Essay On Melba Patillo Beals

In 1957, nine African-American students challenged institutionalized segregation in Little Rock, Arkansas, simply by enrolling in Central High School, a formerly all-white school. Melba Patillo Beals was one of the nine determined students who attempted to desegregate the public school system in Little Rock. She later wrote about her experiences in Warriors Don’t Cry, a forthright memoir with the ability to transport its readers into the halls of Central High School and onto the streets of Little Rock during a metamorphic period in American History. Although briefed by leaders of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on what to expect upon enrollment, the beast the young students awoke was much larger than anticipated. Once Beals and her eight fellow warriors crossed into white-washed territory, they were greeted with spit, profanity, assault, acid, and a constant fear of their safety. The once “tall …majestic… European castle,” Melba fantasized about, transformed into a building she
The advice she gave to Melba throughout her childhood, and most importantly during her year at Central, was not always what Melba wanted to hear. “Patience is a virtue,” she reminded Melba. Many times, what Grandma India said to Melba was met with dissatisfaction, but Melba listened nonetheless. Her advice about resisting the temptation of violent action and constantly striving to obtain the moral high ground, and her overall confidence in her granddaughter provided Melba with the strength to endure the wrath of the deep south. Grandma India was a strong-willed, God-fearing woman who instilled the same values in her own granddaughter, which allowed her to confront adversity in such a poised