Krieger Schechter Day School and Roland Park Elementary/Middle School had the honor of learning with Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of the original Little Rock 9.
Students first had the opportunity to meet each other and talk about their respective schools.
Students participated in exercises to help them understand what the climate in the country was like in 1957 and how that led to ‘The Little Rock 9″.
Students showed grace, poise and profundity in their questions, building seamlessly on the preparation they have had from their classes this year on the important topics of segregation and civil rights.
We were happy that local media covered Dr. Roberts visit today, and we have been told that WBAL TV expects to air a short story about his visit on local news sometime this afternoon/evening. Reporter Tim Tooten tweeted about the visit earlier today.
Dr. Roberts visit was made possible by a grant from Facing History and Ourselves. FHAO is an organization that works with schools to promote social justice and the role of Upstanders in our community
Terrence J. Roberts, Ph.D. is one of the “Little Rock Nine” who desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957. As a 15 year old eleventh grader, he joined eight other students and became one of the first nine black students to go to a formerly segregated public high school in Little Rock.
Dr. Roberts is CEO of Terrence Roberts Consulting, a management consultant firm devoted to fair and equitable practices in business and industry. (More information available at his website: Terrenceroberts.com)
A graduate of California State University at Los Angeles (BA), and UCLA (MSW), Dr. Roberts obtained his Ph.D. in Psychology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois.
LESSONS FROM LITTLE ROCK, a memoir by Dr. Roberts was published on October 1, 2009. In this book he describes his experience at Central High School and talks about the salient lessons to be learned from that episode. On February 1, 2010, his second book, SIMPLE, NOT EASY: Reflections on Community, Social Responsibility, and Tolerance was published. The essays in this volume seek to guide the reader toward more socially responsible positions in life.
A much sought after speaker and presenter, Dr. Roberts lectures and presents workshops and seminars on a wide variety of topics.
