Warriors Don T Cry Sparknotes

Gabriela Mendoza-Hudson
Reed
HIST 314
26 February 2016
Word Count:
Warriors Don’t Cry: Book Review
Warriors Don’t Cry is a memoir of Melba Patillo Beals’s personal accounts of her junior year at Little Rock Central High during the years of integration. The 1954 Supreme Court ruling, Brown v. Board of Education, brought on integration in Little Rock, Arkansas. However, it was a victory for the nine African American teenagers chosen to integrate Central High School in 1957. These individuals endured angry mobs of segregationists, armed guards, physical attacks and death threats which shaped Melba and her eight friends to transform into reluctant warriors on a battlefield, fighting for their rights for a better education and freedom. Additionally,

with the help of her mother and grandmother, Melba was able to survive the living hell that was integration. The courage, tenacity and perseverance of the Little Rock Nine were the foundation for the cause of equality in education during the Civil Rights Movement.
In Melba’s book, she has described many accounts of life-altering events that have occurred that would shape her into a warrior.

One example of her earliest memories is the day she and her family went to Fair Park for a Fourth of July picnic. She snuck away to the merry-go-round, hoping to spend the money she saved up to ride on it. However, much to her dismay, the concessionaire yelled at her, saying there was no space for her. This caused her to become frightened and embarrassed, so much so that she ran away. “Scurrying past the people waiting in line, I was so terrified that I didn’t even take the time to pick up my precious pennies. At five I learned that there was to be no space for me on that merry-go-round no matter how many saddles stood empty.” (Beals, 8) This was a life-changing event in Melba’s life because this was a moment of clarification for her at a young age. It was the first moment in her life where she realized her place in the racist Southern society she lived in. She felt ashamed of herself, because she knew because of the color of her skin, she would never be treated as well as white people. However, Melba would always remember that day, and use it as motivation to fight for

freedom.
Another similar memory that had a big impact on Melba at a young age was the day she and her family went to the grocery store. The grocer had overcharged them by $20, but rather than taking a stand for themselves, her parents didn’t talk back to the man and paid the full amount anyway. This heavily disappointed Melba, and further proved that even her strong father was unable to stand up to any white men. “Until that moment, I thought he could take on the world, if he had to protect me. But watching him kowtow to the grocer made me know it wasn’t so.” It pained Melba to know that none of her own folks would be able to stand up for themselves in the society that they lived in, and that African Americans as a whole were very vulnerable. “It frightened me and made me think a lot about how, if I got into trouble with white people, the folks I counted on most in my life for protection couldn’t help me at all. I was beginning to resign myself to the fact that white people were definitely in charge, and there was nothing we could do about it.” (Beals, 17) This was a life-altering moment or her because she knew she couldn’t rely on her family for protection, or for them to make change happen. Melba would have to be strong for herself later in life.
Going to Central High School for the first time was a life-changing event for Melba as well. After being kept out of the school by soldiers and nearly killed by the angry mob that surrounded the school, she wasn’t sure if she should go back. “I was disappointed not to see what was inside Central High School. I don’t understand why the governor sent grown-up soldiers to keep us out. I don’t know if I should go back.” (Beals, 55) However, her grandmother gave her a bit of encouragement, telling her she shouldn’t let one little setback discourage her from making integration happen. “But Grandmother is right, if I don’t go back, they will think they have won. They will think they can use soldiers to frighten us, and we’ll always have to obey them. They’ll always be in charge if I don’t go back to Central and make the integration happen.” (Beals, 55-56) This showed how supportive Melba’s family was despite the dangerous circumstances, and that they too would stand by her side in the perilous fight for freedom. The power of a supportive family gave Melba the strength she needed to push through her school year at Central High School.
Additionally, Melba realized that because of the dangerous situation she has put herself in, she will not be able to partake in the activities she wants to be a part of, like going out with her friends or being with her crush. After running to her room crying, her grandmother comforts her and exchanges words of wisdom upon her. “You’ll make this your last cry. You’re a warrior on the battlefield for your Lord. God’s warriors don’t cry, ‘cause they trust that he’s always by their side. The women of this family don’t break down in the face of trouble. We act with courage, and with God’s help, we ship trouble right on out.” (Beals, 57) This moment truly changed Melba’s life. These would be the words that changed her into a stronger woman, and fueled the fire in her soul and gave her the strength and courage to take on the world and fight for freedom.
When Melba was being asked questions by the white news reporters at a press conference, she began to feel a change of attitude toward white people.

She was fascinated at how well they listened to her, and felt like she was important. This was a moment where she believed that equality between white and colored people could be possible after all. “Today is the first time in my life I felt equal to white people. I want more of that feeling. I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep feeling equal all the time.” (Beals, 90) This was the moment she realized her voice and her opinions mattered, and she was willing to do anything in her power to achieve freedom and equality for all, even if it meant sacrificing the activities she loved doing and the people she liked to be around before she agreed to integrate Central High. “I apologize, God, for thinking you had taken away all my normal life. Maybe you’re just exchanging it for a new life.” (Beals,

90)
Warriors Don’t Cry is truly a book unlike any other. Melba Patillo Beals’s tells the tale of integration like it is with her true accounts of what really happened behind the doors of Little Rock Central High during the years of integration. Mrs. Beals tells every detail of what she witnessed and experienced with such raw detail, as if it happened to her so recently. The horrors that Melba had to face during her junior year of high school are so sickening, and to know that she and her eight friend s had to experience such events like this is heartbreaking. Despite all this, the Little Rock Nine reigned victorious as they were able to survive. These angry mobs of segregationists, armed guards, physical attacks and death threats shaped Melba and her friends into strong, brave warriors on the battlefield that was integration. With the help of her supportive mother, strong grandmother, and her fellow warriors, Melba was able to survive to tell her story of what it was like to endure the battle for integration. The courage and strength of the Little Rock Nine were the foundation for the cause of the Civil Rights Movement, and for that, we must all give our upmost gratitude and respect. We are ever so thankful for their contributions to our society.