Warriors Don’t Cry
Melba Pattillo Beals
Chapter 1 Notes (1-11)
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Melba is 15 years old when she integrates Central High
Born on Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7, 1945)
Scalp injury at birth due to the doctor’s use of forceps
Nurses in the white hospital failed to wash her wound in Epson Salts as directed by the doctor
Melba almost dies
By the age of 4, Melba realizes the differences – colored bathrooms and water fountains
By the age of 5, Melba learns she has no place in the white man’s world (Merry-Go-Round)
Page 3, paragraph 3…read and know the importance. “…Blacks aren’t born expecting segregation…”
Melba lived with her mother (English teacher), her father (worked on the railroad), her grandmother
India and brother Conrad
Mr. Waylan – the grocer who overcharges Melba’s family
Melba’s father wanted to argue, but couldn’t for fear that Mr. Waylan would cut them off
Melba disappointed and realizes for the first time that her father cannot protect her from the white man.
The white man was in charge
Chapter 2 Notes (12 – 23)
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May 17, 1954 –the U. S. Supreme Court rules in Brown vs BOE of Topeka, Kansas that “separate but
equal” is illegal an unconstitutional
Teacher – fearful of citizen response; kids are sent home from school early and warned to watch for
trouble
Marissa – an older and bigger girl that Melba is afraid of; she has behavior problems
Marissa comes to Melba’s defense when an angry white man attempts to rape Melba
The man is angry over the Supreme Court’s decision
Marissa hits him over the head and tells Melba to run to escape
Grandma India has Melba soak in a tub of water to “..wash away the white man’s evil…” She then
burned the clothes Melba was wearing
Mother Lois, Melba’s father and Grandma India decide not to report the attempted rape to the police for
fear that the white policemen might do something even worse
News about the Brown case fills newspapers and TV
The papers report that Little Rock had adopted a plan to limit integration into Central High School
Meanwhile, Melba, unbeknownst to her mother or father, signs up to attend the white (Little Rock) High
School in the fall
The school year ends and Melba and the family (minus her father) drive to Cincinnati, Ohio to visit
Uncle Clancey and Aunt Julie
Melba loves it in Cincinnati as she is accepted there by the white people
Whites smile at her and are friendly
The vacation comes to a halt when Melba’s father calls to tell Mother Lois that Melba was chosen to
attend the white high school in the fall
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Mother Lois is furious as Melba made this decision without consulting the other family members and the
danger she has put them in
Melba just wants to stay in Cincinnati, but now must prepare to return to “all Hades breading loose”…as
Grandma India puts it
Chapter 3 Notes (24-32)
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Melba and family return from Cincinnati to Little Rock
Life had changed. It was all about the integration now
Melba’s life was full of meetings with school board members, superintendents and NAACP
officials
Daisy Bates = Arkansas state president of NAACP
The original 17 black students who applied to Central High dwindled down to 9 as a result of
threats of violence
Those nine students became known as …The Little Rock Nine
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Ernest Green – the oldest, a senior – warm and friendly
Terrance Roberts –a junior, verbal, funny and very intelligent
Jefferson Thomas – quiet, soft-spoken and a good athlete
Elizabeth Eckford – petite, quiet and very private
Thelma Mothershed – had a heart condition
Minnijean Brown – Melba’s best friend
Carlotta Wells – athletic, “girl next door”
Gloria Ray – delicate and meticulous
Melba Pattillo Beals
All nine students came from strict parents. All were church going
Governor Faubus (gov of Arkansas) sends troops to Central and announces that he can’t promise
to protect people and their property from the violence likely to occur
Melba’s family receives a bomb threat
Grandma India now sleeps with Mr. Higgenbottom by her side – her shotgun
Melba begins to regret her decision of going to Central High
Superintendent Virgil Blossom tells parents not to accompany kids to school on day one
Federal judge, Ronald Davies orders the integration of classes at Central High to begin on
Wednesday, September 4, 1957
Chapter 4 Notes (33-46)
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Mother Lois is shunned by once friendly neighbors as she drives Melba to school
Large crowds surround Central High for blocks
Arkansas National Guard surrounds the school
Mother Lois parks the car and they proceed by foot to chants of “ 2-4-6-8-we aint gonna
integrate”
They see Elizabeth Eckford all alone closed in by an angry crowd and the National Guard who
won’t let her bread their line and enter the school building
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Melba and her mom become afraid as they are noticed by the crowd and a white man threatens
them
They run for their car and are chased by the man and 4 others – one with a rope
They finally reach the car and escape unharmed but terrified
The National Guard had turned Elizabeth Eckford and 2 others away from school
Melba tries to meet her friend Minnijean later on that evening but Mother Lois forbids Melba
from going out at all
Later on that evening the phone rings and Grandma thinks it might me Vince, a boy from Melba’s
church
She calls Melba to the phone. The voice at then other end is not Vince’s, but a harsh threatening
voice that promises to “get her”
Melba didn’t tell her mother or Grandma about the threat, but Grandma India sleeps that night
with Mr. Higgonbottom on her lap
Chapter 5 Notes (47-60)
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Melba prepares to go to the wrestling matches and to take her mind off threats and integration
The newspaper reports that the Little Rock school board asks Judge Davies to suspend integration
of Central High
The U S President (Eisenhower) rebukes Governor Faubus and orders him to obey the law
On Saturday, Melba plans all day on going to the wrestling matches that night as always with
Grandma India. She was hoping to meet up with Vince –whom she did have a crush on
Grandma India and Mother Lois, however, consider it far too dangerous for Melba to be out in
any crowd and they tell her she can’t go.
That night Melba writes in her diary… “Freedom is not integration. Freedom is being able to go
with Grandma to the wrestling matches.”
Melba’s sadness is temporarily relieved when she sees the Sunday newspaper with a picture of the
hateful, angry, twisted faces of the ugly mob that surrounded Central High the day before, with a
comment from a white man who blasted all those who took part for their bigotry
She felt better still, when Vince caught up with her after Sunday services and flat out asked her to
be his girlfriend
She was happy and embarrassed when she got special mention during services and the
congregation prayed for her and continued strength. They also prayed for Gov. Faubus
A meeting at President’s Eisenhower’s vacation spot in Rhode Island was to take place
Tutoring sessions were being held for the students missing school.
The Little Rock Nine had a conference with Mrs. Bates and Thurgood Marshall who urged them
to be ready to testify in federal court
Chapter 6 (61-68)
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Arkansas Gazette. Friday, Sept. 20, 1957 – Faubus heads into court
Melbas hopes to see Faubus face to face. The Little Rock Nine, Mrs. Bates, Thurgood Marshall,
Wiley Branton and many others Melba didn’t know, enter the federal building through the side
door
A crush of people –photographers, reporters, protestors, all on hand
Mrs. Bates tells kids to straighten shoulders, smile and stand tall
Courtroom held 150 people, many were black
Whites continue to heckle and taunt and intimidate
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Thelma takes sick and there is concern as to whether to let her go through with integration due to
all the stress and pressure on her heart
This could hurt their cause as the segregationists would claim that integration killed her and
create still more controversy
Judge Ronald Davies presided over the first court hearing – horn-rimmed glasses, huge eyes,
smooth dark hair, pleasant round face. All-seeing, all-knowing eyes
Tom Harper (lawyer for Gov Faubus) claims the case should be dismissed because the governor
feels this is not the federal court’s call. He claims this is a state’s issue
Amicus curiae (friends of the court) lawyers support integration
Over 100 witnesses from the Justice Dept say that the threat of violence due to integration is not
sufficient cause for the governor to call out troops
Argues that the Little Rock Nine were selected on the basis of scholarship , health, and mental
ability
Judge Davies denies Harper’s move to dismiss and rules to move forward with the integration of
Central High – beginning the following Monday morning
Chapter 7 (69 -89)
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Little Rock Nine are escorted to school on Monday morning in 2 cars –one group in a car driven
by Mrs. Bates and the other in a car driven by NAACP member Frank Smith
Hundreds of white angry white people gather outside school shouting racial slurs and threats
Once inside the nine meet in principal’s office with Mrs. Huckaby the VP for girls
Each are assigned a different homeroom on different floors and different parts of the building –
basically to deliberately sabotage them
Fist period class teacher ignores the threats and bad behavior of the white kids toward Melba
Mrs. Pickwick, the shorthand teacher is an anti-racist and is much nicer to Melba
The crowds break barricades and become more threatening
Gene Smith, Assistant Chief of Little Rock Police comes to escort them safely home
After arriving home, Melba and her family listen to radio reports of crowds armed with sticks,
clubs and guns rampaged through the school in search of the black kids
Three black reporters at the school were beaten because they cooperated with the police to help
the nine kids escape
Chapter 8 (90 – 106)
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The President sends 1200 battle-equipped paratroopers to Little Rock to see that integration is
carried out without any more violence
Melba’s family receives a special night-time visit from messengers of the President who promise to
protect her
The kids meet at Mrs. Bate’s house –lined with 50 uniformed soldiers from the 101st
Reporters clustered, cameras flashed, lots of people of both races standing about
The kids were driven to school in a convoy – a station wagon protected by jeeps in front and
behind the wagon. The jeeps were equipped with guns mounted on the front
The kids arrive at school joined by more soldiers with rifles and bayonets
Melba has mixed emotions –proud that her President would go to so much trouble for nine black
kids and sad that he needed to
Each of the kids is assigned a soldier to protect them. Melba is assigned to Danny from the 101st
Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles)
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50 uniformed soldiers from the 101st stood guard in front of the school
Once inside the school, the kids go to the principal’s office and are greeted by Jess Matthews, the
principal of Central High – forced smile as he greets them
The nine kids go their separate ways, each followed by a soldier
Danny accompanied Melba to class but was instructed to wait outside
Melba is told to sit away from the door in study hall. Spitballs are thrown at her and notes with
mean things are written and passed on to her
Then Mrs. Pickwick’s class where things settle down a bit
Melba goes to the lady’s room to find vile things written on the walls
Later that day, the girls were taunted in the cafeteria over lunch
Then gym class and Danny had to protect Melbas from a group of kids who had gathered
Then in French class, Melba thought the kids were being nice, but they dept referring to sun
tanning and “getting too dark” – all in French
Then to study hall where the teacher instructed Melba to take a seat away from the door despite
Melba’s reminder that she was supposed to sit by the door in view of Danny
The teacher sat and read the newspaper and ignored threats and the throwing of spitballs
That day Melba was taken home by helicopter and an army staff car
Sarge was their driver – the kids told their stories of the day’s event on the way home
Back to Mrs. Bate’s house where they moved into the station wagon
A reporter from the New York Post asked Melba to write down what she was thinking after her
first full day at school
When Melba arrived home – more reporters
Melba thanks Danny for protecting her that day when she wrote in her diary that night
Chapter 9 (107-113)
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Melba’s escorted ride to school continues
Melba meets Danny (guide) at the front door
Danny’s presence doesn’t stop the attacks
Melba is kicked, pushed to the floor and taunted by white kids on the way to homeroom
Danny doesn’t intervene because he was there only to deep her alive
Melba is cross-examined once she is taken to the office and explains what happened
Despite the soldiers and Danny witnessing the abuse, she was told there was nothing that could be
done
Melba was never even offered medical assistance – just told to get to class
Pranks continued all day with Danny keeping a safe distance
Danny’s instructions are to remain in the background and to intervene only when life is being
threatened
Melba is disgusted and just wants to run away
Melba goes home and gets a good night’s sleep and returns to school next day
The usually crowded stairways were empty during the change of class
Melba is alone – except for Danny. Danny screams for Melba to “get down!”
Someone had tossed a stick of dynamite into the stairwell. Danny grabbed it and handed it off to
another soldier who sped away with it
Later that day, Melba finds out she is to attend the school football pep rally – without Danny
Melba was terrified to be in the crowd of kids unattended and prayed
Suddenly she was thrown against the wall by 3 – 4 football player type boys
She was choked and threatened – then let go
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Melba sees Danny by the door and tells him what happened
Danny tells Melba she has to defend herself
Danny said that each of the LR9 kids should have been given training in self-defense
Melbas complains that its too late for that now
Danny responds…”its never too late – it takes a warrior to fight a battle and survive. This here is
a battle if ever I’ve seen one”
Melba thinks about Danny’s words later that day and decides she needs to get a plan to better
protect herself
That night she writes in her diary”…after 3 full days inside Central High, I know that integration
is a much bigger word than I thought”
Chapter 10 (114 – 123)
Chapter 12 (141 – 150)
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Melba turns sweet 16
Melba attacked by a white boy and fights back (kicks him in the groin)
Background info (personal history) of the LR 9 is being printed in the news
Melba plans her sweet 16 party and invites old friends from Horace Mann
The night of her party, only one guest showed up – Vince
Melba finds out that the kids were afraid to go to her home…SND…Ann had planned a
Christmas party for this very same night. That’s where all the kids were
Vince stays only a short time and then he too leaves to attend Ann’s party
Melba is saddened
Tuesday, December 17, - the last day before Christmas bread, Minnijean is involved in an incident
in the school cafeteria
A group of white boys taunt her and block her from moving to a table
Melba could see her and wanted to help, but she and the others were instructed not to intervene
for each other
After several minutes of Minnijean going back and forth at her attackers, she dumped the a bowl
of chili on her lunch tray on the heads of the boys
The cafeteria help- many of them black – applauded…BUT…Minnijean gets suspended from
school and Melba is threatened …”one down and 8 to go”
Chapter 13 (151 – 156)
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Arkansas Gazette – Wednesday, December 18, 1957…”Negro girl is suspended from school after
incident”
Minnijean was not allowed to re-apply to Central High until 6 days of school had passed
Instead of rest and relaxation, this meant Melba would remain embroiled in integration over the
Christmas break
A bright soft during the break came when the National Organization of Delta Sigma (a
professional women’s sorority) gave a party in Melba’s honor to show support for her.
This was the first time Melba’s people showed support for her
Melba felt proud as she was encouraged and honored by this committee
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That night in her diary she wrote of the joy their support gave her and she prayed that Minnijean
could get back into school
Vince stopped by to visit with Melba during Christmas bread, but it was strained. They were
growing further and further apart
Her father came by the house with presents for Melba and Conrad and the family
The big surprise was a TV with a big screen papa had hidden on the front porch
Melba and Conrad learned to accept the fondness betw3en their divorced parents without hoping
for reunions that would never come
Melba’s New Year’s Eve wish was to do her best to stay alive till May 29 –the end of the school
year
Chapter 14 (157 – 173)
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Melba withdraws from French class in the New year
Hostile students continue their pressure
Minnijean and parents meet with Superintendent Blossom and is permitted back into school
provided she not respond to any attackers in any way
Segregationists more vocal and organize a process of phoning LR( homes at all hours to harass
Prank calls and bomb threats telephoned to their homes
School officials not in control
Melba doubts she can tough it out writing in her diary…”I wish I were dead.”
Grandma India blasts Melba for her despair
She accuses Melba of giving in to the segregationists
She scolds Melba about future newspaper headlines that might read “ Melba Patillo dies by
her own hand because she was afraid of facing God’s assignment for her””
Melba decides Grandma is right and she and Grandma take on a project…keeping track of
Explorer satellite that put the US into the space race
Mother Lois urges Melba to invite Vince to dinner more often
They pray for Minnijean who ignored the first soup bowl attack in the cafeteria
She is attacked a second time by the same boys with another bowl of soup while others yell
“White Trash”
Minnijean responds and is suspended. The newspaper reads…”They bother me all the time..”
as she explains how the white kids throw rocks, spit ink, spit on her and douse her with soup
and call her names
Superintendent Blossom recommends Minnijean’s expulsion
Thurgood Marshall says the treatment of the LR 9 is unbearable for the kids
Melba is attacked in school stairwell with raw eggs
Grandma makes light of it saying its food for her hair
Melba complains the segregationists rob her of her dignity every day
“Dignity is a state of mind” Grandma tells her
She tells Melba to change her strategy – to change the rules of the game by telling her
attackers “Thank you” with a smile
She said this would no longer make Melba the victim
Melba tried it when two boys tried blocking the doorway so she couldn’t pass
They were speechless and Melba found a new sense of power
Feb. 14th – Valentine’s Day – it snowed and the LR9 are bombarded with snowballs filled with
rocks
The Arkansas National Guard did nothing
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Vince sent Melba a Valentine’s Day card, but Melba is sad that she can’t fit him into her
schedule. Her life is consumed with “integration”
Minnijean is expelled and the NAACP can’t reverse it
NAACP arranges for Minnijean to attend a famous private school in New York by scholarship
Minnijean and Melba say goodbye – Melba has mixed emotions as she is happy for Minnijean
but will miss her
Minnijean also feels sad as she feels she is making it harder on the others by leaving
Segregationists celebrate Minnijean’s expulsion by increasing the attacks of the LR8 – spitting
on, slapping, threats, being hit with a tennis racket
March, 1957 – Melba continues to smile and say “Thank you” to her attackers
She receives a warning from Link –one of the white boys, to get out of the 16th Street entrance
hallways before she is hurt by a kid named Andy
Andy means Melba real harm and Link tells her that even though he (Link) calls her the
names and threatens her like Andy, that he is really only trying to help her from getting hurt
He tells her he must act the part with his friends, but he is really on Melba’s side
Link and his other friends have Melba alone in the 16th Street entrance and are approaching
fast
Link tells Melba there is no time. He leaves his car keys on top of his car and tells Melba to
grab them and take his car – and to do so fast
Andy gets closer and Melba grabs the keys and speeds away in Link’s car
She is not sure she did the right thing, but she reasons that at least she got away and gets to
live one more day
Chapter 15 (174 – 182)
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Melba guns the engine of Link’s car and heads for her own backyard
Grandma India upset over Melba having his car and covers it with sheets
Grandma India begins to think Link really is one of God’s good white people
Link calls Melba and arranges for her to drop the car off at Double Deck Ice Cream
Melba asks Link why he stuck his neck out for her
Link responds that he helped because Andy really means to kill her
Mother Lois follows Melba to the ice cream place and drove her safely home
Melba’s locker is broken into next day at school
Melba is surrounded by a group of side burners in the cafeteria – Link was among them
Again Melba doubts his trust
The group he was with were threatening her over and over
Someone from the group g\threw a golf ball wrapped in paper at Melba
The group was reluctant to openly attack Melba for fear of suspension, but they were trying to set
Melba up to responding so that she would get suspended Melba was determined not to weaken
and “thanked” the group for each of the verbal insults
When she refused to take the bait, they became more serious about attacking her
Melba heard Link say that Melba wasn’t worth having to stay in for detention all week and that
they could “get her” later