As I sat in front of the Little Rock Central High School on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 with several hundreds of people, my thoughts ran quickly back to Ghana. How would we manage a situation such as the one I was experiencing at Little Rock? I want to share some of the experiences as I hate to be just a “selfish tourist” when I travel.
I sat in this crowd enjoying myself thoroughly, happy to have the privilege to be part of the historic event to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Little Rock Nine’s desegregation of Central High School. Furthermore, I know one of them, Mr. Ernest Green who I was there to support first at a personal level and also as part of my Pan African and Diaspora agenda.
Deborah Mathis, the MC for the occasion announced that the planning for the 50th Anniversary Celebration had been started in January 2004 and congratulated the Planning Committee for a great job done. Since January 2004 for an event to take place September 2007? No wonder everyone enjoyed the programme with very little complaints. Everything went smoothly. Bottles of water were available for distribution to everyone who wanted it. As the weather is unpredictable at this time in Little Rock, plastic ponchos were available as well in case it rained. Busses had been provided to move people from the town center to the School. Colour-coded invitation cards pointed everyone to which area they could sit. There was no stampede or fighting for chairs or people attempting to take places reserved for VIPs.
A fitting Visiting Center had been built as part of the celebration and was ready, on time to be opened. This was done to accommodate the needs of the thousands of people who travel to Little Rock every year because of the Nine. This includes accounts of historic events, photographs and memorabilia of all types. The Center was opened to commemorate the 50th Anniversary and allow visitors to feel welcome and get the needed attention.
I could not help thinking what if we had started planning Ghana’s Jubilee year celebrations in January, 2004? What could we have built all over the country that would have made us all proud on March 6, 2007?
Media arrangements had been made. Local media people had their place. So did international media and the likes of CNN. As the event attracted well-known people such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Earl Graves, Snr of Black Enterprise Magazine and a host of Civil Rights leaders, there were many opportunities for interviewing and interaction of all types. But it was all well done. No chaos. Just happy memories.
Members of the US Congress were there. The Governor of Arkansas, the Mayor of Little Rock and prominent business people were there. They were all there with no fanfare. Three Presidential Aspirants were there, but there were no praise singers or “supporters” following them to draw attention from this very important and historic event. On the Democrats’ side was Senator Hilary Clinton. On the Republicans’ side was Governor Huckabee. On the CPP side was Paa Kwesi Nduom! Yes, I was there to let the world know that the CPP is back. And wonders of all wonders, there was a man proudly wearing a T-shirt proclaiming the African Union which had “ Forward Ever, Backward Never” writing at the back of it!
He was introduced simply as President Clinton. The 42nd President of the United States of America, William Jefferson Clinton is huge in Arkansas, obviously well-loved and popular. He has built his Presidential Library and Museum at Little Rock. A Clinton School of Public Service has been added nearby by the University of Arkansas. The Presidential Library concept is an official matter that helps to preserve national history, promotes tourism and local development. The Clinton Library has boosted the economy of Little Rock in a very significant way and has served as an anchor for economic development.
Imagine if Ghana as a country budgeted for and made it possible for all our past and future heads of state to build Presidential Libraries in their hometowns or wherever they would choose. I have had the occasion to make such a suggestion on the floor of our Parliament as part of my contribution to a statement on our 50th Independence Anniversary – you can say no one heard me as nothing has happened after that. But we must work on it. This way, the people of Nkroful, Wenchi, Gwollu etc. will not complain as much as they do now when matters to do with Dr. Nkrumah, Dr. Busia and Dr. Limann are raised. We must honour those who dare to serve.
Back to Little Rock. On Monday 5.00 pm, there was a reception held for VIPs at the Clinton Library. Guests were conveyed to the Library in busses rented for the occasion. Everything was done in an orderly manner. As you entered the building, cards were checked and directions given as to where to go. Instructions were given from time to time about what to do. And there was no rush or stampede for food or drinks! But there WAS a real rush and stampede when President Clinton came in. Everyone wanted to talk to him, shake his hand and take a photograph with him – including me. He stood patiently, talked to people, posed for pictures with them and even had time to discuss a $100 million project he is working on that Ghana will participate in. As a politician myself, I could not help noticing how he easily recognized and responded to the local people from Little Rock that he has known over the years. Here was someone well regarded in his own home territory. And he recognized publicly everyone – democrats and republicans.
That evening, a Gala Ball was held with over 2,000 people in attendance. The event started on time and ended in less than two hours. There were short speeches that were to the point and interesting. Tables were numbered with several volunteers available to direct people to their seats. There was order. To my relief, there was no buffet table in sight. Everyone was served at their tables – plated service, not just those at the “high table”. Nine young people were given scholarships to universities of their choice. A great way for the Little Rock Nine to pass on the torch.
The Little Rock Central High School became internationally known on September 2, 1957 when Governor Oval Faubus sent Arkansas National Guardsmen to Little Rock to prevent nine black students from entering the all white school, in defiance of a court-approved desegregation plan.
On September 23, 1957, when they attempted to enter the school following a court order, they were sent home due to the presence of an angry mob of white people. On September 25th President Eisenhower federalized the National Guard and sent the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army to protect the nine students and they finally entered Central High. This event became the one that caused made the desegregation of public schools in the USA a reality and permeated other aspects of American society.
I was there to support Mr. Ernest Green who became the first black student to graduate from Central High on May 27, 1958. To Mr. Green, Ghana’s independence on 6th March 1957 served as an inspiration to the parents and students at that time. Mr. Green was the Chairman of the African Development Foundation when I was the Minister of Economic Planning & Regional Cooperation. Dr. Nduom worked with Mr. Green, Nate Fields then the President of the ADF to bring the Foundation to Ghana. The ADF has since moved its African headquarters to Ghana. It is supporting small to medium enterprises in Ghana
I am grateful I had the opportunity to be part of the celebration. I felt lucky to be able to experience something well done, in the interest of the community and in honour of nine special people who had the courage to cause change that has affected the lives of millions of people. But it will be great if I could experience something this good in my own country.
If only we could begin planning the inauguration ceremony for the next President of the Republic of Ghana now!
Picture: Clinton, Nduom and Yvonne at the Clinton Library.
DR. PAPA KWESI NDUOM, MP
September 27, 2007