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“Warriors don’t cry” I picked the theme of self-reliance. As I read the story it was unbelievable to me that she did not give up, even though there were many times when she could have. What she thought was a good idea in the beginning, is just a teenager, she had no idea what the impact she would make on herself and the future Africain American people in. May 24, 1955: The Little Rock school board adopted a plan to limit integration to Central High School. One day at school the teachers asked a student at Melba’s school who wanted to attend Central High School.
Melba raised her hand, she felt that if they opened the school to her people she would have access to other opportunities. August 1957: Melba’s father received a phone call saying that melba had been assigned to go to Central High School. Her mother and Grandmother India were not happy. They had no idea that she had signed up for this. As adults they were knew more of what could happen. Even thought her mother and grandmother tried to make her see things, melba knew there was a better life out there. She thought she could make a difference September 4, 1957: Melba was going to Central High School, at least she thought she was.
Nobody expected what took place that day. The crowds and the riots were unbelievable. As Melba and he mother tried to get close to the school, they knew the danger would be great. None of the 9 black students attend Central High School that day. Melba wrote that she didn’t know if she should go back, but her grandmother said that if she didn’t go back they will think that they won. This is only the beginning of the things that her Grandmother said to make Melba how strong she was. September 23,1957: Melba’s first day walking into Central High School. I don’t think Melba knew that it would be that bad.
Nobody wanted them at this school. The students were hitting, pushing, and calling them names and no one was really protecting them. Every time she was about to give up she would remember something her grandmother would say “god loves you, child; no matter what, he sees you as his precious idea. ” Or “God never loses one of his flock. ” September 25, 1957: The 101st airborne were sent in to protect us. She just wanted them to keep her safe. She really believed that if she was given a real chance that everything would be okay. Deep down inside if she didn’t think that, how would she be able to keep on going?
What she did know was integration was more bigger word than she thought. November 1957: The 101st airborne was being pulled out of the school. Danny, Melba body was leaving. He watch over her and taught her many things, he was like a hidden treasure. One of the few people in Central high that looked out for her and now he was leaving. As these troopers pulled out day by day the students were getting worse. How would she survive? December 1957: Melba was starting to have little hope. She prayed that things at Central High next year would be much better or she wanted to be somewhere else.
January 1958: Melba didn’t realize how little hope she said. She wrote several times in her diary that she wanted to die, than she realize the request to disappear for a couple of months. She went to tell her Grandmother how she felt and to Melba’s surprise her grandmother said “Good Idea” She said it was because she was afraid to face God’s assignment for her. At that point she realized once again from her Grandmother that would be giving up and her Grandmother made her see that it shouldn’t be an option for Melba. March 1958: Things were just getting worse and worse.
There were hardly any troops at school by now. It was so hard to keep on going. Danny the 101st guard said “when you let yourself lose your focus, you make big mistakes” This keep Melba going. She trusted Danny, this lead her to trust another white boy that help her Link. Link was her next protector. May 1958: As the end of the school year started to approach things just continued getting worse. Link had tried to give her heads up to different things that would happen. She try hard to trust him and I think deep down she did. She liked the friendship that she had with him.
May 1958: Melba’s mother was going to lose her contract of teaching. Without a job what would happen to them. If they pulled melba out of Central High she could have her job back. But what example was this setting for Melba’s. Melba’s mother wrote an article and called the newspapers. She did what she had to do let people know. She got her job back. Summer 1958: Melba made it through the school year. She was just happy that she survived. The 9 students travel to accept more awards for what they did. September 1958: Little Rock schools were closed. What was supposed to be my senior year was not.
Everyone waited for the courts to reopen Central High. September 1959: The NAACP had sent out announcements asking for families that would volunteer to give safety and to help with finish our education. Melba went to Dr George McCade and family. She was treated like part of their family. They show me the support I need to still fight the fight. In my own life I have many people around me who love me. They teach me to stand up for what I believe in. They have taught me to use what God has given as my strength and to build on that. That it is okay to be afraid but unless you try it is hard to succeed