Ernest Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ernest Green
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Green in 1996
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Ernest Gideon Green
September 22, 1941 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
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| Education | Little Rock Central High School Horace Mann High School |
| Alma mater | Michigan State University (BA, MA) |
| Movement | Civil Rights Movement |
| Spouse(s) | Phyllis |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Congressional Gold Medal Spingarn Medal |
Ernest Gideon Green, born on September 22, 1941, is an important figure in American history. He was one of the "Little Rock Nine." This was a group of nine African-American students. In 1957, they bravely attended Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. They were the first black students to go to this all-white school. Ernest Green made history again in 1958. He became the first African-American to graduate from the school. Later, in 1999, he and the other Little Rock Nine members received the Congressional Gold Medal. This special award was given by President Bill Clinton.
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Early Life and School Days
Ernest Green was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1941. His parents were Lothaire and Ernest Green, Sr. Ernest had a brother named Scott and a sister named Treopia Washington.
As a child, Ernest was very active in his church. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts of America. He worked hard and earned the highest rank, Eagle Scout. He went to Dunbar Junior High School, which was a segregated school for black students. After ninth grade, he moved to Horace Mann High School. This was a new high school built for African-American students.
Joining the Little Rock Nine
At the end of his junior year at Horace Mann, Ernest made a big decision. He volunteered to attend the all-white Little Rock Central High School. This was in the fall of 1957. His goal was to help end segregation in one of the country's largest schools.
Ernest was the only senior among the nine African-American students. These students decided to integrate Central High that fall. They became known as the Little Rock Nine.
Making History: Graduation Day
Ernest Green made history on May 27, 1958. He became the first of the Little Rock Nine to graduate from Central High School. He was also the first African-American to graduate from that school. Martin Luther King Jr. was in Arkansas at the time. He came to Ernest's graduation with the Green family. This showed how important Ernest's achievement was.
College and Continued Activism
Ernest Green went to Michigan State University. He received a scholarship from someone who wanted to remain a secret. While at Michigan State, Ernest kept working for the Civil Rights Movement. He took part in protests and other activities. Later, he found out his secret donor was John A. Hannah. Hannah was the president of Michigan State. Ernest had even protested against Hannah sometimes! Ernest earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962. He then got his Master's degree in sociology in 1964.
Career and Public Service
After college, Ernest Green continued to work for positive change. In 1965, he joined a program called the Adolph Institute. This program helped minority women develop their careers.
From 1968 to 1976, he was the Director of the A. Philip Randolph Education Fund. This fund helped people get better education and job opportunities.
Working in Government
From 1977 to 1981, Ernest Green served in the government. He was an Assistant Secretary of Labor during Jimmy Carter's time as president. In this role, he helped with issues related to workers and jobs.
After his government service, Green worked in business. He was a partner in a firm called Green and Herman. He also owned his own company, E. Green and Associates. Later, he worked at Lehman Brothers. There, he was a Managing Director in their Washington, D.C. office. He focused on public finance, which involves money for government projects. He also served on the board of the Albert Shanker Institute.
Honors and Community Work
Ernest Green earned his Eagle Scout Award in 1956. This was before he attended Central High. Many years later, he received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. This award is given to very few people who earned Eagle Scout as a youth. In 2004, he helped start the Scoutreach program in Washington, D.C.. He volunteered as the program's chair. This program helps bring scouting to more young people.
Television Portrayals
Ernest Green's story has been told in two movies made for television. These movies were about the Little Rock Nine.
- In 1981, he was played by Calvin Levels in the CBS movie Crisis at Central High.
- In 1993, Morris Chestnut played him in the Disney Channel movie The Ernest Green Story.
In 1980, he was part of a discussion panel for the Milton Friedman (PBS) show "Free to Choose." He talked about workers' rights and the economy.
See also
