NEWS FROM

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY

FOR RELEASE: JUNE 5, 1958

LITTLE ROCK NINE AND

NEV/ YORK, June 5.--Nine Negro teenagers, the first of their race to enroll in Central High School of Little Rock, and Mrs. L.C. Bates, their mentor and president of the Arkansas State Conference of Branches, have been chosen as this year's recipients of the Spingarn Medal, Roy Wilkins, executive secretary of the

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, announced here today.

The medal, awarded annually to a Negro American for distinguished achievement, will be presented at the 49th annual NAACP convention in Cleveland,

Precedents Broken

In selecting Mrs. Bates and these six girls and three boys, the Spingarn

Award Committee broke two precedents. For the first time, the award, regarded as the most coveted in the field, is being given to a group rather than an individual. Also for the first time minors are recipients of the award.

The children and Mrs. Bates are cited for "their courageous self-restraint in the face of extreme provocation and peril," and for "their exemplary conduct in upholding the American ideals of liberty and justice." Their role in the Little Rock crisis, the citation continues, "entitles them to the gratitude of every American who believes in law and order, equality of rights, and human decency."

The young people entered Central High last September in compliance with a federal district court order. They were at first denied admittance by Arkansas state troopers acting on orders of Governor Orval E. Faubus. Later they were admitted under the protection of federal troops dispatched to Little Rock by President Eisenhower to prevent interference with the court order.

Suit Filed by NAACP The ruling to admit them to Central High School was the result of a suit

filed on their behalf and at the request of their parents by NAACP laivyers. The Press Releases—June 5 '2 gradual plan of desegregation proposed by the Little Rock Board of Education in 1955 was approved by the United States District Court to become effective with the opening of school in September, 1957.

Ernest GreerK Graduated

On May 27, Ernest Greeny became the first Negro to be graduated from

Central High. He was a member of the senior class of 600 boys and girls. Earlier,

Minnijean Brown, after repeated harassment by a band of white students, was expelled.

She entered the New Lincoln School, a private integrated institution in New York

City. Carlotta Wall made the honor roll in her class. All eight of the colored

students who remained in Central High passed. Others in the pioneer group include

Elizabeth Eckford, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberto

and Jefferson Thomas.

Medal Instituted in 1914

The Spingarn Medal was instituted in 1914 by the late J.E. Spingarn, then

chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors. It is a gold medal on an appropriate

colored band. This year individual medals will be presented to each of the

winners. Mr. Spingarn died in 1939. The medal has been continued under terms of

his will which set up a trust fund "to perpetuate the lifelong interest of rny

brother, Arthur B. Spingarn, of my wife, Amy E. Spingarn, and of myself in the

achievements of the American Negro.” In 1939, Arthur B. Spingarn succeeded his

brother as president of the Association, a position which he has since held

continuously.

Last year, the medal was awarded to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,

for "his outstanding leadership role in the successful Montgomery bus protest

movement." Other previous Spingarn Medalists include Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, Miss

Marian Anderson, Jackie Robinson, Dr. Channing H. Tobias, Judge William H. Hastie,

Thurgood Marshall, Paul Williams, Carl Murphy and A. Philip Randolph.