Thelma Mothershed-Wair facts for kids
Thelma Mothershed-Wair (born November 29, 1940 – died October 19, 2024) was an American activist. She was the oldest member of the Little Rock Nine. This group of brave students attended Little Rock's Central High School. They went there after the important 1954 court case called Brown vs. Board of Education.
The Little Rock Nine were nine African-American students. They enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Their enrollment led to the Little Rock Crisis. At first, the students were stopped from entering the school. It was a racially segregated school, meaning only white students could go there. Orval Faubus, who was the Governor of Arkansas, tried to prevent them. But then, President Dwight D. Eisenhower stepped in, and the students were able to attend.
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Who Was Thelma Mothershed-Wair?
Thelma Mothershed-Wair was a very important person in the American Civil Rights Movement. She helped change schools in the United States. She showed great courage by being one of the first Black students to attend a previously all-white school. Her actions helped make schools fair for everyone.
Early Life and School Days
Thelma Wair was born in Bloomburg, Texas. Her parents were Arlevia and Hosanna Claire Mothershed from Little Rock, Arkansas. Thelma had five brothers and sisters. She went to Dunbar Junior High and Horace Mann High schools.
Even though white students often bothered her daily, she finished her junior year at Central High. This was during the difficult 1957–58 school year. Thelma was a very good student. She worked hard to get all the credits she needed. This allowed her to graduate on time in the 1958–59 school year.
Joining the Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine were a group of African-American students. They started the process of integration, or desegregation, in white schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. Integration meant that students of all races could go to the same schools.
Facing Challenges at Central High
These brave students faced many challenges. They were often teased, made fun of, bothered, and even attacked every day. This happened just because they were going to what we now consider a regular public school.
The governor of Arkansas at that time was Orval Faubus. He even used military guards to walk these nine students to and from school. The guards also walked with them between classes.
To try and stop the schools from integrating, a "lost year" happened. This meant that Little Rock schools were closed for a whole year. Some students were left without a school. But students like Thelma Mothershed found ways to take extra courses. This helped them stay on track. Even with these difficulties, some of the Little Rock Nine still earned their high school diplomas from this school. These original nine students helped lead the way for all public schools in the area to become desegregated.
Life After High School
Because Little Rock's schools were closed the year after the Little Rock Nine started, Thelma had to work extra hard. To get the credits she needed for graduation, she took correspondence courses (learning by mail). She also went to summer school in St. Louis, Missouri. She received her diploma from Central High School in the mail.
A Career in Education
Thelma Wair went on to college. She graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1964. She then earned her master's degree in Guidance and Counseling. She also got an Administrative Certificate in Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1970 and 1972.
Thelma Wair taught home economics in the East St. Louis School System. She taught for 28 years before she retired in 1994. She is known for being a leader of the Little Rock Nine. In 1958, she received the Spingarn Medal. This award is from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for great achievement. In 1998, Mothershed-Wair also received the Congressional Gold Medal. This is one of the highest awards given to civilians in the United States.
Continuing to Inspire Others
After getting her degrees, Thelma Mothershed-Wair continued to help people. She worked at the St. Clair County Jail and a Juvenile Detention Center. She also taught survival skills to women at a shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
She was honored as an Outstanding Role Model in 1989–90. She also received the National Humanitarian Award in 2005. This was the highest award given at a national convention. In 2016, she received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Her Legacy and Family
Thelma Mothershed married Fred Wair on December 26, 1965. She then became Thelma Mothershed-Wair. Fred Wair passed away in 2005. Thelma and Fred had one son named Scott. They also had two grandchildren.
Thelma Mothershed-Wair lived in her hometown of Little Rock. She passed away on October 19, 2024, at the age of 83. Her courage and dedication helped change schools and society for the better.
See also
In Spanish: Thelma Mothershed para niños
