Members of ‘Little Rock Nine’ who integrated Arkansas schools slam moves against AP African American studies

A group that integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957 when it was segregated by race has come out to decry Arkansas barring AP African American studies from counting toward credit for graduation. 

Arkansas has not banned AP African American studies from its schools but said the class will not count for credit toward graduation for high school students as it reviews the material.

“Until it’s determined whether it violates state law and teaches or trains teachers in CRT and indoctrination, the state will not move forward,” the Arkansas Department of Education said, referring to critical race theory.

“Little Rock Nine” members interviewed with NBC News and said they were not surprised but are disappointed at the move by the state.

Terrence Roberts, a member of the group who is now 81 years old, said there shouldn’t be “laws restricting their ability to learn, or what they could learn” and called it “ridiculous” that Arkansas banned critical race theory from its schools. 

“I think the attempts to erase history is working for the Republican Party,” Elizabeth Eckford, another member of Little Rock Nine, told NBC News. “They have some bogeymen that are really popular with their supporters.”

Six schools in Arkansas said they will still keep the pilot class in their curriculum despite it not counting as credit toward graduation 

“I know there are voices pushing back,” Roberts said. “The question is, will they be successful?”

Arkansas Education Secretary Jacob Oliva wrote to the six schools involved in the pilot program for AP African American studies asking for materials to be given to the state and detailing some of the state’s specific concerns. 

“Given some of the themes included in the pilot, including ‘intersections of identity’ and ‘resistance and resilience,’ the Department is concerned the pilot may not comply with Arkansas law, which does not permit teaching that would indoctrinate students with ideologies, such as Critical Race Theory (CRT),” Oliva said.

The College Board hit back Tuesday with a statement saying the course is “not indoctrination” and the state has had plenty of time to review the materials. 

“The pilot course framework has been available for public review since February 1, 2023; the Arkansas Department of Education was informed of the framework then, following its October 2022 approval of the pilot course code,” the College Board said.