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Warriors Don't Cry

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Warriors Don’t Cry

Warriors Don’t Cry is a true first-hand account of what Melba Pattillo Beals experienced in her junior year at Little Rock Central High School. Her story takes place in 1957, being one of the Little Rock nine to be integrated into the public school system. Initially there were seventeen students that were going to integrate but due to violence and threats the number was decreased to nine. Throughout the book, Melba tells us what life is like being one of the nine. She had to bear telephone threats, physical abuse, and huge violent mobs, among many other things. Her high school experience was unlike anything anyone could imagine. Melba Beals overcame many obstacles both mental and physical, but is truly a warrior and a hero.
At a time of weakness, Melba is reminded by her Grandmother that she is one of God’s warriors. She was upset that she wasn’t going to be able to go to the Community Center that her crush was going to be at. Her Grandmother India knew the risk of her going to the Community Center and only wanted what was best for her safety. She ran to her room and began to weep because what she was going through wasn’t fair to her. She was missing out on all the things a young high school girl loves doing. Her Grandmother told her, “God’s warriors don’t cry, ‘cause they trust that he’s always by their side” (Beals, 57). Melba being told as a young girl that she wasn’t allowed to cry because it displayed her weakness demonstrations the amount of thick skin she needed to have every day. From that point forward she knew that she could only cry when no one would hear her. Warriors are able to fight back and defend themselves but Melba had to control herself and take it.
Melba went through things today’s students wouldn’t dream of experiencing. On September 23, 1957, Melba is forced to escape to the principal’s office in hopes of fleeing from a group of angry segregationists. The mob had broken the barricade and headed for the students, so the chief of police had to smuggle the students away from the mob. Virtually every day these kids had to attend school knowing that their lives were going to be at risk. Also, knowing that they would be verbally harassed as well as physically assaulted. The amount of hatred and torment they endured is unfathomable. Each of these students were warriors, not just Melba.
These brutal acts didn’t just happen to Melba but to the people she cared about as well. Minnijean was waiting in line for school lunch and was being harassed, as usual. She finally had enough from this short boy behind her and decided to pour her chili on him. Everyone in the lunch hall was stunned and didn’t know what to do. No one had ever saw an African American react back to a White harassing them. Minnijean was suspended and this greatly affected Melba. This let the Whites know that they were actually getting underneath the African American’s skin. As a result, this weak moment from Minnijean lead to the chant of, “One nigger down, eight to go”.
Melba had people around her that encouraged her to give up, but she never did. Andy, a white student that gave Melba the most trouble, surrounds her one day and berates her. Luckily, her only white friendly classmate helps her escape by giving her the keys to his car. He also warns her of the plans they plan to do to her. Link grows fond of Melba, but keeps their friendship hidden. He encourages her to go north to escape all the violent racism. Even with someone she trusts prodding her to give up, she knows the importance of what she is doing, even at a young age.
Melba had to have her own escort of the 101st airborne soldier, Danny. He saved her on many occasions but one specifically showed the extreme length the violent segregationists were willing to go. At one point in the book, a boy was coming towards Melba and threw a liquid substance at her and hit her in the eyes. Instantly she felt a searing fire in her eyes and was unable to see. Luckily, Danny rushed over to her and pulled her hands back and splashed water in her eyes, saying, “Easy, girl, easy. You’re gonna be fine” (Beals, 173). Danny ended up saving her eye sight according to an optometrist afterwards. Not even a member of the 101st airborne could keep Melba safe at all times.
With everything Melba had to withstand, she never gave up. Just because of the color of her skin and the school she was attending she received so much abuse. When it seemed like nearly everyone was against her, she stood up strong and reached her end goal. Not even acid thrown in her eyes or derogatory terms being spewed at her every day at school could stop her. When she would go home after school, she would receive threats by phone and her Grandmother India would have to sit at home with a shotgun. Nothing was going to stop Melba, no matter how hard they tried. Melba was a warrior in every sense of the word.

Work Cited

Beals, Melba. Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High. New York: Pocket, 1994. Print.

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