School and hopes for the future. The film won an Academy Award for documentary short subject. [video clip] where do you begin . Where do you look . Like an ancient battlefield, the ground is silent though people still move in familiar places. Now on this field, negro and white run together remembering how it was in little rock, arkansas in 1957. Perhaps it is best for those today to look or they are going and not where they have been. When you are a dark man in a country where the negro is demanding more and more an equal chance, you have the right to look back to discover if you are really moving forward or if the world is just moving beneath your feet. I have a special reason for looking back. My name is Jefferson Thomas and im one of the nine of little rock. There is nothing strange in seeing American Children walking to school on a september morning but this was a special morning in a special part of america, a place where negro children had never gone to school before. Hatred is e
[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] ple