Dr. Terrence Roberts, who made history as one of the Little Rock Nine, the nine African American students who desegregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957, will be the keynote speaker at the 39th Annual Madison-Dane County observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday on Monday, Jan. 15, at the Overture Center Capitol Theater, the King Coalition announced on Friday.
Roberts attended segregated schools throughout his life until 1957, when he volunteered to help desegregate Little Rock Central High School. His first several attempts to enter the school were stopped by the Arkansas National Guard and angry mobs up to 1,000 people, according to a press release from the King Coalition, and eventually, President Dwight Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard and dispatched members of the 101st Airborne Division to accompany the students to school for the remainder of the year. Dr. Roberts went on to a successful academic career that included earning a Ph.D.
In 1999, President Bill Clinton awarded Roberts and the other members of the Little Rock Nine the Congressional Gold Medal “for their pioneer role in upholding the basic ideals of American democracy in the face of continuing harassment and constant threats of bodily injury.”
The City-County Observance will take place on Jan. 15 and will include freedom songs sing-along from 5:15-5:45 p.m., followed by the program from 6-7:30 p.m. The Observance will also feature the presentation of the Madison-Dane County Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Awards by Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. Noted musicians Leotha and Tamera Stanley will lead the MLK Community Choir.
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