Warriors Don't Cry (Page 40-85)

SUMMARY: The story continues with more thrill and intensity. The governor of Arkansas has officially forbidden the Little Rock 9 from going to Central High. This brought relief to Grandma because she though there was no rush for this situation and Melba won't have top suffer. Many black people were afraid of the outcome so they discouraged her to go to the school. She wasn't receiving enough support from her family and friends but her main advocate was her grandmother who gave her hope through her powerful symbolic and religious words which impelled Melba to fight against the situation. September 3, 1957, Little Rock 9 were supposed to be gathering in the school so Melba prepared during the morning and headed out with her mom passing the stares and silent awkwardness of the neighbors. As they parked their car in the corner, there was a huge uproar. A crowd of white students encircled around Elizabeth Eckford as she was trying to make her way to the school. Melba and her mom saw Elizabeth's braveness but they were soon caught up in the crowd and they fought back too. They ran as hard as they could barely making it to the car. Melba drove the car even though she didn't have a license and they get home torn up. After that things get worse as phone callers stalk Melba's home and attack them at night giving them a daunting time.

QUOTATION: "We're told people have come from as far away as Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia to join forces to halt integration" (Beals 44).

REACTION: There were several other quotes but I picked this quote due to its relationship between "To Kill A Mockingbird" book that we're reading in ELA 10 class. This focuses on a certain time period when people down south were very hypocritical and they were racist. This shares similarity with the people down south in "To Kill a Mockingbird" due to racism. This symbolizes how people down south didn't think that integration was the right thing because of their dogmatic beliefs and opinions on black people and various other races. The black people were told not to look white people directly in their eyes including Melba who was also admonished by her little brother Conrad. He gave her an imagery of what happened to Emmet till when he looked in a white person's eye. Historical daunting events are brought up to frighten Melba about Central High and this is not what some one anticipates from a family member or a friend. She is a true warrior to survive this situation even when the odds are on her.