Warriors DonT Cry Analysis

In the book Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals, the author describes what her reactions and feelings are to the racial hatred and discrimination she and eight other African-American teenagers received in Little Rock, Arkansas during the desegregation period in 1957. She tells the story of the nine students from the time she turned sixteen years old and began keeping a diary until her final days at Central High School in Little Rock. The story begins by Melba talking about the anger, hatred, and sadness that is brought up upon her first return to Central High for a reunion with her eight other classmates. As she walks through the halls and rooms of the old school, she recalls the

Throughout her experience, Melba’s views and attitudes changed quite a bit. When she first volunteered to be one of the first black students who would attend Central High School in Little

Little rock, Arkansas 1957 in Warriors don’t cry by Melba Pattillo Beals, her and eight other African American, high school students integrates Central High School. Only eight of the nine that begin at Central High lasted for the full year. Melba and her eight friends face new wars every day. These are some of the traits she uses to survive her year and overcome her enemies at Central High School. Melba relies on her courage, faith, and not only her physical strength, but her mental strength as well.

Being a teenager, that's tough. But being someone who is expected to single-handedly break racial barriers, thats all around near impossible. In the story, “Warriors Don't Cry” by Melba Pattillo Beals, she portrays how she had to be a leader in integration, while being a high schooler at the same time. In her story, she uses figurative language, such as irony and similes, to enhance some of her most difficult times. Through her use of figurative language, the reader is opened up to how Melba uses figurative language throughout her story to emphasise her hardships and struggles, and how she imagines a hopeful future.

“If you fall behind, run faster. Never give up, never surrender, and rise up against the odds.” - Jesse Jackson. In 1957, nine black students were chosen to integrate into Central High School, a completely white school mostly made up of segregationists. Throughout the next year, the main character, Melba Pattillo Beals, in her memoir, “Warriors Don’t Cry”, shows her difficult adventure in Central High, trying to survive from the malicious segregationists. Beals uses different forms of figurative languages, such as metaphors, similes, and irony to show her struggles, but also imagine a hopeful future later to come.

Tariq Ali once said, “It was civil disobedience that won them their civil rights.” In Melba Pattillo Beals’ narrative, “ Warriors Don’t Cry,” Melba defies all odds just by integrating to the all white Central High School in Little Rock. Through her novel, Melba is able to reminisce on the difficulties and struggles and the justice and inequality that occurs throughout Central High using figurative language. Though the author’s use of metaphors, similes and situational irony, the reader is able to pick up on Melba’s determination and obstacles she had to face in order to conquer and overcome integrating into Central High School.

Melba Pattillo Beals is the main character in this book. She was fourteen years old when she attended Central High in Little Rock, Kansas with eight other black students. While Melba attended the high school, she was spat on, slapped, and several sickening insults would be shouted at her. These actions led to Melba to not even fight back but to simply just say thank you and walk away. This was one of the factors that built up her courageous attitude that stuck with her throughout the rest of her journey.

Author: Melba Pattillo Beals Book title: Warriors Don’t Cry. Publisher: Pocket Books City of publication New York Year of publication: 1994. Description: This book is a memoir by one of the Little Rock Nine. It recollects the first year of the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, AK.

A personal story of discrimination, dedication, and salvation. Warriors Don't Cry is a gritty, impassioned memoir written by Melba Pattillo Beals. The memoir deals with Melba's childhood as she experiences racism and discrimination first-hand. Some segments of this book may be considered inappropriate for some readers. There is controversy surrounding whether or not the book is appropriate for school students, specifically tenth graders. I believe that Warriors Don't Cry is appropriate for tenth graders to read. This book is appropriate because it shows today's youth how different society was just few decades ago, and how long and difficult it was to get to where we are today. It is also an important reminder to keep striving for equality in our society today. Finally, this book shows how far dedication, determination, and sacrifice can actually go.

The author's purpose for writing Warriors Don't Cry is tell a personal story of her own to remind the world when peace was no option for a black person. She wanted to have her story out in the world for others to learn and read from. Melba went through much in her life only because she was born different. While normal white teens had fun with boyfriends and went to parties, she went through a mental and physical war. Melba wrote her story with no sugar coating, she gave what she felt and what she did. She wanted to write a story where it would give the reader a glimpse at the life a colored person once went

Throughout history, Colored folks and White people do not seem to get along based on appearance.Men and women of color weren't treated fairly, no matter where they're at without being looked down upon. Most Americans have divided themselves into non-mixed neighborhoods. The “Jim Crow” laws on the state level stopped them from entering classrooms, bathrooms, theaters, trains, juries, and legislatures.Also, In the case of “Plessy v. Ferguson” in 1896, the U.S. Supreme court said that racially separate facilities are equal, it does not violate the Constitution. Segregation, the court said, was not a discrimination. Segregation supported the legal system and the police, but beyond the law, violence was going on around the citizens. The Ku Klux Klan, Knights of White Camellia, and other terrorists murdered thousands of African-Americans, to prevent them from voting and participating in public life. In Arkansas, Central High School was one of the firsts to integrate. Nine teenagers got together to go to Central High, they did not go in to protest but to get a better education. The Little Rock Nine didn't see it as a way to bring in violence, but it all started in Arkansas, in 1957, a conflict against two different points of views. However, In Warriors Don't Cry Melba Pattillo Beals presents the idea that emotional strength, Determination, and confidence are necessary to gain freedom and equality for all.

Melba Pattillo Beals is a very determined young lady. She presents many strong personal characteristics in her time of integrating Central High School. However, she faces many adversities through this battle for her freedom and equality. During her rough time Beals questions her faith and family. She later learns that her strength and security is in God. In the book Warriors Don’t Cry Melba Pattillo Beals presents the idea that courage, faith, and fear are vital in her search for freedom and equality.

A woman called Melba a nigger. The teacher soon starts with class. The same woman called Melba a nigger again. Soon Melba meets Mrs. Pickwick. Somebody asks what they are going to do about the nigger children. Soon they start speeding to get away from the people calling them niggers. Melba continues listening to the newscast that is currently happening. Soon the phone started ringing off the hook with angry calls from people. The chapter ends with an angry, mad mob in front of Central High.

A war that the Little Rock Nine students must prove that they are capable of going against the dominated force that discrimination presents itself as. In addition, within using the word choices, “…I just need to be a girl”, demonstrates how Melba, doesn’t just want to go against society, but she wants to regain her freedom. She as with the other students, want to break the chains that were always bringing them down, even from their first cries at birth. In reference to the novel, Warriors Don’t Cry, the segregationists kept stating, “One nigger down, eight to go” (Beals, 151). These six words provide an astonishing viewpoint of individuals struggling to regain their freedom, to set the course back to when they were little kids.

On the first day that Melba Patillo Beals went to school, she thought it was a nightmare. There was a huge mob outside Central High School, along with the Arkansas National Guard soldiers keeping them out. The image of Elizabeth Eckford really shows how it was. White people were surrounding them, cursing at them, of course saying the word “nigger”, and occasionally striking them (1994). It was so bad that Melba had to take the keys to their car from her mother and run away to escape. Imagine the sight of Melbas mother screaming at her “Melba, take the keys. Get to the car.