- Violence and harassment: The Little Rock Nine were subjected to daily threats and violence from white students, including being spat on, tripped, beaten, and even burned. They also faced harassment and intimidation from community members, including being called names and threatened with lynching.
- Segregation: The Little Rock Nine were kept separate from the other students at Central High School. They had to eat their lunch in a different room from the other students, and they were not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities. They were also subjected to segregated seating at sporting events and other school events.
- Lack of support from the administration: The Little Rock Nine received very little support from the school administration. The principal, Ernest Green, was sympathetic to the students, but he was unable to do much to protect them from the violence and harassment. The other administrators were either sympathetic to the segregationists, or they were simply unwilling to take action.
- Political opposition: The Little Rock Nine faced strong political opposition from the local and state governments. The Arkansas governor, Orval Faubus, issued an executive order preventing the Little Rock Nine from attending Central High School. The Arkansas National Guard was called out to enforce the order, but President Eisenhower sent federal troops to protect the students and ensure that they were able to attend school.
- Media attention: The Little Rock Nine's struggles received national attention, and they were featured prominently in the media. This attention brought their story to the attention of people all over the world, and helped to raise awareness of the issue of segregation.
Despite all of these struggles, the Little Rock Nine persevered and managed to graduate from Central High School. Their courage and determination helped to pave the way for the desegregation of schools across the country, and they made a significant contribution to the civil rights movement.