Clinton Presidential Center Presents “Lost Stories of Desegregation: The North Little Rock Six and the New Orleans Four”

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled school segregation unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Following that decision, brave students and parents across the country stepped forward to desegregate schools in their communities. Many of these historic stories remain unknown to most Americans. 

Join us on Wednesday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. CT, when the Clinton Presidential Center Presents “Lost Stories of Desegregation: The North Little Rock Six and the New Orleans Four” in partnership with the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. Seventy years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, we will welcome members of two groups who challenged school segregation: the North Little Rock Six and the New Orleans Four. 

Register here to attend the program in person at the Clinton Presidential Center or to tune in live online. 

ASL interpretation is available during our events. 

The panel will include: 

Gail Etienne, New Orleans Four, was one of four Black students who were the first to attend previously all-white elementary schools in New Orleans. Ms. Etienne started first grade at McDonogh 19 Elementary in November 1960. She was later part of the desegregation of R. J. Semmes Elementary and Francis T. Nicholls High School. Ms. Etienne lives in New Orleans where she recently celebrated 25 years with the United States Postal Service and is active in preserving the history of school desegregation. 

Richard Lindsey, North Little Rock Six, was one of six Black students who attempted to desegregate North Little High School in September 1957. He graduated from Scipio A. Jones High School then served in the Marines. After his military service, Mr. Lindsey returned to Arkansas and began a restauranteur career. He is currently the sole proprietor of Lindsey’s Bar-B-Que. 

Gerald Persons, North Little Rock Six, was one of six Black students who attempted to desegregate North Little High School in September 1957. He graduated from Scipio A. Jones High School and attended Shorter College before serving in the United States Air Force. Mr. Persons settled in Los Angeles following his military service and began a 30-year career with Union Carbide Corporation. After he retired in 1992, Mr. Persons worked part time for the City of Cerritos in the Community Safety Department. He is active in competitive senior league softball, playing with different teams twice weekly. 

Pamela Smith, Executive Communications Director and Senior Advisor for the Little Rock School District (LRSD), will moderate the panel. Since April 2012, she has guided internal and external communications, marketing, and public relations efforts at LRSD. Smith is a 30+ year communications veteran who has enjoyed a career that spans public relations, radio/television broadcast, and print.

Clinton Presidential Center Presents is a partnership between the Clinton Foundation, Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas, and Clinton Presidential Library.