to need enhancements. You know, lord, that our Public Schools still need improvement on many levels. Allow us, father, to remain diligent and faithful in the pursuing the cause for all students of every race, creed, color, and gender with the opportunity to receive a Quality Public School education. Help us remember the past for the purpose of building a better, stronger, brighter, and more successful future together for every child. Equip our families, faith communities, organizations, and public academic institutions with the resources and willingness to Work Together to help every child succeed. We thank you and we praise you. In jesus name, amen. You may be seated. This is a room filled with dignitaries. We have current and former elected officials from federal, state, and local governments. We had heads of state agencies, Higher Education institutions, and churches, as well as civil rights leaders. Also in the audience is a delegation from our sister city in newcastle, united kingdom. In the interest of time, we are not going to recognize each person by name, but to each and every one of you and to all of those gathered today, welcome. Thank you for being here. I want to take this time to remember one who is not here. On september 5, 2010, Jefferson Thomas passed away. We are honored to have his widow, mary, here with us today. As a tribute to jeff, we have an empty chair on the stage, draped in a ribbon of centrals colors of old gold and black. Please join me in a moment of silence for Jefferson Thomas memory. Thank you. As we move into the comments portion of our program, it is my distinct pleasure to bring forward two individuals who served as student body president s of Little Rock Central High School. Both also served a decade ago as members of the 50th anniversary Steering Committee. She now works with the Clinton Foundation in new york city and he is an attorney and a banker who was a former member of the Arkansas House of representatives. Joy secuban, student body president in 1993 and 1994, and darrin williams, student body president in 1985, 1986. Lets welcome them. [applause] joy sixty years ago today, the scene was much different in this auditorium and in the hallways of the school. Yes, there were Police Officers and media and people milling about on this campus, but as we now know the tone and tenor of the day was one of hostility, not hospitality. It was a day of anxiety and anger, not appreciation and applause. Elected officials were staying far away from campus even if their presence was still felt. On behalf of all the fellow Little Rock Central High School student body president s over the years, darrin and i are here to officially welcome everyone to the school, our beloved alma mater, where six decades ago obstruction was the order of the day, but now we celebrate a school where openness is the rule. Darrin this year, little rock central high turns 90 years old. Over the years tens of thousands of students have walked through the hollowed halls, each student with a story to tell. As i look at the seniors gathered on stage, i think my own two children who are recent graduates of central and i am honored to be a part of the story of the school. It is fitting that today we are in the Roosevelt Thompson auditorium with the little rock nine. Rosie was a brilliant mind and a rising star not only in the stat, but in this nation. The experience that he had in the then governors office, and later at Yale University were feasible because of his time here at central. The opportunities that he had it since it will make possible by the courageous efforts of the little rock nine. Joy today, over 27 languages of the central students. Regardless of our race or ethnicity, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the little rock nine and we are reminded that we pay that debt through service. [applause] darrin so welcome to Little Rock Central High School. Hail to the old gold, hail to the black. [applause] dr. Hampton thank you, joy and darrin. President eisenhower tried to broker an agreement with the governor through the efforts of congressman brooks hays, it was not until little rock pleaded for federal intervention that the present sent in the 101st airborne. I now present to you to bring greetings, the current mayor of little rock, mark stodola. [applause] mayor stodola good morning, everyone. Thank you. Today as a city and as americans , we pause to reflect on the events of september 25, 1957 is as one of the first struggles of the civil right movement. We are here commemorating the 60th anniversary of the opening of these High School Doors to nine Young School Students who endured incredible adversity to integrate central high and the profound impact that it made and continues to make on the issues of equality and opportunity. Not just on the city and state, not just on this country, but indeed the world. We are here today to commemorate this extraordinary struggle for equality and opportunity. An ultimate triumph in the history of our nation in the history of our city. Indeed, when Ernest Greene marched as a senior to receive his diploma in the stadium the stadium, the world noticed, and dr. Martin luther king was there seated in the stands to witness the occasion. Today, we acknowledge this painful moment in our past and we reflect on the progress that we have made. As was mentioned, we are sitting in the Roosevelt Thompson auditorium, named after one of little rocks most gifted africanamerican students, a student body president and a yale scholar that was taken from us way too soon. He accomplished so much in a his short life, a young man that was given an opportunity and did he ever excel. The legacy of the little rock nine demands that we redecorate ourselves to the product the remains unfinished. I want to thank you the little rock nine for coming back to little rock and to commemorate the significant day. However, it does not go unnoticed that most of you left little rock after your High School Days and pursuit pursued opportunities elsewhere, achieving many distinguished careers, indeed realizing the importance of finding that opportunity wherever it existed. Much of our work here in little rock centers on the idea of opportunity. All of ournsure that people have access to opportunity to pursue their dreams . Recently, i saw the film Hidden Figures based on the book about the africanamerican female mathematicians at nasa, and it struck me that was set in 1961, four years after the events of Little Rock Central High School, and seven years after the decision of brown versus board of education, the for decision the Supreme Court decision. Yet in 1961, virginia the resistance to integration was rampant. However, three brilliant africanamerican woman at nasa, catherine brown, Dorothy Vaughn and mary jackson were given the opportunity to excel and in so doing, served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history. It was the successful launch of astronaut john glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored our nations confidence in herself and galvanized the world. That story, like the individual Success Stories of the little rock nine, exemplifies what people are capable of when given the opportunity. I cannot help but think is a possibility that could transpired had the little rock nine had the opportunity to accomplish the magnificent work that they have achieved in the last 60 years were it right here in little rock. How much are we missing out on . By not possessing opportunities for our people to thrive right here at home . High,akes are incredibly and every time a child has run into this world those to rise. How do we harness the potential of every child in person in our city . Accomplishing that goal is incredibly difficult and requires the involvement of every part of our city. It cannot be done by government alone. It requires a Stable Family structure matter how big or what that family looks like. Early childhood education is key and graduation is paramount, health and proper nutrition are essential to learning and so is the physical environments. Our neighborhoods, streets, parks, work skills and a job making more than a minimum wage plays a huge role in a persons ability to maximize opportunity. As i reflect on the progress that we have made here is the as a city, i recognize that while we have made Great Strides and we have much work to do. At city hall, these goals are what keep us going in the areas where we can help. It is why through the recovery act, 8. 6 million was injected into the neighborhood south of interstate 630. Over 100 Housing Units were created in his very neighborhoods right here around central high and its why each year young people become world changes and in the course of two weeks transform the home of elderly citizens on fixed incomes and some of our much challenged neighborhoods. It is why this friday, thanks to president clintons program, we will launch the neighborhood safety core where we will have , 30 Young People Working around clean up hotspots in our city that are prone to crime. It is why through our multiple felony reentry programs we are giving people a second chance. But i will be the first to say, there is so much more for us to do. As much as anything, willplishing this goal require being given an opportunity. We have seen that given an opportunity our people can , overcome almost any challenge. My challenge to all of us, to our city today, is to use the examples set by the little rock nine share the opportunities you have been given. There is much work to do and do not pull up the ladder behind you. Mentor a child, encourage education and success, help a young adult get a job and get into the workforce. Give them the first opportunity to learn responsibility and self respect. Use the opportunities that you have been given and that degree from high school or college, that you have earned to give back to help the next generation of leaders in our city. The central high crisis of 1957 is part of our history but it does not have to be our legacy. Our legacy is the story of how far we have come in the resolve to the Unfinished Business of continue opening the doors to opportunity. Indeed, the legacy of the little rock nine requires it. Let us take this active day as a springboard to dedicate ourselves to the session. Best this mission. The day se ize the day. Our future depends on it. Thank you very much. Through the efforts of us senators along with cars from rock, declared a national we Historic Site. That legislation, as we no, was signed into law by president bill clinton. Central high school is the only National Park site that is also a functioning high school. Representing the National ParkService Today is mr. Cameron shelley, the midwest regional director of the National Park service. Welcome. [applause] good morning. It is great to be in a room filled with so many generations of inspiring people and before i get started, a special shout out to nancy russo, a tremendous partner you and your staff and has been incredible. Thank you to the School District and the city for having us here. On behalf of the entire National Park service including robin white, who is the superintendent of our site here and her tremendous team we are proud to , be a part of this event with you commemorating this anniversary. Not just as an organization that is committed to telling the history of this site in perpetuity, but as your partner and your fellow citizens. The National Park service proudly manages a system of parks in the country that represents a remarkable collection of places that in trying our nations and durings most and they remind us constantly of the tremendous sacrifices that americans like the little rock nine made on behalf of this country. It really is our privilege as your steward to protect some of americas most incredible places and to tell some of americas most important historical events. Its an honor that we take very seriously. Little Rock Central High School is all of those things and its an incredible place with incredible people, and it is a very important part of our nations history. As all of us know there are , parts of that history that are not easy to talk about. Stories that are very painful and difficult to tell. It is essential that we tell them and that we do it in a way that keeps them in the forefront of the american conscience and that we translate the lesson and the sacrifices of the past into the dialogue of the present in and the future. Events that occurred here 60 years ago truly transform america into a better country and its contributed so importantly to the National Civil rights movement. It forced our nation to look at self in the mirror and face its own image. While the conflict between the federal and state governments occurred out in public, the real battle was here in this building and these classrooms, wayne on eighing on the shoulders of nine Young American students who were literally serving as ambassadors of change in moral courage. When Little Rock Central High SchoolNational Historic site was established in 1998 with u. S. Congress and president bill clinton, thank you, sir. [applause] that effort that so many of you in here played a part of assured that the events that transpired here will never fade into history. President clintons signature on that legislation also allow the National Park service proudly to work with you to be a perpetual guardian of the transformative historical events that occurred here. Though no one will fully understand what the little rock nine experienced here because the site is a National Park unit park, and because of so many of your efforts in sports 1 million americans already have and millions of americans in the future will have the opportunity to better understand the extreme hardships they endured, become educated as to how the courage and bravery of these incredible americans changed the course of history in this country forever. And theres no question this site has become more and more relevant to our nation as times have gone on. Not just to the American People , but to the american dialog. It has continually allowed us to provoke reflections in history, share lessons of her past and of our past, and has created a better awareness about our nations struggle toward equality. As your steward, and partner of this great place an important story, we remain committed than ever to help the events to tell the events accurately for the benefit of education and inspiration of current and future generations. Every one of you in this room in one way or another exemplifies the perseverance of the american spirit, but no group more so than these pioneers of civil rights that we are commemorating here today. [applause] two of those extraordinary extraordinary pioneers and your families, we thank you for your sacrifices, know that the courage and your actions will be remembered here forever, that you are an absolute inspiration for , to you and to all of you the National Park service is very proud to be your partner here. Thank you. [applause] sixty years ago the office of the governor of arkansas worked to keep the little rock nine out of the school. Times have certainly changed. In 1987, 1997 and 2007, governors bill clinton, mike huckabee, and mike beebe embraced the little rock nine , just as his immediate predecessors have honored the little rock nine, today it is my pleasure to introduce the Current Governor to welcome them. Governor asa hutchinson. [applause] governor hutchinson thank you. Thank you. Good morning. President clinton, mayor, and those of the little rock nine with us today. I want to tell you how much i enjoyed our visit before the ceremony today. We are gathered here today so that our state and nation will never forget the courage, fortitude, and persistence you showed the world 60 years ago. The events of that fall day d the path of the nation. The bravery of youth inspired hope for all dreams that had been crushed by an under system, a system that failed to change with deliberate speed. Your quiet determination and your stubborn refusal to abandon your dreams, not only forced action, but set an example that will last into the ages. Whether you witnessed the events in person or, like me, studied and reflected on that moment in history from a distance, we are all equally challenged, motivated, and grateful for those who said we can do it because it is right and because it is just. In 1957, we know what the makeup of central high student body was and because of you the student body of the class of 2018 looks different. Your enrollment comprises students from 27 countries who speak a total of 24 languages. It is important to remember that little rock central was integrated six years before reverend Martin Luther king and his landmark i have a dream speech on the steps of the lincoln memorial. It is a significant historical fact that a reverend king was quietly in the audience when Ernest Greene walked across the podium to receive his diploma and become the first africanamerican graduate of central high. [applause] perhaps reverend king was propelled by that moment to fully see the potential of his own dreams and perhaps he got a glimpse of the mountaintop where all of gods children are created equal. The integration of central high was so early in the Civil Rights Movement that it was before many of the counter sit in and the bus rides, and that fact gives us all an even greater appreciation for the lonely steps of the little rock nine as they confronted hostility, the unknown, and a defines governor. Defiant governor. On this 60th anniversary what can we draw upon to guide us today . We should never, first of all, undervalue the transcendent importance of how we treat each other. Lets seek understanding, live each day with words of encouragement information and lets pray and work for more civil society. Those students at central high who resisted the mob mentality and hysteria and acted in kindness to the little rock nine are additional examples to us , all. There is also a lesson for our nation. We are all made in gods image and america cannot fulfill its destiny if we limit any persons dreams because of how one is born. We are all part of the fabric of this nation, and we hope our greatness will be defined by our goodness. There is another lesson, just as our ancestors in history do not define our values, in the same sense the victories, sacrificially won by the little rock nine do not guarantee equal opportunity or freedom from discrimination for this generation or the next. Whether it is revisiting the lessons of history or sounding the alarm about current dangers , we must be constant and educating the present generation about tolerance, forgiveness and equal treatment. Finally, i want to thank the four fourine andring the pain for during the pain. There is no other word to describe your experience 60 years ago but we are grateful as , a state and the nation for the difference you made for all of us. Arkansas claims you as pioneers, heroes and examples to follow. Thank you and may god have his continued blessing on the little rock nine. [applause] we are honored to have with us today, dr. Henry louis gates junior. Dr. Gates is the alphonse Fletcher University professor and director of the Hutchins Center for africans and africanamerican research at harvard university. He is not just a historical scholar and educator. As many of you know, he is an emmywinning filmmaker, literary scholar, journalist, cultural critic, and institution builder. Has authored or coauthored 21 books and created 15 documentary films. The university of Central Arkansas has been collaborating with him and brought him to little rock for this weekend. We are pleased to have him join us today to bring remarks setting the occasion. Ladies and gentlemen us welcome dr. Henry louis gates junior. [applause] dr. Gates thank you. Take you. Thank you so much for that kind introduction. Gov. Hutchinson, congressman hill, i feel like im visiting a religious time. I first saw this in september, 1957, after i just turned seven years old. I never dreamed, ever that i , would be standing here in the auditorium of this great high school. If this is a shrine, ladies and gentlemen, these are the things s we are here to honor. [applause] dr. Gates dr. Benjamin mays the , spiritual mentor to the reverend doctor Martin Luther king jr. And president of the Morehouse College from 194019671 said and i quote, we are interlaced and interwoven in a garment of destiny. We are all bound together in one great humanity. We as americans, found ourselves bound together in one great humanity at the intersections of history in place no more so, ladies and dutchmen, here in little rock, arkansas. I was four years old when the Supreme Court ruled in brown verse board that separate was inherently unequal. I was six when the naacp filed suit against the little rock School District on behalf of 33 africanamerican students who had attempted to register in allwhite schools only to be rebuffed. I was seven when arkansas to anor orval eugene find federal court order in the name of segregation in states rights. When a young africanamerican woman, elizabeth, cradling her books and wearing that white dress and those dark sunglasses encountered a mob of taunts and lynching threats, when president eisenhower ordered the hundred and first which had fought so valiantly on dday in france in the little rock nine braved the hate and fear of change to walk in the school in quiet dignity at last through the front door of Central High School. On your side, dr. King watched the events unfold , before our very eyes on television. World opinion is with you he wrote, the moral conscience of millions of white americans is with you. Keep struggling with this fate and the tragic midnight of anarchy and mob rule which encompasses your city at this time will be transformed into the glowing daybreak of freedom and justice. 60 years after the democratic revolution that happened in your town, in the school, embodied by nine exceedingly brave schoolchildren, ladies and gentlemen we once again find ourselves in the struggle for freedom and justice in earlier. In our land. Unimaginable for most of us just a year ago we, those of us who love the truth and justice ballon political party, have to draw a line in the same. Sand. They drew a line in the sand 60 years ago. We must defend the right of every american to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice. [applause] dr. Gates we must, at all cost defend the affirmative action , program that launched so many people of color in women of all colors into their positions of authority and power. [applause] gates we must fight for health care as a right [applause] dr. Gates and to keep the pipeline of opportunity open for the next generation and the next generation after that. Regardless of our ideological differences, we must link arms and stand publicly against anti semitism, and against homophobia, and against islamophobia. [applause] dr. Gates and against black racism in ladies and gentlemen against white supremacist ideology and all this ugly, hateful speech. [applause] dr. Gates the little rock nine stood at the end and they stand now for the promise of opportunity and equality etched in the word of our countrys founding document. They also stand for the struggle it took to realize those words for all of our nations citizens. As my friend president bill , clinton, observed so eloquently on the 40th 60th anniversary of the 40tle rock nine, 1997 years later we know there is still more doors to be opened, wider endorse wider doors we have to keep from ever being shut again. In remarks that show this moment say that president clinton exhorted us to do better that day. [laughter] dr. Gates sorry about that. Bandit like the local doing the warmup before the beatles come on. Im doing my best and im a poor black man doing my best. [laughter] gates we know that work is not over, and we cannot allow forces of reaction to turn back the clock on american racial relations, obliterating the hero efforts of legions of americans white and black, asian and latino, jewish, muslim and christian, gay, straight, and trans who risk and sometimes give their lives to make certain that the art of the moral universe bend toward justice. Too many hands today, ladies and gentlemen, are trying to bend back in another direction. Its a direction for the past. Those of us who love truth and justice and those of us who love the principles of democracy upon which this great nation of ours was founded must stand against those horses just as the little rock nine did hear in this very did here in this very place. If we hold firm to our moral conscience and to our faith, to our shared history into the possibilities it secured for us, the tragic midnight of our time will be transformed into the glowing daybreak of freedom and justice. Thank you very much. [applause] in his gettysburg address, Abraham Lincoln said, and i quote, the world will little note nor long remember what we say here but it can never forget what they did here. Here. Time will be the judge as to whether what is said here today gets remembered. But what is indisputable is that we do remember what the little rock nine did hear at the school 60 years ago today. The world does indeed remember thelma, terrence, minnie jean, jefferson, gloria, ernest, elizabeth and carlotta. They have been immortalized, not just in our memories, but in photographs, movies, songs, plays, paintings, and a postage stamp. We now turn to a time in the program to give each of the eight living members the chance to share remarks with us. But before they do, it is important to remember that the little rock nine did not act alone. They had the support and sacrifice of their parents, their grandparents, their siblings, and other family members. We have some of those family members with us today. Let us give them a round of applause. [applause] there was also the tireless work of elsie and the legal efforts of wally branson and chris mercer in arkansas as well as Thurgood Marshall in the and the naacp. Ministers, friends, and neighbors, and the reverend Martin Luther king jr. Was present for ernest greens graduation in 1958. Yes, they received support, but each day it was still nine teenagers who went into the school. Today we hear from eight of them, not quite teenagers anymore, but still full of the same spirit and drive. [applause] good morning. How wonderful that you would take time so early in the morning to get up and stand with us and remember us. We are very grateful for your presence. Let us not ever indicate to you that we got here or that we made it through that year at Central High School on her own steam. On our own steam. First of all there was the lord , jesus give me the strength and directs me everyday. [applause] me,y mother always said to god has a picture of you on your fridge raider. He is as close as your skin. Certainly, making it the Central High School took a whole , national elements, one that i believe the lord jesus conducted. First of all, dont want not everyone was racist but some were certainly with us as we transitioned into the situation by the nation and all of us changed from what we were to what we are. It is a joy to come back to arkansas and sit in a taxi and it is a joy to see women police men skin is also a color. Its a joy to someone who has been away to come back and see the miracle of love in change and i thank you so much for that. I really again want to say to you you are a part of this. We get to be the nine, and i enjoy signing things. I always take you with me when i do that. , sees always the god in you and everyone around us. Love is always the answer. Thank you. [applause] ckford. Abeth e [applause] i returned to arkansas and my in 1974, but i was not politically active. Us, nine of usof talked about what it was like inside the school for 30 years. I was prompted to Start Talking in 1999, when i heard reflections that were important to might experience here. I hope someday that opposing sides can have nonaccusatory dialogue. I have a saying that i believe deep in my heart that the only way we can have true reconciliation is if we honestly acknowledge our painful but shared past. Thank you. [applause] ernest green. [applause] thank you very much. To the organizers of all of this, mr. President governor president , governor, s, dr. Gates, guest to the audience, Central High School supporters and lovers, to my family and my wife, phyllis, my daughters, jessica and and my sister and , i think none of us 60 years ago as we arrived in the back of army jeeps knew that we would be standing here today. Making history is not something we aspired to do. We wanted the best education our parents and taxes afforded. We wanted with the constitution said was the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and i saw education as part of that right. [applause] greene after september 4 when we were denied admittance, i did with my parents family taught me. I dug in my heels and the bible says we have been indoors for a night but joy comes in the , morning. 60 days is a long nights. [laughter] green the progress has to continue because there is no finish line. It is a small everyday action. Some days within a National Focus and other days with no more fanfare than a small thank you. Is an unrelenting stagnancy and complacency. Initially, it feels like nothing more than tiny droplets of water. After a while, it beats away at , but as rhetoric scenically seemingly small droplets. Progress has to continue because there is no finish line. It turns in charlottesville protesting nazis. Turns to Colin Kaepernick taking a need for injustice. [applause] mr. Green and the little rock nine turns to the charleston nine, peacefully assembling and a church. [applause] for the church in this scares many because of its proud heritage. Toneed Young Lawyers ready follow Thurgood Marshall. We need Community Activists and Church Leaders to continue to engage and challenge our public system. [laughter] we need parents and all the parents of the nine. And i want our children to know they have a continued role in this marathon to progress. Be prepared to take up the mantles of little rock nine and and realizefzai se that education is the key to upward mobility. [applause] i may have been the first to graduate, but i didnt cross at this stage by myself. I crossed that stage for my eight compatriots over here, tricky, Jefferson Thomas, gloria, terrence roberts. They still had graduation on the horizon. Where theyof graduated from school, the victory was still theirs. And as i crossed the stage and accept it at the moment for the next 800, 8 thousand, or 8 million who will follow, i have learned in the years since the 60 different paths one can take. There are worn paths. There are even random paths that dont follow anything. Note that these paths were worn person, not by nine people but generations of , people by the footprints left by someone else. Know these paths followed no path at all. Easy, and itbe wouldnt happen overnight. But as my sisters told me as many follow the path will be a permanent reminder of someone elses initial steps for the tigers, black and gold, god bless each of you. [applause] gloria ray [applause] gloria i never thought i would stand here. I cant say that i feel comfortable being here, but i am here and it feels pretty good. [applause] people ask us or especially me, a lot about the first Central High School. My daughter reminded me the other day of another thing that she knew about me. She suggested i talk to you today about the last day of school because no one ever asks , about that. [laughter] gloria you know what kind of a year we had. They had announced yearbooks and i remember getting mine and it presented a situation for me quite different from the others. I had my book and there i was now this 15yearold little girl girl. Who was going to sign my book, who would i go up to and asked to sign a book . I stood there for a while with my book open, and then the girl that i strange to note that came out and signed my book. I stood there a while with my book open, and then becky, another girl i had secretly changed notes with another the class, she came up and signed my book. I had one signature in my book. She wrote in a different age, we could have been friends. Thank you. [applause] [laughter] thank you and good morning. , governor ofnton arkansas hutchison, the mayor of little rock, and all of the other distinguished guests here on this stage. Thank you for being here. I was asked about a year and a half ago by the city manager what it would be like for the 60th anniversary to give them some ideas. They already had ideas of what was going to take place. I want to be very honest and clear with you. I said to him i would like to have dinner in the white house with president hillary clinton. [cheering] but this is the second best, being here. [laughter] on the day that we commemorate 1957, this weekend, september 25, we went as teenagers, anxious and worried that we had missed over two weeks of school. We didnt know what the day would hold or what would happen in the year ahead. We didnt realize the goal that would be played behind the scenes in our high school experience. 1987, 30 years later, all of us came back for the first time that we had seen each other as a group. It was governor clinton that welcomed us into the governors mansion. Hillary clinton had been under the weather and came down to the kitchen and we talked into the early hours of the morning with our other friend, who was the mayor of little rock. [applause] 1997, 40 years later, governor clinton was now president clinton and the welcome was overwhelming and kind and gracious. It was wellmeaning and heartfelt. It was time, it seemed, to set things right. 2007, 50 years later, all of us are still together as the little rock nine. We have grown older, but we all have made it. We had children, grandchildren and each of us successful in the world in which we lived, and it was give back time. Ten years after the 40th anniversary, we had set up the Little Rock Nine Foundation when there was support among the students decided they needed the said they made the next step towards Higher Education. We were happy to see each other and call one another friend and to have shared important moments in history with one another and with a nation that honored us. We have a place in the modern Civil Rights Movement. 60 years later we returned to little rock to central high as the citizens. The right to speak his name aloud. [applause] he was the one who would be with the in gauging sense of humor, and we miss him i and these days. Only my mother and she is here remains. And she is here with my family, my husband, my two children and my grandchildren, four generations along with our siblings. [applause] thank you for that. We become as we were 60 years ago anxious and worried and concerned about what lies ahead. This weekend and in the years ahead, we know these things come as a human race we are a strong people and in the word of the s, we havespirituals come too far to turn back now. Just one more thing. Just one more thing. We all like to say have a good day, but i say to you have a day that matters. [applause] dr. Terrence roberts. [applause] dr. Roberts in the name of full disclosure, its important that you know i come here not to celebrate, not that i dont want to celebrate, but this time has not yet come. [applause] you see, for me, the balloons are in the closet, the confetti is stored away, the noisemakers in every variety that you can imagine our waiting to make their noise. It has been a 75year wait for me. For most of the 75 years ive , been aware consciously of the need for change. But theres something you should know about my vision. For those of you that urged have urged me to celebrate progress, i say look at it from my perspective. First, what i want is for none of this ever to have happened. [applause] with that said, i have a new vision that shows me what it possibly could be that it cant what possibly could be, but it cant happen, i cant do it alone. We all have to engage in this war against the forces that are determined to shore up and maintain the status quo. That is not feasible. How can we do that . You can decide to choose to live a life thats different than the life you have chosen to live. I dont make the assumption that everyone here shares my vision but i do make the assumption that you are willing to investigate the options as you become aware of them and you are aware by how they are chosen. Its one of the deadly sins that we face. [applause] if we are willing to move away from the position and take a more balanced position, i think i have a chance to see what i need to see. How could it happen . For those of the for those of you in the audience who are professed christians i speak now , directly to you. One, you have a bible. Some of you may not know that it is simply an acronym. Basic instruction before leaving earth. [applause] since we dont know the exact date of our exit from this place, it is imperative that you read the instructions now. And as you do, you will find i and there, find in their admonitions to treat your brother and or sister and you as you would treat yourself. [applause] i cant imagine given the history of this country that those of you that are professed christians would want that to continue. I was told, and i mentioned this in the interface service the other day, i was told by the minister in this town i had no business being at some troll and i dont know if he was reading the same bible that i had. I went back home to look for the passage to see where he got that information and i had yet to find it. My understanding is that we care enough to confront when you care enough to confront coming you care enough to confront. When you care enough to confront, you get in other peoples faces. It not about being combative. It is about loving care. If you have a child into the child has a penchant for playing near the offramp, you will confront that child. You will take measures. You would use every instrument possible to maintain the safety and wellbeing of the child. Think about it that way. The me as your child. Help us all move away from this nefarious status quo into the brighter light of understanding where we truly see each other as god sees us all. Thank you. [applause] minnijean brown. Minnijean thank you. Now i know what its like to be on stage with really illustrious people. Greetings, thanks to the city. I have one third of my children here. I have my sister, i found her when she spoke out as she usually does. [laughter] theres nothing like the brown sisters. So, i consider this commemoration and they look up this experience, this 60th commemoration, as a pilgrimage. And i looked up the definition that says the pilgrimage is a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance, typically a journey to a shrine or other location of importance. And here i am. And here we are. Here, i think to remind ourselves and the world the work is not complete until a beloved community is achieved. Ok. I am standing in a place of such significance and was fired in the heat of Little Rock Central High School, there is no forgetting. So in many different ways we will continue activism. We come here to stimulate the conversation that needs to happen here and everyplace else. I will tell you what happens. I did a qs number 40 whatever of suffering i did a qs number 40whatever of suffering from profoundintentionalignorance, id i set it on television, so expect my tweet a little later today. [applause] so, astrophysicist ok, i love that. Rofoundintentionalignorance. Dr. Tyson says we are close to the unraveling of inherent informed democracy. We have to think about how we are in a place of education. The theme of the Little Rock Central High School in the Historic Site is about education that ever will be or shall be and it always is about education. It was then and ever shall be about education. Knows about marvin . Who knows about marvin gaye . [laughter] [applause] ok. So, we are here to remind ourselves and you and we hope that we can inspire people. Remember we are 14, 15, just turning 16 so we want to inspire the young people. Elizabeth coined this phrase dont think of us as special because we are ordinary people, but ordinary people can do extraordinary things, and we are proof of that. Thank you very much. [applause] giving remarks on her behalf, please welcome her grandson, gabriel. Gabriel wair. Thank you. I am more than on her to speak about my beautiful grandmother. [applause] it has been many years since i entered this Historical Building and i did so today with a sense of anticipation and hope for the future of this educating here and other facilities throughout the state. The year i spent here mostly was full of uncertainty mostly related to safety , fortunately and psychological issues i experienced no physical harm. The years since have seen my continued growth and experience and education as a teacher and counselor. I can a lot for my students, and i hope the same can be said in return. Willpe is arkansas continue to experience this and embrace people of different beliefs. I would also like to add that the proliferation of Charter Schools has given us cause for concern of the future of conventional public education. [applause] we do not want the schools to become centers for those that perform educational standards. We must continue to be the to be involved in vigilant for the education of for the the education of all children for whom the future depends. Thank you for your time and education. [applause] let say thank you again to each of the little rock nine. [applause] to introduce the keynote speaker it is my pleasure and honor to bring to the podium, the woman who knows every inch of the school and owns it. Nancy result has been the principle of central Little Rock High School since 2002. As the principal she thinks , about Central High School each day. I suspect that each day she is in little rock whether the school is in session or not she spends time at the school and School Related functions. Nancy is an ambassador for the Little Rock High School, the students, alumni and the entire city of little rock. She is one of a few people who has worked on the 40th anniversary, 50th anniversary, and now the 60th anniversary commemorations. Join me in welcoming the rousseau. Nancy [applause] nancy thank you. [laughter] nancy how in the world do you introduce bill clinton to a roomful of people who not only who he is, but actually know him . Although i find it hard to believe the majority of the students were born after he left the white house. [laughter] nancy sorry. Its true. As a student, bill clinton saul saw the little rock nine bravely face the mobs while watching them on television, probably blackandwhite television. [laughter] definitely. Nancy he has credited the experience of expanding his worldview. In 1987, as was mentioned, he the then little rock mayor Lottie Shackleford welcomed all nine to little rock. Bill clinton as governor gave them the tour of the governors mansion. As president in he not only spoke at the ceremony, but along with governor huckabee and then the mayor jim daly opened the doors for the little rock nine to enter. 10 years ago boy, that when quickly he again spoke, this time as our former president. During 50th anniversary event, he also hosted the little rock nine reviewing of the emancipation proclamation was on which was on exhibit at the time of the clinton president ial center. As previously mentioned, he signed the legislation that made Little Rock Central High School in National Historical site and this is a partnership about which we are so proud. Enjoy every single day as people from all over the world walk our halls with students to see the historic schools. As president he presented each , of the little rock nine with a congressional medal of honor ina ceremony at the white house. He also spoke at the memorial for daisy bates. The list of his connections to the school and the little rock nine goes on and on. In fact in the summer of 2016, some of the members joined me and a few hundred other people in the basement of Central High School during a Tornado Warning. [laughter] the Tornado Warning turned out to be a major weather event was with part of the roof being torn way and two classrooms being destroyed. Im going to take a moment of personal privilege to say thank you. Thank you for all that youve done for this school. Your life and career are the embodiment of the four statute which adorn the front of the school and have looked out upon 90 years of history ambition, personality, opportunity and preparation. Now ladies and gentlemen, and my children behind me it gives me , great honor to say what you pleased you help me i am and please welcome to the podium the 42nd president of the , United States william , jefferson clinton. [cheers and [applause] applause]s and clinton thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All, thank you, madam principal for your leadership off, in some ways, the most important high school in the United States. Thank you, superintendent. Thanks to the park service for taking good care of us. Thank you, dr. Jordan, for demonstrating, just by the way you talk how dumb it was to deny so many africanamericans the opportunity of a decent education for so long. You are an inspiration. [applause] i think all of you who came. Annie abrams. Governor tucker, thank you. Thank you secretary slater. Thank you for all you did for our country. I want to thank you, whoever did the program, for letting darren and joy speak, because they are eirs of what was done here 60 years ago, and from one of them, i benefit every single day. Melva and thank elizabeth and bernie and gloria, the parents, and minniejean, and thelma, and two who are not here. We miss them both. I [applause] god, they were wonderful, werent they . [applause] thank my old friend that was introduced as doctor henry louis gates. About you want to laugh the aging process, which trust me, is not for sissies [laughter] mr. Clinton when i saw him coming appear with his crutches, i thought, how cute. Why . Because all of his friends call him skip. [laughter] clinton and then he took the pink elephant out of the closet so the rest of us could talk. The 40thlso anniversary this year of my first speech as a public official, and it has got a lot in common with today. I spoke at the rotary Club Installation banquet. In pine bluffs. There were five good people. There were 25 speakers. [laughter] clinton by the time i got up to speak, have the people were hungry again. And the guy that introduced me had run the campaign for me down here, and he was more nervous than i was. I was the young attorney general and he got up and said, you know, we could stop here and have a very good evening. Was, oh, the best has yet to come, but what it sounded like was the truth. [applause] please, i want to go home. But i thank them all. For letting group me be part of their lives. Their true feelings. Forgiving the true meaning of what we are here about. I wanted to come here and reminisce. I was here for the 20th anniversary. Jesse jackson and i were on this stage and he told the students at little rock central high, because america was facing a drug epidemic like the awful Opioid Epidemic today with fentanyl and the whole deal, that they should open their brains and not their veins. I say that because he, too, is aging and not in the best shape today, but we should never forget that long before is toular, he called on people develop their minds and do their work so they can claim their legitimate place i and america. Gates and his other life has a tv show. Have you all ever seen it . Seen his show . He traces our lineage. That governor hutchison may be related to john brown was or whoing george iii. Nows who but its important. I want to start there. What does all of that amount to . What was the pink elephant in the closet that gets dug out . Peoples genetic almost noou find out black people are all black. And almost zero africanamericans and maybe theres not a single 1 whose entire lineage comes from people from subsaharan africa. Almost no white people are all white either. [laughter] your ancestorsof are from subsaharan africa, between 3 and 4 of your human genome is from the neanderthals. That is the part that has been rearing its ugly head lately. [cheers and applause] ever since i have been out of office i have been doing these crazy things. I have this amended bucket list. And one of the things i wanted to do is understand the genomics, particle physics and astrophysics, but i really ted genomics, because that i spent your tax money to understand the secrets of the human genome and now you can do it for about 100 and is given is more than 300 billion in Economic Activity so it is the best investment of your tax money ever made, and a good reminder that you get a big return when you invest in the modernizing infrastructure and science and technology as well. [applause] anyway, so i keep reading all of these articles. Read, you know, our human ancestors first rose 150 tohe eastern savanna 200,000 years ago and then it took them 90,000 years to get to the middle east and europe and for 40,000 years after that, we coinhabited europe with the neanderthals. It turns out we liked each other better than we knew. [laughter] mr. Clinton but they were bigger than us. They were stronger than we are. Their brains were just as big , but for reasons no one truly knows, as far as we can determine, they never wrote a book or a poem or spoke to each other in traditional ways. But it appears they didnt survive the last era and we did , or habsburg cause we could run faster, but in all probability because we could communicate, and we could cooperate. The greatest biologist e. O. Wilson says the greatest cooperators are the most likely to survive and the best cooperators that ever existed were ants, termites, and people. Exhibithad that great where you can see all of my cooperators. But its true. We have cooperative, instinctive patterns of animals saved a bunch of them when people were killed. In south america, there were drilles that only airconditioned housing. I tell you what has got to do with all of this. Livingles in their quarters. When its wondering, they know it. Pollinate 96 of all of the food human beings consume. You should really worry the bees are dying because environmental and chemical conditions beyond their control. Of ants ond weights earth exceed the combined weight of people on earth. The most touching nonhuman picture i saw from the awful devastation of harvey in the houston, was in this gushing water in the city street, and on it, this massive throb of fire ants. It mustve must have been 100,000 or more of them and those at the bottom sacrifice themselves so they could glue themselves together and they would all survive by floating a way to freedom. But we can do more than that. I wanted to stand up and say a simple bromides about that and make everybody feel good and tell everyone i love them and sit down. Then we had all this other stuff happening that other people have talked about. So, i wanted to say you did 60 years, take a victory lap. Put on your dancing shoes, have a good time. Instead, i have to say youve got to put on your marching boots. [applause] this is not a partisan issue. His life tooln gave hold the union together and to the 13th amendment, ending slavery everywhere. Grant, i. Misunderstood figure in our history, gave us the 15th amendment, the right to vote, which he said was the most important thing that had happened since the founding of the United States of america. [applause] the less time i was here on this stage, was with george w. Bush because our leadership takes turnsgram during doing their graduation where his library is and where mine is, but we get people every year, it equally divided by party, representative by race, orientational religion, you name it. , they come together and study together and these were people that readily admits in the world and these are people who readily admit in the world we live in they would never have , met each other had it not been for this program. And they study these decisions and they discuss how it ought to be made, and lo and behold, they find out there is something to the most important study. Behind the science that makes this program so fascinating, 99. 5 thee are all same genomically. Every difference you can see in this audience is half a percent of your genome. They are now going back and revisiting the original questions of the country and the original things that tour this country apart in the Civil Rights Movement which is basically all that matters is in that one half of 1 . Its bad enough that every single one of us for reasons of 99. 5 ofvanity spend the time thinking about the other part of us that is different. Dont we . If i could play a saxophone like john goldring, i have gone into a different line of work. It is bad enough we do that. Now, we are back to square one. Thats all that matters. Back to tribalism. And its sweeping the world. It is entirely understandable , and i think was entirely predictable. Anybody who didnt see it coming wasnt out there in 2014 and 2013 like i was. But when you have people who feel like theyve been passed by economically, socially, culturally, and politically, and they are fed a steady diet of resentment and they dont ever , meet anybody different from them or talk to anybody then , that is the core of it and all you need is a little leaving. People get careless about whether they vote at midterm. People read this, that, or the soon, some, pretty of the l says, you can have your resentment. I want my resentment. My resentment is more authentic than your resentment. Lets fight about whose resentment is the most authentic. Pretty soon, somebody is trying to keep you from voting and polls racing you from the with some map not subject to the review. Pretty soon, another country thinks these people are so , messed up, so full of resentment, i will mess with their heads. Isnt the internet wonderful . [laughter] mr. Clinton the answer is yes and no. The answer to everything is yes and no. Thats why democracy requires diversity and debate. Theres almost no unmixed blessings. I dont think that they ever wanted to go to Little Rock Central High School and get a good education and have a good life so that one day they could be in control of everybody that didnt look like them. I think they wanted to be part of america. Part of the world to be the way to be full the way god made us all to be. You cant do that if all you think about is that half a percent difference. You cant do that if you ignore this teaching of everything and every religion says in one way ignore the plane teaching of every faith that nobody is all wise and all right all the time and every religion says, in one way or the other after the love , of god, the most important thing is to love your neighbor. Say,l the clever people yeah, but what is the definition of neighbor . They do not remember the parable of the Good Samaritan and that generallytan was not thought to be the neighbor of the israelites. Theres still 200,000 of them to be in the middle east and they are in danger like every other small religion there. People, who in the name of their perfect knowledge of the will of god, want to squash them , so it makes them feel good. It hurts somebody. The torah says he who turns away a stranger might as well turn away the most high god. They may comeays and learne another from one another. The buddha says youre not really alive unless you can feel the arrow piercing another persons body as if they are as if it were entering your own. [applause] what is the matter with us . Either that rally down in alabama, and i thought, oh, my god, ive got to go to little rock now. They are down there talking in ways that you have not heard since George Wallace, the governor of alabama and again, they forgot the history. Wallace was the first guy that thought i can get white folks from all over america to vote just like they do here. I just have to get them torn up and upset enough. Ive got to fill them with resentment read got not people thinking they have forgotten. I knew George Wallace in the last years of his life. We served as governors. I remember when he apologized to the people of alabama for fanning the flames of racial hatred and discrimination and asked the africanamericans of andama to forgive him promised to serve them all. I remember when it was so painful that can two hours to get dressed every day and he got up early every day to go to a governors meeting to protest new rules against aid for disabled coal miners being thrown off disability. I remember there was a truck driver with a ninth grade education involved in an accident was cut off of disability because they said he could work as a telephone receptionist. George wallace got up out of bed to vote against that. He became reconciled to the fact we all had a place in americas design. We dont want to go back there. We dont want to get into my resentment is more authentic than yours. We want to look at skip Gates Program on television and find out all the funny things about our ancestors but we never dreamed about and say, wow. How dumb were any of us ever to deny any possibility to any american. I want these young people to have the brightest future ever offered for any generation. Part of that is whether we can create jobs and face of robotics and Artificial Intelligence and all these changesatall these thats all these changes that are going to happen. Part of it is can we ever bring again to save Economic Opportunities to the Rural America that they once had. I think the answer to both is yes but it will not happen by feeding into the resentment especially the presentment against immigrants. Because we native born americans remember three things. The birth rate of native born americans is only at replacement level. We are not growing. The median age of a workforce determines, along with the education level of the people and investment level in growth, the prosperity of a country. Having lost it, i can tell you, youth matters. It matters in a lot of ways. It really does matter and economic potential. It really does matter in economic potential. Fact number two. Among immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, is one half that of the native born. The number of Small Businesses is more than twice that of the native born. We should be worrying about our real problems and how to solve them together. Rockwould honor the little nine. [applause] problems with health care . Yes. Do we need to protect our borders from people coming in to hurt us . Of course. Are there now are the National Security questions we face temple simple . No. But i will tell you one thing. We will not get from here to there by making people mad. We get them here to there by providing people what we provided at little rock central high. 90 years ago when the school theed, it was designated best School Building in america. 20 years after that, the Football Team was designated the Best High SchoolFootball Team in america. Not of the state. , this one Governor School regularly won all of the merit scholarships. Crazy too work like win the latin prize over one from deer,competitor arkansas, population 300. Because it was one woman who loved that town and always loved taughttory of rome and and arkansas had a latin bank, and the convention would give ae permit every year to kill bear. And it was by lottery. The condition of getting the bear permit was that you had to give half the meat in the to deer, because the romans eight their meat, and this lady has a cookbook from roman times, and i went to deer, arkansas. I thought it was made up. The High School Gym was covered, and they were the only people that could be little rock central high. Why am i telling you this . Because thats the real meaning of their lives. All they wanted to do was to and be part ofs america. Not a part of america. Not in control of america, but a part of america. That is what this ought to be about. John lewis said on the floor of the congress the other day he was inspired as a young man of 17 by them and he had to find a wave. Give them a so, weve all to get in the wave. This country is, by far, the best positioned country in the world for the 21st century. Theres no point in our getting in our own way any longer. But we have to reject resentment and anger in favor of answers. We have to reject polarization and demonization in favor of mutual respect. Last night, we opened the mandela exhibit at the library and i never cease to be amazed by the discipline and respect mandela showed his political adversaries. He put the people who put him in prison for 27 years in his government and told his own people who criticized him, you just got 62 of the vote. Are you out of your mind . You votedyeah, but we just for the first time in 300 years. But can we run the banks of the military by ourselves . Can people just like you and only like you who only know what you know and think like you any of the challenges we face all by ourselves . The answer is always going to be no. Diverse groups make better decisions than lone geniuses and like number likeminded people and people who are in such silos they cannot bear to think of anything that they are not predisposed to believe. We face an emotional question, a question of the heart, a question of the mind today. Do you really believe in the legacy of the little rock nine . If you are a parent or grandchildren our grandparent, can you imagine how they felt when they set out . The lasting memory i have of the not,reunion, believe it or is not that i was president. I was glad the most important thing i had to do was hold the door so that the world could see the reality of what its symbolic message was. Hillary and i had just taken chelsea to college. We literally had to be run out. F the room, the dorm room she was our only child. Their parents let them come here. Terrified. Of the promise that it offered. That i had just taken for granted. Daughter. Thats what i remember. Going to let more than 200 years of our struggle the idea that our differences are more important than our common humanity just be blown away . Do we really want to go back to what it was like before world war ii . Or the 20s or whatever . I lived through the 1950s and 1960s. Im proud of what was done, but it wasnt pretty, and a lot of people lost their lives. You to say to them, we love you. In economics and social policy and in politics multiplication is better than division. We could have learned it better ingrained school. If we dont learn it, we will never learned. [applause] today. Brate you like wise, older people. Put on your dancing shoes, but lewis,w, just like john he made us get in the way, we need to get in the way again. So tomorrow, we need you again. Put on your marching boots. Go get in the way. God bless you. [applause] James Weldon Johnson poet James Weldon Johnson wrote the text for lift every voice and sing in 1899. Six years later, his brother john johnson set it to music. Here to sing it now is the Philander Smith college choir. Songg this choir sing this is a combination of two organizations which played a key role 60 years ago. The song has become synonymous with the naacp. Before, during, and after the 1957 school year, both the naacp and the college provided a variety of types of support for the little rock nine. Earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty; let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us march on till victory is won stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, felt in the days when hope unborn had died yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet, come to the place for which our fathers sighed . We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, we have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last where the white gleam of our bright star is cast god of our weary years, god of our silent tears, thou who hast brought us thus far on the way thou who hast by thy might, led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray [applause] as we bring the program to a close, let me extend my appreciation to city manager bruce more who steered the committee organization. [applause] as if supervising 2500 City Employees was not enough, he took on the role of leading this planning effort, which took well over a year. His leadership and vision have been invaluable. One of the last legacies of the istle rock nines efforts his son, who celebrates his 11th earth day today. Birthday today. [applause] i wish to also a knowledge the leadership and participation of Little Rock School superintendent michael moore. Little rock conventions and Visitors Bureau ceo gretchen hall. [applause] wright of thein Little Rock Central High SchoolNational Historic site. [applause] over 60 people served on the Steering Committee and subcommittee. Thank you also to each of todays speakers and program or dispense, as well as those who take part in this weekends sculpture dedication, education symposium, the concert, children of the little rock nine panel, and the interfaith service. Thank you to those in attendance today and watching on various media outlets. Your participation has been an important part of this commemoration. Before pastor edwards leads us in a closing blessing, let us pause for one more moment to show our love and appreciation to the little rock nine. Please remain standing for the blessing. [applause] as the lord has blessed us to be part of this commemorative event, he has blessed our coming together and what we have received here now, may he bless us now in our departure. And keepbless thee thee. The lord make his face to shine upon thee and to be gracious unto thee. The lord lift up his countenance. Nto thee and give thee peace amen. [applause] thank you for joining us here today. This concludes our we need all Program Participants to please remain on the stage and standing. Thank you. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2017] bergthor judith deese talks about what life was like for African Americans in philadelphia during and after the civil war. She describes how many former slaves took out newspaper ads to find family members. The university of philadelphia is the host for this 90 minute talk. I am delighted to introduce my friend and colleague tonight. Judith giesberg. It has been a honor for me to spend the last three weeks working together to explore what did independence mean for women, and when you figure that out we will let you know. All academic introductions are a with her complts