Final Reflection

Reading “Warriors Don’t Cry” was a true experience, I really liked this book it really opened my eyes and gave me a glimpse of what it was like to grow up during Melba’s time. In the beginning I thought it would just be a simple story but she really opened up used words that made a picture in my mind. The style of book was really good because it wasn’t that formal and it was written more freely, and also it wasn’t boaring she kept it interesting and kept you wanting to read more. That helped me stay interested in the book. I am not really a memoir reader because I am not really interested in people life story, but this book was different it wasn’t just a straight forward story she used pictures and different writing techniques. My final impression and my initial impression were the same, I knew that the book was going to be good because I really enjoy books about African American history; also I heard that author did a really good job writing it. I think this book was not only a story about Melba but it was a message to people telling them that what happened years ago should not happen again and it was period of chaos. I really hope that people who read this book get that message because it’s important that they understand what happened. In the end I really enjoyed this book and I not only learned what the little rock nine was, but I learned a valuable lesson.  

Connections

“Warriors don’t Cry” is a very powerful book and it really makes you think about how life would have been during the late 1960’s living in little rock, Arkansas as an African-American Teenage girl. Also on top of that she is trying to integrate an All- White school, it must have been tough for during those years but she did make because she had a great support system. I found a song called Never Surrender by Corey Hart it is a very inspirational song that talks about not giving up even when you feel like you can’t take it anymore. There are a couple of verses that really connect with” Warriors don’t cry” like when he says “So if you’re lost and on your own you can never surrender And if your path won’t lead you home you can never surrender” this part really struck me because in the book there is plenty of times where Melba wanted to give up and just walk away from everything but her family made sure that she never gave up and she did not let negative people bring her down. The literal meaning of this song is that you should never surrender even if you feel alone and lost. The figurative meaning of this song is that surrendering is never option because people can’t change your view about something and make you uncertain about you decision. The song is also saying that you should do what you have to do and no matter what you can’t give up. The tone of this song is very uplifting, and moving. The theme of both the song and the memoir is not giving up and never surrendering because if you work hard enough you can achieve greatness and pave the way for other people to do great things.

Title Significance

The title “Warriors Don’t Cry” is very significant because during the novel melba faces a lot of difficulties such as people she thought were her friends want nothing to do with her, and segregationist calling her house all day threatening her family, but no matter what happened she never let it ruin her because she had her family to help and support her through it all. The title’s literal meaning is that people who are fighting for something don’t cry. Melba’s grandmother explains to her that she is fighting a battle and she can’t be worried about what people say about her because at the end of the day she is fighting for something bigger than any of the people that are talking about her. This title relates to the plot because the book is about an African-American teenage girl who is trying to integrate an All-white high school and that’s a battle for her and it is a lot to handle and her grandmother is trying to her that you can’t cry for everything and sometimes you have to push things aside and do what you have to do.  An example of this in chapter six when Melba wanted to go to the community center to visit her friends but her grandmother said no and Melba ran in her room and started to cry and this is what Grandmother India said “You’re a warrior on the battlefield for your Lord. God’s warriors don’t cry, ‘cause they trust that he’s always by their side” (57). After she said that Melba never acted that way again because she knew that, that type of behavior was not tolerated and that what her grandmother said was true she is God’s warrior and he will always be there by her side.   

Passage Analysis

“Don’t you dare even say that girl; curiosity gets a body in a whole lot of trouble. Be patient,” Grandma commanded once more as she smiled at me. “Be patient, and one day, God willing you’ll see inside that school, I promise” (21). This quote is said by Grandma India, she is trying to tell Melba that if she is patient she will one day get to enter inside Central High an All-white high school. Grandma India knows that if you just take your time and not try to rush everything eventually you will get what you want.

 

This quote is important because it demonstrates foreshadowing and flashback. It shows foreshadowing because later on in the novel Melba gets the opportunity to integrate into Central High School and see what it is like to go inside that school. This quote also demonstrates flashback because one day Melba was walking home and it was the first day that the community got word that white schools would integrate with black schools and her teacher had told her to walk home in a group of friends but melba didn’t do that and walked alone on a vacant block and then a segregationists walked up and tried to harass her and then she started to run away and he jumped on her and tried to rape her but she got away. Melba wasn’t being patient and didn’t wait for a group of friends and walked by herself and she wanted to be curious by walking in the vacant lot by herself. I think that this quote is important because it relates to all parts of her life.   

Emotional Reaction

While reading “Warriors Don’t Cry” by Melba Beals there was a part that really struck me, it was when Melba and her mother were on their way to Central High an all-white high school for the first day of school.  Before that day Melba and her family had read that Governor Fabus had National Guard coming to protect the integration students but actually they were there to keep the students from entering the school. While Melba and her mother were trying to enter the school a bunch of segregationist came running towards Melba with a rope screaming “Niggers, go home! Niggers go back to where you belong!” That part of the book really broke my heart because Melba was trying so hard to make a change in her community and her surroundings and it all backfired on her, but I am really surprised that she didn’t freak out and tried to keep her cool because I know that if that was me I would have had a panic attack. I felt that when Melba was writing this chapter she became really emotional and it might have brought back a lot of old feelings for example when she wrote “I could hear grandma India’s voice saying, God is always with you, even when things seem awful.” That quote seemed to have a lot of emotion because it is stated multiple times in the book. I think that this part of the book was the beginning of a very long struggle for not only Melba but for the entire community.

Before I Read

I am very excited to start reading “Warriors Don’t Cry” By: Melba Beals. I really hope this book is a heartwarming tale about her struggle to accepted into an all-white high school. I selected this book because I am really interested in black history and I have always heard about them but I never knew in depth what they did. I also chose this book because I really liked the book and movie about Brown vs. Board of education and I feel like this is a continuation of that. I have heard that Melba Beals did an excellent job writing this book because it came from such a personal place, I can’t wait to read this book for myself. I really expect to enjoy this novel and be able to connect with it. “Warriors don’t cry” seems like a very compelling novel that people should read because people need to know what the little rock nine went through so that it does not happen again. While browsing through the book I saw that the format was verysimple and easy to understand I am so glad that I pick this book because I know by the end of it I will have learned something new, and that I will have a new perspective on life and not take things for granted anymore, because I know that if it wasn’t for Melba and her eight other friends African American children and caucasian children wouldn't be able to go to school together.