Los Angeles, November 17 2007 - California Design College was honored to host an evening and interview with Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine. The Little Rock Nine students made American history in 1957 by breaking the segregation barrier and enrolling in an all-white public school, Central High, in Little Rock, Arkansas, after the Supreme Court of the United States mandated the desegregation of all public schools.
A man of unique intelligence, insight, humor and an enormous generous spirit, Dr. Roberts participated in our prepared interview with California Design College student Brooke Washington, and then spent an hour taking questions from the students and faculty in the audience. Most of the questions posed to Dr. Roberts had to do with race and education. He discussed how, as an educational activist, he encourages young people to consider higher education if they have not yet. "Money is not the highest value," Dr. Roberts said. He is dismayed that some young people choose to skip a higher education today because there are ways to make money without an education, and because they place too high a value on money. He expressed concern about the continuation of racism in our schools and society today, describing it as a "choice," and believing that it will stop when we as a society make the decision to stop it. Dr. Roberts further advised students to choose role models who make healthy choices, and to take executive control of their own educations rather than to rely on parents, administrators and teachers.
Dr. Roberts’ presence clearly sparked the student body. One student remarked to her friends that she was too shy to ask a question, and left the post-videotaping reception. Overhearing her, Dr. Roberts followed her off and insisted on personally talking to her. The students expressed how impressed they were by the humility of such a great man.
Dr. Roberts is now a psychologist in private practice, and heads the Psychology Department at Antioch University in Culver City, CA.
California Design College is one of The Art Institutes (www.artinstitutes.edu), a system of over 35 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals.
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