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

1) Melba Patillo- “Nobody presents you with a handbook when your teething and says ‘Here’s how you must behave as a second class citizen.’ Instead, the humiliating expectations and traditions of segregation creep over you slowly stealing a teaspoonful of your self esteem each day.” (Page 3)

These expectations increased when she was in the presence of “great power, [her] mother talking story” (20). In one particular situation, the narrator recalls her mother singing about Fa Mu Lan, the woman warrior. Although her mother expected her daughter to become a wife or a slave, the narrator had a different idea; she would “grow up a woman warrior” (20). As a young girl, she said that she “couldn’t tell where the stories left off and the dreams began” (19). This is the case in “White Tigers.” The narrator’s dream-state takes readers into the mind of a girl who attempts to please her mother and entire family by becoming a woman warrior. This is possibly an attempt to subside much of the harsh ridicule she receives from her mother due to cultural differences. Although this is a key factor in her early childhood, she learns to block out these criticisms as she grows older.

In her memoir Warriors Don’t Cry, Melba Pattillo Beals describes her experiences as she became one of the first nine black students educated in an integrated white school. She and her friends, who became known as the “Little Rock Nine”, elicited both support and criticism from their family members, friends, community members, military troops, in addition to the President of the United States. Melba’s experiences, while heartbreaking and sobering, highlight the strength to overcome that individuals can have over a system intent on keeping them down.

Melba uses courage in many different ways throughout her school year, for example, in chapter 15 she is sitting in the lunchroom by herself and Melba sees a group of boys slowly making their way towards her. Then one of the boys throws a golf ball wrapped in white paper and melba says “‘Thank you,’ I said again, a mask of fake cheer on my face. He seemed so astonished as he slowly backed away”(181). Melba does this so that she can be in control of their mind games. Another example of Melba using courage is when she is asked to to speak at the student chapel. Melba is in front of two hundred and fifty white students. Before Melba gets up and talks to the students, she is very nervous, but she remembers what what Grandma India told her and she regained her courage so she can speak in front of all the students.

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.

Transferring to a new school is a hard experience for a normal kid alone. Going to a new, all-white school as a black student in 1957 makes the experience even tougher. In the memoir Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals, Melba and eight others, known as the Little Rock Nine, risk everything in order to attend their local high school, Central High. Living in Little Rock, Arkansas, these students take the courageous step to attend an all-white school in a society filled with segregationists. The Little Rock Nine battle the bullies of Central High, trying to avoid acid in their eyes to eggs in their hair. Through this rough experience, the Nine graciously receive important help from many allies. Throughout the memoir, Melba receives protection

In the story Warriors Don't Cry, Melba and the Little Rock 9 was the first high school students to integrate and they integrated to Little Rock Central High. Melba and the Little Rock 9 went through a lot during the school year, like bulled by white students, killing threats, being bombed/caught on fire, hurt physically/mentally, etc. What Melba had to use strength to get through integration, like the strength of being a warrior. Also, Melba had many sources of strength, like her mom, her grandma, Danny/Melba's guard, religion, keeping hope, etc. Lastly, Melba had to stay calm in the situations she was in so she used her strength to help her.

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

History is filled with stories of dedicated human rights activists that risked their lives to fight for what they believe in. Three good examples of human rights activists that never gave up are Melba Pattillo Beals, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Jones. Melba Pattillo Beals and Gandhi actively worked in fighting for racial equality while Mother Jones worked to improve children’s and workers’ rights. These determined human rights activists never gave up when fighting to improve the rights of persecuted people facing discrimination.

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.

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.

Courage by definition is the ability to do something that scares you. Courage is very bad. Courage is something some black people didn’t have back in the 1900s. Black people were scared to stand up for themselves. Melba had courage. Melba stood up for herself. Melba wanted to integrate Central High School.(page1). (page1-10). page(1-10).

Melba Beals was certainly full of grit. When she insisted to go back to school after segregationists were trying to keep her out the school, but she still insisted on going back to school to finish all her classes and take her final exams. Even after all those people told her to get out; and she finished high school with pride. When Melba showed her grit later on people started encouraging her more saying she’s doing a great thing for this town (Beals 224). I thought this anecdote was important because it shows an example of how grit is used in the right context. The journey archetype means a recurrent image, symbol, or even a situation that instinctual expressions man 's nature and experiences that are universal in humanity. While self-identity means the recognition of one 's potential and qualities of as an individual. People 's traits impact who they are as a person because if they have poorly traits they’ll show that in the way they act same thing for the good traits. Melba Beals’ “Warriors Don’t Cry,” “Homer’s “The Odyssey,” and my own life reveal that our characters traits have an impact on our life journeys and self identities.

A warrior is recognized as sonmeone who battles for his/her beliefs. Even after receiving mortal wounds many times, such a person never leaves the battlefield. However, the inspiring and metaphorical idea of a warrior can certainly extend beyond the actual battlefield, and into the universal battle of living life. A woman must face this world like a warrior. She must endure the pain of a past that oppressed her, the adversity of a present that is only beginning to understand her, and a future that will continuously test her. From the beginning of time, Native American women have been a driving force in their cultures, retaining their immense strength throughout