On historic day, man who helped pave the way recalls 'a year of hell' in Arkansas

[rpannier]

ROCK ISLAND – On one of the happiest days in African-American history, and the 45th anniversary of one of the most inspiring, Terrence Roberts spoke Thursday of his own dreams, and nightmares.

Mr. Roberts, 67, was one of nine African-American teenagers escorted by troopers of the U.S. Army's 101st AirborneDivision into Little Rock's Central High School on Sept. 23, 1957 – one of the seminal moments in the civil rights movement.

“That year was a year of hell,”Mr. Robertstold a packed Centennial Hall at Augustana College at the first in the 2008-09 Community Convocation Series. “Looking back, I don't know how we survived.”

snip

Mr. Roberts remembered the sting of racism that year, when he was 13, and ordered food to go from a diner, and simply sat on a stool to wait for it. “That was a violation of the legal, the cultural, and the sacred code,” he said. “I don't know why I did it.”

link:
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=402035

on edit: There's a lovely quote from curious george at qconline, by some Nazi, klan hack.