The Little Rock Nine: 'We've become as we were 60 years ago'
'The office of president in this country is one where a tone can be set for the citizens'
This interview was originally broadcast on September 30, 2017.
U.S. President Donald Trump's ongoing battle with NFL players started almost a year ago, with a rally speech in Alabama in September 2018.
"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'get that son of a bitch off the field right now'?" said Trump.
After that speech came a series of angry tweets about NFL players protesting racism by kneeling during the national anthem.
The comment, and the tweets, did not go unnoticed by members of the Little Rock Nine.
On September 25, 1957, nine black students became the first ever to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, where public schools had, until that point, been segregated.
We become as we were 60 years ago: anxious and worried and concerned about what lies ahead.- Carlotta Walls LaNier, member of the Little Rock Nine
The students became known as the Little Rock Nine, and their efforts to attend school became a seminal moment in the civil rights movement.
The 60th anniversary of their civil rights battle happened to fall in the same week as the president's NFL tweet storm denouncing the players. His condemnation was aimed directly at black athletes, including athletes from other professional sports.
Now, nearly a full year later, his complaints about NFL players continue, as he tweeted more criticism of players when the NFL pre-season kicked off last week.
"The NFL players are at it again — taking a knee when they should be standing proudly for the National Anthem. Numerous players, from different teams, wanted to show their 'outrage' at something that most of them are unable to define," said Trump in a tweet on Aug. 10, 2018.
On stage at the anniversary ceremony at Central High School in Little Rock last September, member Carlotta Walls LaNier took note of Trump's words.
"Today we have number 45, who behind the scenes and through his Twitter accounts, we become as we were 60 years ago: anxious and worried and concerned about what lies ahead," said LaNier.
It's a sentiment shared by Terrence Roberts, another member of the Little Rock Nine. As he told Day 6 host Brent Bambury, until the election of Donald Trump, he had thought the United States was moving in the right direction.
"It's a remarkable change in terms of where we thought we were during the presidency of Barack Obama," said Roberts. "All of a sudden we've shifted around 180 degrees."
'A tone can be set'
When asked how he felt when Trump used the term "son of a bitch" to describe NFL players protesting racism by taking a knee during the national anthem, Roberts expresses concern about the example being set by the president.
"The office of president in this country is one where a tone can be set for the citizens. This current president, I don't think he understands that," said Roberts. "He's setting a tone that really allows for the darker forces to come to the fore and feel energized."
Roberts says he predicted that Trump's presidency would cause racial tension.
"When he first started running for president he was quite clear about who he really was. In fact, he's bragged that he could get away with anything. And seemingly, it's proven true," said Roberts.
So where does that take the country?
"Well, that's the big question," said Roberts. "I think a lot of people are simply in shock. His supporters are over the moon. They think it's fine, and they are the loudest voices we have right now."
The Little Rock Nine
In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Brown v. Board of Education, ruled that segregated schools were unconstitutional. In Arkansas the ruling was not accepted and Governor Orval Faubus refused to desegregate the state's public schools.
The NAACP challenged the governor's efforts by choosing nine black students with exceptional grades to attend Central High School, an all-white school. When the students arrived for the first day of school, they didn't even make it on school property.
Faubus sent the National Guard to block the black students from attending the school. They were joined by an angry white mob.
Let me tell you, I was very frightened. I've never been that afraid in my life, really.- Terrence Roberts, member of the Little Rock Nine
Three weeks later, President Eisenhower intervened and ordered that the National Guard be removed, and that the black students be permitted to attend the school. Eisenhower sent U.S. Army troops to the school to escort the students inside.
"Let me tell you, I was very frightened. I've never been that afraid in my life, really," said Roberts.
He says he knew that he would be met with protesters on that first day of school. But he expected that outrage to die away.
"They never gave up. They absolutely never gave up. That entire year the mob was out yelling and screaming, and so my fear level was always off the chart that whole year."
What was learned from Little Rock?
"The biggest lesson I took away from Little Rock was that there is much more support for maintaining the status quo than there is for making change," said Roberts.
So what does he think of the #TakeAKnee controversy?
"I think that the only controversy is the response from the president and people like him," said Roberts. "I think that the athletes are finally finding their voice."
Former San Francisco quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, startied kneeling during the anthem in September of 2016.
"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour," said Kaepernick at the time. Kaepernick remains unsigned for the second season in a row.
Trump has shifted the conversation, arguing that it's a protest about patriotism.
"They take refuge [in patriotism], thinking somehow, by wrapping themselves in the flag or other emblems of patriotism, their real motivation can be hidden. I don't buy that for a second," said Roberts.
At the 60th anniversary ceremony in Little Rock last September, former President Bill Clinton said he'd like for everyone to celebrate and put on their dancing shoes.
"But instead, I have to say, 'Put on your marching boots,'" said Clinton.
"I've been marching since December 3rd, 1941," Roberts said.
"I do worry … sometimes people will feel that the fight is over, or almost over, and they can relax. But honestly, I don't think there's a time when we can relax."
To hear the full conversation with Terrence Roberts, download our podcast or click the listen button at the top of this page.