Year 11 and 12 History students had the rare opportunity to attend a thought provoking and inspirational lecture by 82 year old Minnijean Brown Trickey and her daughter Spirit this week.

Minnijean Brown-Trickey is an American political figure who was a member of the Little Rock Nine, a group of nine African American teenagers who in 1957 entered  Little Rock Central High School protected by paratroopers. Segregation had been outlawed three years earlier but in the deep southern states, segregation remained. Until that time the school had been for white students only. The group were threatened, taunted and harrassed. That day represented the end of racial segregation in American schools. 

Minnijean spoke of her experiences growing up as a Black African American in the South and her daughter Spirit  spoke of what it was like growing up as the daughter of Minnijean. They have both continued to be activists for minority rights.

This was a fantastic opportunity for students to learn first hand about the people and events that they are exploring in class.