Hi- today we left from New Orleans really early in the morning to go to Little Rock, Arkansas. We drove on the bus for 7 hours. After lunch we arrived at the Little Rock Central High School Visitors Center, which is a national park. There we met with Thelma Mothershed-Wair, who is one of 9 Black high school students who integrated the Little Rock Central High School in September 1957. When these Black students tried to attend school at this all white high school, the governor of Arkansas called out the Arkansas National Guard to prevent them from attending there. After a lot of national debate and discussion, President Eisenhower called in national troups to protect the students. Because of the governor having his troups prevent these students from trying to go to school, this focused the nation's attendance on the whole issue of segregation (keeping white people and black people apart). It was really hard to see the pictures and tv footage of these students just trying to go to school. A lot of angry Little Rock people threatened these 9 students, spit on them and said they would kill them. These students were between the ages of 15-17. The governor of Arkansas was so focused on not having his schools integrated that he closed all of Little Rock's public high schools the next year. Thelma said that she wanted to go to a good school but that it was very difficult being ignored by all the white people at the school for a whole year. I don't think I would have that kind of courage to walk up the steps of the school in front of people who hated me and ignored me all day, just because of the color of my skin.

After we left the high school we went to the Arkansas state capitol, which looks just like the US capitol but on a smaller scale, to look at the monument to the Little Rock 9 -- it is statues of the 9 students looking as they did the day they tried to enroll. They wanted the statues placed outside the windows of the governor's office so every governor would be reminded of their struggles to get an education.

I'm excited for tomorrow - we are going to learn about Heifer International and also tour the Clinton Presidential Museum. Then we're going to Memphis, which is the last stop on our trip before we head for home on Sunday night. I am having an amazing time, but i can't wait to be back in Eau Claire.

Meeting with a member of the Little Rock Nine

Today we woke up at 5 and got on the bus to drive to Little Rock, Arkansas. We got to Little Rock about 2:30 and then we looked through the Little Rock Central High School visitor center. Then we got to talk with Spirit Tricky, Minnijean Brown's daughter. She is a Park Ranger at the National Historic Site. She talked about what her mom went through. Then we talked to Thelma Mothershed Wair and see told us about what see went through during the crisis at Central High. She told us that all the LR nine are still alive and live all over the world. We got to ask her questions and she signed my book. She inspired me to be nice to people! Then we got a to go in side the high school. It is really big and it is still a school now and they have 9-12 graders that attend. Today was the hardest day as far as it goes for emotions just thinking what would of happened if I had to have done that. It still has the same look on the inside as it did 55 years ago and longer than that from when it opened it in 1927. It cost 1.5 million to build the school and it is really big but they said it would cost at least 16 million to build one like it but it would not be as sound and sturdy as it is now.

Little Rock Nine

Today we left the hotel really early and were on the bus in till we got to Little Rock. When we were in Little Rock we went to the Little Rock Nine Museum. And to Central High School where they went to school and talked about how important access to education is.The school was so big-they have 2400 kids attending in present day. When we were there we got to meet Spirit Trickey one of the little rock nine's daughters. We also got to meet Thelma Mothershed-Wair she was one of the little rock nine. She told us about what it was like to integrate the school. She was very nice to us and signed my book for me. When we were done there we went to the capital building where we got to see the Statues of the little rock nine. It was a really good day.

See New Orleans

Hello -- today we saw a lot of contrasts. We saw parts of New Orleans that still show the impact of Hurricane Katrina - it was hard to imagine just how high the water was, especially in the 9th Ward. One of the pictures I'm posting is the Hurricane Katrina memorial. The blue posts show how high the water got in that area - over 16 feets in many places. Then we drove over the bridge and headed toward Tulane the street leading there was lined with huge mansions.. It's hard to imagine these two areas are both in the same city. We also got to see the section of the 9th Ward where Brad Pitt and his foundation are building new energy efficient homes. The red house is one of the homes that has been built

Also one of the pictures here has writing on it - this is the markings used by the people who came to help right after the hurricane - they show the date they came to check on the house to make sure people and pets got out. It was a sad reminder of just how bad the hurricane was.

We are driving to Little Rock tomorrow morning - very EARLY. I can't wait.

More Pictures New Orleans

Thursday in New Orleans

Today we did a lot in New Orleans. First, we toured around New Orleans in buses while the bus drivers told us about the history and events that had happend in the city. Some parts of it were sad though, because we went through the 9th ward (which are like city districts) where a lot of damage was done in Hurricane Katrina. After that we looked around a library on Tulane University where they had a lot of objects from the slave trade. We had lunch, then went on a swamp tour. The swamp tour was very fun because we got to ride around in a swamp boat and it was 60 degrees f. We also got to see a lot of wildlife (no aligators though, they were hibrinating) such as birds and snakes. Then, we went to the French Quarters and did a little shopping. We then went to Preservation Hall, which is said to be where jazz music was born. We got to see a jazz band perform, who were really good and sounded just like they had come from the past. There was a trumpet, trombone, saxophone (baritone), tuba, bass drum and snare drum player, and they were all excellent. Overall today was one of my favorite days so far! -Emily Way

Great Day in New Orleans

Hey its Miranda. Today was so fun. And I learned so much about history, nature, and music. I also learned about different kinds of architecture. Today we went on a rebirth tour. On the tour we got to see the damage of hurricane Katrina. I couldn't believe that at least 50% of the houses are still vacant. You could see how high the water was on the houses form water marks on the sides of the houses from going the lower to the upper 9th ward. Habitat for Humanity were building new houses and they were painted all different colors and were very colorful. It was really cool. We also got to see the first integrated elementary school. The little girl that integrated the school was Ruby Bridges. We watch the movie about her on our way to New Orleans so it was interesting to see the real school. Then we went to Tulane University. It was a very pretty campus we went to an exhibit on Amistad. I didn't know anything about this slave uprising so I learned lots of new things. Then we went on swamp tour. It was too cold to see alligators but we saw a lot of cool other things like a house that was took off its foundation and floated down the river where it took out a shoreline and made a new swamp and that is where it sits today. I couldn't believe it. Then we learned about bird and animals in the area. We also learned about trees and grass and other stuff in the swamp. It was really interesting. We ended the day in the French Quarter. We ate at Cafe du Monde and then went to Preservation Hall. I loved the jazz music and had such an awesome time.