Warriors Don’t Cry

by Melba Pattillo Beals

Chapter 1 Notes

  • Melba is 15 years old when she integrates Central High.
  • She is born on Pearl Harbor Day (December 7, 1941).
  • She has a scalp injury at birth due to the doctor’s use of forceps.
  • Nurses in the white hospital failed to wash her wound in Epson Salt and water as directed by the doctor. Her mother was informed of this by the janitor.
  • 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 through the incident on the Merry-Go-Round.
  • Melba lives with her mother, who is an English teacher, her father, who works on the railroad, her grandmother, India, and brother, Conrad.
  • Mr. Waylan is the grocer who overcharges Melba’s family.
  • Melba’s father wants to argue, but he couldn’t for fear that Mr. Waylan would cut them off.Melba is disappointed and realizes for the first time that her father cannot protect her from the white man. The white man is in charge.

Chapter 2 Notes

  • On May 17, 1954, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas that “separate but equal” is illegal and unconstitutional.
  • Teacher is fearful of citizens’ response; students are sent home from school early and warned to watch for trouble.
  • Marissa is 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 attempted to assault Melba. The man is angry over the Supreme Court’s decision. Marissa hits him over the head and tells Melba to run.
  • Grandma India has Melba soak in a tub of water to “...wash away the white man’s evil.” She then burns the clothes Melba was wearing.
  • Mother Lois, Melba’s father, and Grandma India decide not to report the incident 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 has adopted a plan to limit integration into Central High School.
  • Meanwhile, Melba signs up to attend the Central High School; her family does not know.
  • The school year ends and Melba and the family, except her father,drive to Cincinnati, Ohio to visit her aunt and uncle.
  • Melba loves it in Cincinnati as she is accepted there by the white people. Whites smile at her and arefriendly.
  • The vacation comes to a halt when Melba’s father calls to tell Mother Lois that Melba is chosen to attend the white high school in the fall.
  • Mother Lois is furious as Melba madethis decision without consulting her family 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

  • Melba and her family return from Cincinnati to Little Rock.
  • Life has changed, for it is all about the integration now.
  • Melba’s life is full of meetings with school board members, superintendents, and NAACP officials.
  • Daisy Bates is Arkansas state president of NAACP.
  • The original 17 black students who applied to Central High havedwindled down to 9 as a result of threats of violence.
  • Those nine students became known as …The Little Rock Nine. They are:
  1. Ernest Green – the oldest, a senior, warm and friendly
  2. Terrance Roberts –a junior, verbal, funny and very intelligent
  3. Jefferson Thomas – quiet, soft-spoken and a good athlete
  4. Elizabeth Eckford – petite, quiet and very private
  5. Thelma Mothershed – had a heart condition
  6. Minnijean Brown – Melba’s best friend
  7. Carlotta Wells – athletic, “girl next door”
  8. Gloria Ray – delicate and meticulous
  9. Melba Pattillo Beals
  • All nine students come from strict parents and are church going people.
  • Governor Faubus, who is the Governor of Arkansas, sends troops to Central and announces that he can’t promise to protect people and their property from the violence.
  • Melba’s family receives a bomb threat.
  • Grandma India now sleeps with Mr. Higgenbottom, who is her shotgun, by her side.
  • 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

  • Mother Lois and Melba are 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 won’t let her break their line and enter the school building.
  • 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 a man and 4 others. They finally reach the car and escape unharmed but terrified.
  • 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 be Vince, who is 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 doesn’t tell her mother or Grandma India about the threat, but Grandma India sleeps that night with Mr. Higgenbottom on her lap.

Chapter 5 Notes

  • Melba prepares to go to the wrestling matches and to take her mind off the threats and integration.
  • The newspaper reports that the Little Rock school board asks Judge Davies to suspend integration of Central High.
  • The President Eisenhowerorders Governor Faubus 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 has 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 to the wrestling matches.
  • 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.
  • Melba feels better when Vince catches up with her after Sunday services and flat out asks her to be his girlfriend.
  • Melba is happy and embarrassed when she gets special mention during services and the congregation prays for her.
  • A meeting at President Eisenhower’s vacation spot in Rhode Island is to take place.
  • Tutoring sessions were being held for the Little Rock Nine students who are missing school.
  • The Little Rock Nine has a conference with Mrs. Bates and Thurgood Marshall who urges them to be ready to testify in federal court.

Chapter 6Notes

  • On Friday, September 20, 1957, Governor Faubus heads into court.
  • Melba hopes to see Governor Faubus face to face. The Little Rock Nine, Mrs. Bates, Thurgood Marshall, Wiley Branton, and many others that Melba doesn’t know enter the federal building through the side door.
  • Mrs. Bates tells the kids to straighten shoulders, smile, and stand tall.
  • Courtroom holds 150 people, and many were black. Whites continue to heckle, taunt, and intimidate.
  • Thelma becomes sick, and there is a 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 more controversy.
  • Judge Ronald Davies presides over the first court hearing.
  • Tom Harper, who is the lawyer for Governor 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.
  • Over 100 witnesses from the Justice Department say that the threat of violence due to integration is not sufficient cause for the governor to call out troops.
  • Lawyers argue 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 7Notes

  • Little Rock Nine are escorted to school on Monday morning in 2 cars; the drivers of the two cars were Mrs. Bates and another NAACP official- 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 Vice Principal for girls.
  • Each are assigned a different homeroom on different floors and different parts of the building.
  • Her 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.

Chapter 8 Notes

  • 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 101stAirborne Division.
  • 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).
  • 50 uniformed soldiers from the 101stAirborne Division 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 – forcesa smile as he greets them.
  • The nine kids go their separate ways, and 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.
  • Things settle down a bit in Mrs. Pickwick’s class.
  • 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.
  • Danny had to protect Melbas from a group of kids who had gathered in gym class.
  • Then in French class, Melba thought the kids were being nice, but they were referring to sun tanning and “getting too dark” – all in French.
  • In study hall, 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.
  • Melba thanks Danny for protecting her that day when she wrote in her diary that night.

Chapter 9 Notes

  • Melba’s escorted ride to school continues.
  • Melba meets Danny 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 keep 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.
  • 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.
  • Danny tells Melba she has to defend herself.
  • Danny said that each of the Little Rock Nine students should have been given training in self-defense.
  • Melbas complains that it’s too late for that now. Danny responds by saying, “It’s 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 Notes

  • Melba claims Saturdays for herself.
  • Vince calls and asks if Melba could go to church with him tomorrow and then out for a bite.
  • The church says Melba’s name and prays for her.
  • Melba continues to look for Danny upon arriving to school; the white students continue to harass Melba and the others. However, some of the students are beginning to accept them. Melba writes in her diary “A girl smiled at me today, another gave me directions, still another boy whispered the page I should turn to in our textbook.”
  • Some type of “acid” is thrown at Melba’s face. Danny saves Melba’s sight by splashing water into her eyes.

Chapter 11 Notes

  • Saturday morning there is a meeting help at the Parish Hall in Saint Andrew’s Cathedral. After the meeting the headlines read “Two Pupils Tell of a Change in Attitude on Segregation.”
  • Word gets around that half the soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division are going to Kentucky. As time passes on, there are fewer and fewer soldiers.
  • Monday, October 28, there is a meeting at the Superintendent’s Office with the Little Rock Eight and their parents. Superintendent Blossom and the other officials were telling them that the school is trying to maintain peace by not responding to any attacks as well as lecturing them on the “proper attitude” and the responsibility as parents.
  • Minnijean wants to participate in the school’s choral program. The others do not think it is a good idea. Later on, Minnijean is informed that the day to register for tryouts has passed by Mrs. Huckaby.
  • Mrs. Bates telephones Melba telling her that they will all gather for an official Thanksgiving dinner at her house as well as a news conference. At the conference, Melba calls the turkey “integrated.”
  • Melba learns that Danny is gone, and he left without saying goodbye.
  • Melba is looking forward to Christmas vacation.

Chapter 12 Notes

  • Melba turns sweet 16.
  • Melba attacked by a white boy and fights back by kicking him in the groin.
  • Melba plans her sweet 16 party and invites old friends from Horace Mann.
  • The night of her party only one guest shows up – Vince.
  • Melba finds out that her friends were afraid to go to her home, andAnn had planned a Christmas party for this very same night. All her friends went to Ann’s party.
  • Vince stays only a short time and then he too leaves to attend Ann’s party.
  • Melba is saddened.
  • The last day before Christmas break, 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 boysThe cafeteria help, many of them black, applauded. Minnijean gets suspended from school.