Member of Little Rock Nine to speak today about his experience in honor of Black History Month

Terrence Roberts, one of the first African Americans to attend an integrated school, is scheduled to speak at 7 p.m. today in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center as part of the University’s Black History Month events. \nRoberts will talk about his experience as part of the Little Rock Nine, the first black students who to attend the integrated Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Ark. The school was integrated after the Supreme Court decided the Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954, which said segregation in schools was illegal, said Black History Month Program Coordinator Christianne Medrano.\nToday, Roberts is a co-chairperson of the master’s in psychology program at Antioch University.\nHis lecture will also focus on how everyone can build a better community. Roberts is expected to talk about perseverance and strength, Medrano said.\nThe IU Black History Month Committee decided to bring Roberts to IU to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine’s integration into the high school, Medrano said. The Office for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs is also sponsoring this event.\n“People should come out to this event because we very seldom have the opportunity to meet people who have been catalysts in changing history,” Medrano said.\nThe free event will be held in the Center’s Grand Hall, which has the capacity to hold about 100 people, Medrano said. She said she hopes the room will be completely filled with people for the lecture. \n“Roberts is very important to history,” Medrano said. “Many of us would not be at IU if it was not for integration.” \nA reception will follow the lecture. Attendees will be able to ask Roberts any questions they have directly.