Frances B. Williams - The Mother Who Spoke Out

Frances Williams was a courageous mother and advocate who stood up for justice and worked to reopen Little Rock’s public schools in the face of fear and opposition.

In 1957, nine African American students, later known as the Little Rock Nine, attempted to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Three years earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) that segregated schools were unconstitutional. But across the South, many states resisted the ruling, determined to keep their schools segregated.

In Little Rock, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus openly defied the Court’s decision. He ordered the Arkansas National Guard to block the students from entering Central High. Angry white segregationists gathered outside the school, shouting threats and surrounding the campus to intimidate the students.

Tensions grew so high that Little Rock’s mayor, Woodrow Wilson Mann, appealed to President Dwight D. Eisenhower for help. Eisenhower responded by sending the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army to escort the Little Rock Nine into Central High at the end of September. Each student was assigned a soldier to walk with them through the halls for protection.

Even with the Army’s presence, the Little Rock Nine endured daily harassment. Many white classmates insulted, threatened, or even physically attacked them. Yet in the midst of cruelty, a few students showed kindness and support. Ann Williams, a white student, and Ken Reinhardt were among the few who risked social isolation and bullying by standing up for the Nine.

At the end of the 1957–1958 school year, Governor Faubus retaliated against desegregation by pushing through a law to close all four of Little Rock’s public high schools. This shut down education for both Black and white students. In a public vote, the majority of citizens supported keeping the schools closed rather than integrating them. The 1958–1959 school year became known as the “Lost Year.”

During this time, thousands of students had to find other ways to continue their education. Most white students attended new private schools, many of which were created specifically to keep segregation alive. About 93% of white students found alternatives. For Black students, however, there were no new private schools. Nearly half of Black high school students in Little Rock ended up without any formal education that year. Many were forced to work jobs, join the military, or abandon school altogether.

While students struggled, the fight over education continued. Most civic and business leaders in the city remained silent, fearful of angering segregationists. Frustrated by this lack of leadership, a group of 58 women came together to form the Women’s Emergency Committee (WEC) to Open Our Schools. This group became the first organization to speak out publicly against the closures and demand that the schools reopen under the desegregation plan.

The WEC made its mission clear in a bold statement published in local newspapers:

“We are deeply concerned that the young people are the ones to bear the hardships of this tragic situation, and we are going to do everything in our power to open the four high schools.”

One of these women was Frances Williams, the mother of Ann Williams. Frances became an outspoken advocate for reopening the schools and stood strong despite harassment and threats. Alongside the other members of the WEC, she went door-to-door, speaking with neighbors and urging the community to support reopening the schools. Their bravery helped to break the silence of Little Rock’s leaders and push the city forward.

Their persistence made a difference. In May 1959, voters in Little Rock elected a more moderate school board that supported reopening the schools. By August, all four public high schools reopened, and desegregation efforts resumed, though challenges and resistance remained.

The story of Frances Williams, her daughter Ann, and the WEC reminds us that ordinary citizens can play extraordinary roles in history. The courage of the Little Rock Nine, the kindness of students like Ann, and the determination of women like Frances showed that change is possible when people stand up for justice. Even in the face of fear, threats, and social pressure, they chose to act. Their efforts moved Little Rock, and the nation, one step closer to equality.

References:
“Arkansas Democrat Gazette.” Obituary | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - Arkansas’ Best News Source, www.arkansasonline.com/obituaries/2015/jun/17/frances-williams-2015-06-17/.
Murphy, Sara Alderman, and Patrick C. Murphy. Breaking the Silence: Little Rock’s Women’s Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools, 1958-1963. University of Arkansas Press, 2010.
“Women’s Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools (WEC).” Encyclopedia of Arkansas, 27 May 2025, encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/womens-emergency-committee-to-open-our-schools-716/.
“Women’s Emergency Committee.” History Alive Virtually, ualrexhibits.org/historyalive/exercise/womens-emergency-committee/.

Key words:
Civil Rights, Justice, Courage, Perseverance, Freedom, Responsibility, Challenge Injustices, Stand Up for Your Beliefs