About Little Rock Central: 50 Years Later (HBO)

"Little Rock Central: 50 Years Later" is a documentary film produced by HBO. Released in 2007, this gripping documentary revisits Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas, which became a symbolic battleground in the fight for racial equality. In 1957, a group of black students, later named "The Little Rock Nine", enrolled in Little Rock Central High School, marking a landmark moment in the Civil Rights Movement. However, they were met with fierce opposition from the local community and the Arkansas National Guard, who initially blocked their entrance. It took the intervention of President Eisenhower federalizing the Guard and sending Army troops to enforce desegregation. The documentary is a poignant reminder of that harrowing time and the challenges that exist to this day.

Making / Production

The film was a significant undertaking for HBO and was directed by award-winning filmmaker, Brent Renaud, and his brother Craig Renaud. They spent one year in Little Rock Central High School in 2006 to document the lives of students and teachers, depicting the enduring racial divide.

Actors

• Spirit Trickey: Played herself. As one of the daughters of Minnijean Brown Trickey (one of the Little Rock Nine), she provided personal insight into the event and her mother's experiences.
• Minnijean Brown Trickey: Played herself. As a member of the Little Rock Nine, she spoke about her experiences as a student during the desegregation.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The documentary was shot during the 2006/2007 academic year.
• Little Rock Central High School is now a National Historic Site, managed by the National Park Service and still serves as a functioning high school.

Awards

The documentary has received several nominations and awards, including an Official Selection at AFI Docs and the HBO Award at the National Schools Boards Association.

Quotes

• "It's not just the history; we live with it every day" - Spirit Trickey
• "It was the first time in the history of the United States that a president called out federal troops for a civil rights issue" – Minnijean Brown Trickey

Music, Soundtrack

• The film has an original score by David Wingo and Jeff McIlwain.