[ APPLAUSE ]
[ APPLAUSE ]
>>> SO, AS WE MARK BLACK HISTORY
MONTH, WE REMEMBER THAT DAY INRY
MONTH, WE REMEMBER THAT DAY IN
SEPTEMBER OF 1957, WHEN NINE
SEPTEMBER OF 1957, WHEN NINE
BLACK TEENAGERS ENROLLED IN A
BLACK TEENAGERS ENROLLED IN A
WHITE HIGH SCHOOL IN LITTLE
ROCK, ARKANSAS.OL IN LITTLE
ROCK, ARKANSAS.
THE TEENS WOULD BECOME KNOWN AS
THE TEENS WOULD BECOME KNOWN AS
THE LITTLE ROCK NINE.
THE LITTLE ROCK NINE.
AND THEIR ACTIONS SPARKED ONE OF
AND THEIR ACTIONS SPARKED ONE OF
THE MOST PIVOTAL MOMENTS OF THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.TS OF THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
ONE OF THE LITTLE ROCK NINE IS
ONE OF THE LITTLE ROCK NINE IS
MELBA BEALS.
MELBA BEALS.
THEN, SHE WAS A 15-YEAR-OLD HIGH
THEN, SHE WAS A 15-YEAR-OLD HIGH
SCHOOL JUNIOR.
SCHOOL JUNIOR.
TODAY, SHE IS AN ACCOMPLISHED
TODAY, SHE IS AN ACCOMPLISHED
AUTHOR AND RETIRED UNIVERSITY
PROFESSOR WHO JOINS US LIVE.Y
PROFESSOR WHO JOINS US LIVE.
FIRST, HER MEMORY OF THOSE DAYS
FIRST, HER MEMORY OF THOSE DAYS
IN HER OWN WORDS.
>> I WAS NEVER UP FOR THE TASK.
>> I WAS NEVER UP FOR THE TASK.
PEOPLE THAT CALL US HEROES AND
PEOPLE THAT CALL US HEROES AND
HERE
HERE
HEROINES DONT KNOW.
I ANTICIPATED THAT INITIALLY,
I ANTICIPATED THAT INITIALLY,
THEY WOULD NOT LIKE US BECAUSE
THEY WOULD NOT LIKE US BECAUSE
WE WERE OUTSIDERS.
WE WERE OUTSIDERS.
BUT MY THOUGHT WAS, I HAVE A
PONYTAIL, MY SHOES ARE POLISHED.
PONYTAIL, MY SHOES ARE POLISHED.
IN MY INNOCENCE, I THOUGHT, THEY
IN MY INNOCENCE, I THOUGHT, THEY
WILL SEE THAT I AM BRIGHT.
WILL SEE THAT I AM BRIGHT.
BRIGHTER THAN MOST OF THEM.
BY THEN, I KNEW WHO I WAS..
BY THEN, I KNEW WHO I WAS.
AND I KNOW WHAT IM CAPABLE OF.
AND I KNOW WHAT IM CAPABLE OF.
AND I WAS SELF-ASSURED IN THAT
AND I WAS SELF-ASSURED IN THAT
WAY.
WAY.
I THOUGHT, AFTER A FEW WEEKS, IT
I THOUGHT, AFTER A FEW WEEKS, IT
WILL BE OKAY.
WILL BE OKAY.
I DIDNT WANT A BEST FRIEND.
I DIDNT WANT A BEST FRIEND.
THERES NO THOUGHT OF ME THAT
THERES NO THOUGHT OF ME THAT
THOUGHT, THESE PEOPLE ARE
THOUGHT, THESE PEOPLE ARE
PRIMITIVE AND THEY WILL REACH
PRIMITIVE AND THEY WILL REACH
OUT TO HIT US.
OUT TO HIT US.
I DIDNT THINK THAT THERE WOULD
BE A PERSONAL RISK LIKE THAT.D
BE A PERSONAL RISK LIKE THAT.
WELL, THE FIRST DAY I ARRIVED,
WELL, THE FIRST DAY I ARRIVED,
WE ARRIVED.
WE ARRIVED.
WE HEAR THIS CLOUD GROUP OF
WE HEAR THIS CLOUD GROUP OF
PEOPLE.
PEOPLE.
WHAT WE NOTICE ON THE WAY TO
CENTRAL HIGH, THERES A LOT OF
CENTRAL HIGH, THERES A LOT OF
WHITE PEOPLE IN THE STREETS THAT
WHITE PEOPLE IN THE STREETS THAT
ARENT USUALLY THERE.
ARENT USUALLY THERE.
THE CROWD WAS FIVE-DEEP OR
THE CROWD WAS FIVE-DEEP OR
SOMETHING.
SOMETHING.
WERE LIKE, WHAT ARE THEY ALL
LOOKING AT?WHAT ARE THEY ALL
LOOKING AT?
THAT DAY, WE GOT SEPARATED.
THAT DAY, WE GOT SEPARATED.
I WAS SEPARATE FROM THE GROUP.
WE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE. GROUP.
WE SAID, WAIT A MINUTE.
THE GUY SAID WE DONT HAVE TO GO
THE GUY SAID WE DONT HAVE TO GO
ACROSS THE STREET TO HANGING.
ACROSS THE STREET TO HANGING.
WEVE GOT IT RIGHT HERE.
WEVE GOT IT RIGHT HERE.
AND HE IS TALKING TO MY MOTHER
AND HE IS TALKING TO MY MOTHER
AND ME.
AND ME.
MY MOTHER WAS PETITE, SHORTER
MY MOTHER WAS PETITE, SHORTER
THAN ME THEN.
THAN ME THEN.
SHE HAD AN HER HEELS.
SHE HAD AN HER HEELS.
AND WE STARTED RUNNING AS FAST
AND WE STARTED RUNNING AS FAST
AS WE COULD.
AS WE COULD.
SHE IN HER HEELS.
SHE IN HER HEELS.
AT ONE POINT, SHE STEPPED OUT OF
AT ONE POINT, SHE STEPPED OUT OF
THEM.
THEM.
AND AT ONE POINT, SHE STOPPED
JUST A MOMENT AND HANDED ME THE
JUST A MOMENT AND HANDED ME THE
CAR KEYS.
CAR KEYS.
AND I SAID, IM NOT LEAVING YOU.
AND I SAID, IM NOT LEAVING YOU.
AND SHE SAID, YOU GOT TO GO.
AND SHE SAID, YOU GOT TO GO.
YOU GOT TO GO.
YOU GOT TO GO.
YOURE FASTER THAN I AM.
YOURE FASTER THAN I AM.
GO.
GO.
I SAID, NO, MAAM.
I SAID, NO, MAAM.
NO, MAAM.
NO, MAAM.
AND SHE SLAPPED ME THE ONLY TIME
INSLAPPED ME.ED ME THE ONLY TIME
INSLAPPED ME.
SHE SAID, SAVE YOUR LIFE, I
SHE SAID, SAVE YOUR LIFE, I
WORKED HARD, YOU GO.
WORKED HARD, YOU GO.
>> WOW.
>> WOW.
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME MELBA
PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME MELBA
PATTILLO BEALS.
PATTILLO BEALS.
YOU ARE LOOKING AT ONE OF THE
YOU ARE LOOKING AT ONE OF THE
LITTLE ROCK NINE RIGHT HERE.
LITTLE ROCK NINE RIGHT HERE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> MY BLESSING.
>> MY BLESSING.
MY PLEASURE.
MY PLEASURE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> IN YOUR BOOK, YOU WROTE,
>> IN YOUR BOOK, YOU WROTE,
GROWING UP IN SEGREGATED LITTLE
GROWING UP IN SEGREGATED LITTLE
ROCK IN THE 1950s WAS A DEEP
ROCK IN THE 1950s WAS A DEEP
FAITH STRUGGLE.
FAITH STRUGGLE.
THE FIRST EMOTION ILL WAS A WAS
THE FIRST EMOTION ILL WAS A WAS
OF, WAS FEAR.
OF, WAS FEAR.
FEAR IF WE DISOBEYED THE RULES.
FEAR IF WE DISOBEYED THE RULES.
AND YET, YOU RAISED YOUR HAND.
AND YET, YOU RAISED YOUR HAND.
YOU RAISED YOUR HAND TO
YOU RAISED YOUR HAND TO
INTEGRATE THIS SCHOOL THAT
INTEGRATE THIS SCHOOL THAT
SEEMED, FROM AFAR, MAGNIFICENT
SEEMED, FROM AFAR, MAGNIFICENT
TO YOU.
TO YOU.
>> TO THIS DAY, IM CALLED THE
BEST NEWS REPORTER EVER BECAUSE
BEST NEWS REPORTER EVER BECAUSE
IM SO NOSEY.
IM SO NOSEY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU KNOW, IF I CAME TO YOUR
YOU KNOW, IF I CAME TO YOUR
HOUSE, ID IMMEDIATELY ASK TO GO
HOUSE, ID IMMEDIATELY ASK TO GO
POTTY SO I COULD CHECK
POTTY SO I COULD CHECK
EVERYTHING OUT, YOU KNOW?
EVERYTHING OUT, YOU KNOW?
[ LAUGHTER ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
I HAD WRITTEN AROUND CENTRAL
HIGH SCHOOL SINCE I WAS LITTLE.
HIGH SCHOOL SINCE I WAS LITTLE.
DONT SAY I CANT DO SOMETHING.
DONT SAY I CANT DO SOMETHING.
THATS WHAT IM ALWAYS GOING TO
THATS WHAT IM ALWAYS GOING TO
DO.
DO.
WHEELCHAIR WALKER OR NOT, IF YOU
WHEELCHAIR WALKER OR NOT, IF YOU
DEFY ME, I WAS BORN THAT WAY.
DEFY ME, I WAS BORN THAT WAY.
THEY SAID, YOU CANT GO TO THIS
SCHOOL.ID, YOU CANT GO TO THIS
SCHOOL.
THIS SCHOOL WAS SEVEN, EIGHT
THIS SCHOOL WAS SEVEN, EIGHT
STORIES HIGH WITH ALL OF THE
STORIES HIGH WITH ALL OF THE
EQUIPMENT.
EQUIPMENT.
IT WAS EIGHT SQUARE BLOCKS IN
DIAMETER.GHT SQUARE BLOCKS IN
DIAMETER.
I WAS GOING TO A SCHOOL THAT
I WAS GOING TO A SCHOOL THAT
EVERY YEAR, THEY WOULD BRING
EVERY YEAR, THEY WOULD BRING
OVER THE THREE-LEGGED TABLE, THE
OVER THE THREE-LEGGED TABLE, THE
BROKEN TYPEWRITER.
BROKEN TYPEWRITER.
AND I SAID, WHO PUT THEM IN
CHARGE?AID, WHO PUT THEM IN
CHARGE?
AND GRANDMA WOULD SAY, IF THEY
AND GRANDMA WOULD SAY, IF THEY
KNEW BETTER, THEY WOULD DO
BETTER.TTER, THEY WOULD DO
BETTER.
GOD LOVES US EQUALLY.
GOD LOVES US EQUALLY.
I SAID, LOOK, MOM, I WANT THEM
I SAID, LOOK, MOM, I WANT THEM
TO COME OUT AND BE IN CHARGE FOR
TO COME OUT AND BE IN CHARGE FOR
SIX MONTHS.
SIX MONTHS.
LET THEM DO JANUARY TO JUNE.
LET THEM DO JANUARY TO JUNE.
AND LET ME DO JULY TO DECEMBER,
AND LET ME DO JULY TO DECEMBER,
IF GOD LOVES US EQUAL.
IF GOD LOVES US EQUAL.
AND SHE WOULD SAY, NO.
AND SHE WOULD SAY, NO.
THIS IS GODS TIME AND HIS WAY.
WHEN ITS TIME TO PUT YOUR HAND
WHEN ITS TIME TO PUT YOUR HAND
UP TO GO TO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL,
UP TO GO TO CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL,
DESPITE ANY THOUGHTS OF TYRANNY
DESPITE ANY THOUGHTS OF TYRANNY
OF WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN, I PUT
OF WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN, I PUT
MY HAND UP.
MY HAND UP.
I DIDNT REALLY ANTICIPATE --
I DIDNT REALLY ANTICIPATE --
DONT LET YOU BELIEVE THAT IM A
DONT LET YOU BELIEVE THAT IM A
HEROINE.
HEROINE.
I THOUGHT, THEYLL BE MEAN.
THEYLL CALL ME NAMES BECAUSE
THEYLL CALL ME NAMES BECAUSE
THEY DO THAT AT ANY NEW SCHOOL.
THEY DO THAT AT ANY NEW SCHOOL.
THEY WONT LIKE MY BLOUSE, THEY
THEY WONT LIKE MY BLOUSE, THEY
WONT LIKE MY HAIR.
WONT LIKE MY HAIR.
>> DID YOU EXPECT THE THREATS ON
>> DID YOU EXPECT THE THREATS ON
YOUR LIFE?
YOUR LIFE?
THERE WERE ROPES PEOPLE WERE
THERE WERE ROPES PEOPLE WERE
HOLDING, WEAPONS, CALLING YOU
HOLDING, WEAPONS, CALLING YOU
THE "N" WORD.
THE "N" WORD.
>> PEOPLE SHOOTING THROUGH MY
>> PEOPLE SHOOTING THROUGH MY
LIVING ROOM WINDOW.
LIVING ROOM WINDOW.
PEOPLE THROWING ACID IN MY EYES.
PEOPLE THROWING ACID IN MY EYES.
PEOPLE THROWING LIT PAPER OVER
PEOPLE THROWING LIT PAPER OVER
THE BATHROOM STALL.
THE BATHROOM STALL.
AFTER A DAY AND A HALF, I
AFTER A DAY AND A HALF, I
THOUGHT, INTEGRATION IS A MUCH
THOUGHT, INTEGRATION IS A MUCH
BIGGER WORD THAN I THOUGHT
BIGGER WORD THAN I THOUGHT
BECAUSE I DIDNT UNDERSTAND WHAT
BECAUSE I DIDNT UNDERSTAND WHAT
PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO DO TO
PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO DO TO
AVOID SITTING BY ME.
AVOID SITTING BY ME.
AND I LIKED ME.
AND I LIKED ME.
I COULDNT FIGURE THAT OUT.
I COULDNT FIGURE THAT OUT.
ALL MY LIFE, MY GRANDMOTHER
ALL MY LIFE, MY GRANDMOTHER
SAID, GOD HAS A PICTURE OF YOU
SAID, GOD HAS A PICTURE OF YOU
ON HIS REFRIGERATOR.
ON HIS REFRIGERATOR.
HE REALLY LIKES YOU.
HE REALLY LIKES YOU.
YOURE PRETTY.
YOURE PRETTY.
HE LIKES YOU.
HE LIKES YOU.
WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO KEEP
WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO KEEP
FROM SITTING BESIDE ME?
FROM SITTING BESIDE ME?
>> WHEN THEY PUT YOU IN THE
>> WHEN THEY PUT YOU IN THE
SCHOOL, THEY SEPARATED THE NINE
SCHOOL, THEY SEPARATED THE NINE
OF YOU AND SAID, YOU WANT
OF YOU AND SAID, YOU WANT
INTEGRATION, YOU GOT IT.
INTEGRATION, YOU GOT IT.
>> THERE WERE NINE9 OF US AND 1,
>> THERE WERE NINE9 OF US AND 1,
OF THEM.
OF THEM.
AND THE SCHOOL IS TWO BLOCKS
AND THE SCHOOL IS TWO BLOCKS
LONG, EIGHT BLOCKS IN DIAMETER.
LONG, EIGHT BLOCKS IN DIAMETER.
IT WAS HUGE.
WE SAID, COULDNT SOME OF US GO
WE SAID, COULDNT SOME OF US GO
TO THE SAME AREA.
TO THE SAME AREA.
I WAS IN ROOM 313.
I WAS IN ROOM 313.
AND YOU COULD SAY THE LORDS
AND YOU COULD SAY THE LORDS
PRAYER 12 1/2 TIMES UP THE THREE
PRAYER 12 1/2 TIMES UP THE THREE
FLIGHTS OF STAIRS.
FLIGHTS OF STAIRS.
YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING.
BEFORE THE MORNINGS OVER,THING.
BEFORE THE MORNINGS OVER,
SOMEONE IS GOING TO TOSS
SOMEONE IS GOING TO TOSS
DYNAMITE DOWN THE OPEN
DYNAMITE DOWN THE OPEN
STAIRWELL.
STAIRWELL.
ARE THEY GOING TO HIT YOU WITH
SOMETHING YOU COULDNT IMAGINE?
SOMETHING YOU COULDNT IMAGINE?
THE NAME CALLING YOU CAN GET
THE NAME CALLING YOU CAN GET
PAST, STICKS AND STONES AND ALL
PAST, STICKS AND STONES AND ALL
THAT.
THAT.
BUT THE HITTING IS WHAT MAKES
BUT THE HITTING IS WHAT MAKES
YOU NUTS.
YOU NUTS.
YOU DONT KNOW WHO IS GOING TO
HIT YOU AND YOU DONT KNOW HOW.
HIT YOU AND YOU DONT KNOW HOW.
ARE THEY GOING TO TRIP YOU?
ARE THEY GOING TO TRIP YOU?
ARE THEY GOING TO HIT YOU WITH
ARE THEY GOING TO HIT YOU WITH
HOT WATER IN THE SHOWER.
HOT WATER IN THE SHOWER.
WILL YOU OPEN YOUR LOCKER AND
WILL YOU OPEN YOUR LOCKER AND
BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN?
BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN?
>> EVEN IF YOU WERENT FON
>> EVEN IF YOU WERENT FON
CONSCIOUSLY AWARE OF THE COURAGE
CONSCIOUSLY AWARE OF THE COURAGE
AND THE HEROISM, IN THAT ACT
AND THE HEROISM, IN THAT ACT
THEN, DO YOU SEE IT NOW?
THEN, DO YOU SEE IT NOW?
>> IVE ONLY SEEN IT SINCE I WAS
>> IVE ONLY SEEN IT SINCE I WAS
40.
40.
I DIDNT REALLY SEE -- PERHAPS
I DIDNT REALLY SEE -- PERHAPS
IT WAS THAT WHEN THE CONGRESS
VOTED THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLDS
VOTED THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD
MEDAL OF HONOR, PERHAPS THAT WAS
MEDAL OF HONOR, PERHAPS THAT WAS
THE FIRST TIME I SAW, OKAY,
THE FIRST TIME I SAW, OKAY,
MELBA.
MELBA.
THE REST OF THE TIME I THOUGHT,
OKAY, IM QUITE FAMOUS. THOUGHT,
OKAY, IM QUITE FAMOUS.
AND I TRIED TO AVOID THAT AS
AND I TRIED TO AVOID THAT AS
MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
IF YOURE SHOPPING IN THE
IF YOURE SHOPPING IN THE
GROCERY STORE AND YOU HAVE YOUR
GROCERY STORE AND YOU HAVE YOUR
TACKY LITTLE LIST AND YOUR
TACKY LITTLE LIST AND YOUR
BUDGET, YOU DONT WANT PEOPLE
BUDGET, YOU DONT WANT PEOPLE
FOLLOWING YOU.
FOLLOWING YOU.
AND TO BOOT, I WAS AN NBC NEWS
AND TO BOOT, I WAS AN NBC NEWS
REPORTER.
REPORTER.
PEOPLE LOCALLY DID NOT KNOW WHO
PEOPLE LOCALLY DID NOT KNOW WHO
I WAS BUT THEY FOLLOWED ME
ANYWAY.UT THEY FOLLOWED ME
ANYWAY.
AND SO, I TRIED TO STAY OUT OF
AND SO, I TRIED TO STAY OUT OF
THE SPOTLIGHT UNTIL I WAS
THE SPOTLIGHT UNTIL I WAS
WORKING FOR "PEOPLE" MAGAZINE.
AND ONE DAY MY BOSS WALKED IN.
AND ONE DAY MY BOSS WALKED IN
AND SAID, YOURE GOING TO TELL
AND SAID, YOURE GOING TO TELL
ME THIS IS WHO YOU ARE AND YOU
ME THIS IS WHO YOU ARE AND YOU
WORKED IN THIS OFFICE MORE THAN
WORKED IN THIS OFFICE MORE THAN
A YEAR AND YOU DIDNT MENTION
A YEAR AND YOU DIDNT MENTION
THIS.
THIS.
I WAS CRYING.
AND SHE MADE ME DO AN INTERVIEW.
AND SHE MADE ME DO AN INTERVIEW.
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF, SHALL
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF, SHALL
WE SAY, A COMING-OUT PARTY.
WE SAY, A COMING-OUT PARTY.
>> I LOVE THAT YOU SAY THAT YOUR
>> I LOVE THAT YOU SAY THAT YOUR
GRANDMOTHER BELIEVED THAT GOD
GRANDMOTHER BELIEVED THAT GOD
HAD SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS FOR YOU.
HAD SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS FOR YOU.
DID HE EVER.
DID HE EVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TELLING
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TELLING
YOUR STORY AND FOR BEING HERE
YOUR STORY AND FOR BEING HERE
AND FOR GOING THROUGH WHAT YOU
AND FOR GOING THROUGH WHAT YOU
DID FOR ALL OF THE BOYS AND
DID FOR ALL OF THE BOYS AND
GIRLS WHO FOLLOWED.
GIRLS WHO FOLLOWED.
ALL THE BEST TO YOU.
ALL THE BEST TO YOU.
>> MY BLESSING.
>> MY BLESSING.
>> MELBAS BOOK, WHICH YOU MUST
>> MELBAS BOOK, WHICH YOU MUST
GET RIGHT NOW, IS CALLED "I WILL
GET RIGHT NOW, IS CALLED "I WILL
NOT FEAR: MY STORY OF A LIFETIME
NOT FEAR: MY STORY OF A LIFETIME
OF BUILDING FAITH UNDER FIRE."
OF BUILDING FAITH UNDER FIRE."
WELL BE RIGHT BACK.
