The Ernest Green Story

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The Ernest Green Story
Movie cover
GenreDrama
Written byLawrence Roman
Directed byEric Laneuville
StarringMorris Chestnut
Monica Calhoun
Ossie Davis
Ruby Dee
Omar Gooding
Gary Grubbs
James Harper
Tina Lifford
CCH Pounder
Music byMason Daring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersCarol Abrams
Adrienne Levin
ProducerJean Higgins
Production locationLittle Rock, Arkansas
CinematographyFélix Enríquez Alcalá
EditorJeff Freeman
Running time101 minutes
Production companyWalt Disney Television
Original release
NetworkDisney Channel
ReleaseJanuary 17, 1993 (1993-01-17)

The Ernest Green Story is a 1993 American made-for-television biographical film which follows the true story of Ernest Green (Morris Chestnut) and eight other African-American high-school students (dubbed the "Little Rock Nine") as they embark on their historic journey to integrate Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. The film was developed and executive produced by Carol Ann Abrams.[1] Much of the movie was filmed on location at Central High School.

The film had its world premiere at Little Rock Central High School, with an introduction by President-Elect of the United States Bill Clinton.[1] It aired on the Disney Channel on January 17, 1993. Later that year, A.M.L. Productions and the Disney Channel received a Peabody Award for presenting "a story which reminds adults and teaches children about the courageous steps taken toward the elimination of discrimination in American society".[1][2]

Plot[edit]

The movie begins with Ernest Green explaining how every morning on his ride to Horace Mann the school for African-Americans, he would pass Little Rock Central High School, which would soon open its doors to nine African-American students. After the opening credits, the scene cuts to the office of the Governor of Arkansas Orval Faubus, where he talks to the Reverend of the white church about how he refuses to integrate the school because he believes integration is a state's right.

Meanwhile, in Ernest's neighborhood, his best friend Marcus explains how Ernest can change the world by becoming class president at the recently integrated Central High. Ernest, who is worried about what may happen to him if he attends Central High, reminds Marcus of Crispus Attucks, explaining "the first to defy is the first to die." Marcus persuades Earnest to attend by mentioning the school's luxurious facilities, including the lab, marveling at what discoveries George Washington Carver could have made in it. At dinner, Ernest's whole family, including his wise grandfather, support his decision and vow to stand by him whatever happens. Meanwhile, Governor Faubus vows to stop integration in Central High.

Ernest meets the other eight students who would, with him, become the Little Rock Nine, along with NAACP member Daisy Bates. They explain that many of their parents were concerned with their decisions. They meet the principal and counselers of Central High. Ernest turns out to be the only senior and is therefore seen as a natural leader by Bates and the other members of the Little Rock Nine. The principal tells the nine they are restricted from participating in any extracurricular activities, the first of many hardships they face at Central High. When Ernest gets home, his elderly neighbor is concerned about the negative attention he will get at Central High after seeing him on the newspaper. Ernest's grandfather reminds her that Ernest is making a bold move to change the world and she should be happy about that.

On Ernest's first day at Central High, his family is very worried about him. The National Guard is gaurding the school. He and seven of the new African-American students are escorted to the school in a police car. But Elizabeth Eckford does not get the message, so she walks to school and gets beaten and called names at by the mob outside. She gets traumatized and escorted home on a bus soon after. Later, the other African-American students are denied entry by the National Guard and turn back home. Bates hires lawyer, Thurgood Marshall, to justify the Nine's right to attend Central High. The Nine learn at home for the first three weeks of school, their assignment given to them by Bates. When Ernest and the other students are allowed back into Central High, Ernest's physics teacher, Mr. Loomis, treats him horribly and is racist towards him.

Despite harsh mistreatment, the Little Rock Nine continue to attend Central High. Ernest makes friends with a white girl who shares his interest in jazz, but his grandfather forbids them from interacting, reminding Ernest of the story of Emmett Till. Ernest bumps into a mean white girl and gets sent to the principal's office, where the principal doesn't believe him due to his race. The white students continue to torment the Little Rock Nine, stealing Ernest's physics notes that he needs to pass his midterm. Despite his best efforts, Mr. Loomis fails him, because of Ernest's race. Ernest's grandfather reminds him that he has the power to show Mr. Loomis that Ernest is more than his race.

Ernest's brother Scott runs off in the middle of the night to protect the streets from violence because he is scared of what is happening to Ernest and the other African-American students. Ernest tells him that Scott has got to be brave in order to stop hate, like Ernest is.

The bullying becomes more intense, Ernest gets cut on glass in the showers, Minnijean Brown, another African-American student, gets called names, and Elizabeth Eckford is knocked down the stairs. Minnijean talks back and gets expelled, Elizabeth breaks down, and Earnest tackles a bully and gets suspended because nobody believes him.

Fortunately, everything ends well. Ernest finally passes physics, having shown Mr. Loomis he is more than his race, and he graduates in the spring of 1958, despite criticism and his grandfather takes pictures of him.

Ernest then states Little Rock Central High closed after he graduated to prevent further integration and that he grew up to be a member of the NAACP.


Cast[edit]

Reception[edit]

Crisis at Central High[edit]

The Ernest Green Story was actually the second made-for-television film to depict the events of the Little Rock Crisis. In 1981, CBS aired Crisis at Central High,[3] which was told from the point-of-view of former assistant principal Elizabeth Huckaby.[4] There, Ernest Green was portrayed by Calvin Levels. Meanwhile, Minnijean Brown was portrayed in Crisis at Central High by Regina Taylor and Carlotta Walls was portrayed by Riona Martin.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Carol Ann Abrams dies, Producer, author was mother of J. J. Abrams". Variety. 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  2. ^ Peabody Awards website Accessed February 1, 2009.
  3. ^ Crisis at Central High, retrieved 2019-06-03
  4. ^ News Releases Archived 2006-11-03 at the Wayback Machine, 40th Anniversary web Site

External links[edit]


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