Warrior or Hero

At the beginning of the book in Melba's reflections dated 2007 she writes about the nine heroes and heroins of the 1957 school integration.  However, I don't feel she is comfortable with being called a "hero."  A hero means the war has been won, we can all relax and go back to what we were doing. She calls Link her hero in chapter 28, he came into her life saved her from being beat up by the student mobs then went on his way as ordered.  But to be a "warrior" means to wager war with bravery and vigor, to stand up for ones beliefs no matter how long the war lasts. I feel Melba is a warrior from the beginning of her life when she describes her birth and life threatening infection in chapter one.  In chapter two her Grandma India starts to give her the strategies to be a warrior and do great things by saying, "In God's time. Be patient, child, and tell God all about it."  In chapter three Grandma India's voice is in Melba's head saying,"God is always with you." as the white man is trying to rape Melba.  When Melba is in the bathtub Grandma India tells her, "Now you soak a while, child. When the water goes down the drain, it will take away all that white man's evil with it." I expected Melba to soak in the tub and send away the memories of abuse while attending Central High down the drain later in the book, but since it based on her painful memories perhaps she thought it would be redundant to mention soaking in the tub again. In chapter 23 Grandma India tells Melba to have accomplished the goal of integration is to attend Central High the whole year. That year was Melba's longest and worst ever, something only a warrior could survive. In the last paragraphs Melba writes of the need for all people to respect and honor our differences. A warrior's job is never done. Namaste.