"Everything in me was devoted to being a full-time warrior. When I wasn't actually on the battlefield, surviving, I was thinking about how to do it or worried that I wouldn't be able to make it." (page 162)
In Melba Pattillo Beals "Warriors Don't Cry," I firmly believe that Melba is the epitome of a warrior in all regards. She's a strong character, determined, courageous, and refuses to give up. She also fights in a different way and uses kindness toward her attackers. I'm not sure how many people in her position could do the same?
It's horrifying to read the accounts of these acts of violence, torment, and hatred taking place in this novel. It really makes you think about how horrible it must have been for these children going through this integration in Little Rock, Arkansas. Each day when Melba was going to school she was constantly beaten down (physically and verbally). You would imagine a person would come to a breaking point and give up? Not Melba. She endured and knew she was doing the right thing and in the end she set an example that impacted people far beyond just their community.
This is a very powerful book and it really creates an image of what life was like in this time period. Reading this book and knowing that it is non-fiction creates an even greater impact on the reader. There are so many lessons to be gained from reading a book like this. Most importantly, remember to always stand for what you believe in and what's right and determination does win battles.
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