Warriors Don't Cry tells Melba Pattillo Beal's harrowing first-hand account. An African American woman growing up in segregated Little Rock, Arkansas, in the 1950s. When Melba is first introduced, we see this ignorant young girl whose only question is to God; “When will our turn come to be in charge?” (7). With the support of his grandmother India, perhaps one of his greatest influences and mentors, he learns the value of patience. As the story progresses, we see Melba transform into a mature and tolerant young woman who overcomes the pain of many hardships. She truly encompasses the qualities of a warrior. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay A turning point in the memoir is when Grandma India states “You will make this your last cry…God's warriors do not cry”” (57) to Melba. Although Melba and her grandmother are arguing about whether or not she can participate in something tiny, which upsets Melba, this statement has a lot of depth. This is the moment Melba senses her importance not only to Little Rock, but to the entire African American community in the United States. Her grandmother is fully aware of what attending Central means for the future of black people in America. She now sees Melba as a soldier who needs to develop thick skin and endure pain to get through her time at this new high school. Throughout Melba's childhood she questioned God's plan. Why did it take God so long to take the initiative and end the suffering of black lives. When would it finally be the same? To finally be able to sit anywhere on the bus, use the white woman's bathroom, or ride that carousel in Fair Park? Her grandmother's words resonate in her, she understands that she must repair her pain from the outside. Now he is finally participating in God's war after much patient waiting. Melba chose to share this anecdote with the reader to show the profound influence that Grandma India had on her. It also served to show the integral role her grandmother played in Melba's upbringing. While some may view Grandma India's actions as harsh, it is important to distinguish tough love from simply being cruel. Tears are a sign of weakness, only victims cry. Her grandmother taught her to never see herself as a victim. Grandmother India was a pious old woman. Throughout his life he saw the mistreatment and dehumanization of black people, and they were tolerant of this way of life because they themselves felt like victims. He didn't want Melba to be just another victim. Another event that really strengthened Melba's ways of resistance was the expulsion of her good friend Minnijean Brown. Minnijean, finally tired of receiving many cruel comments and violent attacks, decided to speak her mind, calling a group of white girls "white trash" after they attacked her. She was immediately kicked out for her comments. Pro-segregationist whites saw this as a huge victory in their “movement,” and gained momentum in noting that these black students might actually be wavering. Seeing that black students can and will buckle under pressure he began a series of taunts, beginning with the chant “one nigger down, eight left” (241). Melba, realizing that this was a prime opportunity that pro-segregationists would use to their advantage, knew that this meant being stronger than ever. This only strengthened his resistant ways. She was constantly slapped, spat on and on one occasion hitin the face with a tennis racket. His only reaction to these cruel actions was a simple “thank you,” infuriating the whites at Central High, stating “only the warrior exists in me now. Melba went into hiding. (246). This demonstrates the effect Gandhi's form of non-violent protest had on her. This is a telling excerpt from the memoir, it's really sad to think about, but at this point Melba's innocence was completely lost. He becomes alienated from his actions, as if he were some kind of strange emotionless being. She is hated by white people because of her skin color, and has now lost many friends due to her reactions to violence; simply taking the beating. On her sweet sixteen day, a day she constantly daydreamed about during her teenage years, she ends up completely alone celebrating; a day that ends in tears. Melba wanted to highlight the consequences she personally had to face due to this “victory” of integration. He didn't want readers to feel that the war on racial equality was over in Little Rock just because of the city's new integration policies. She wanted people to know that there was a little girl who came home from school with rotten eggs in her hair, bruises and bloodstains on her uniform, every day. It's a hard pill to swallow, realizing you can't be a silly, naive child anymore. To realize that you fully embody the characteristics of a warrior and no matter how hard you try, you can't go back to living in a world you've always imagined as perfect; a world in which one could live without worries. As time passed, Governor Faubus decided that the only way to move in the opposite direction of desegregation was to completely close all of Little Rock's schools. However, Melba did not let this inconvenience compromise her education and decided to move to Santa Rosa, California. Even after all the cruelty and abandonment meted out to her, she decides to attend San Francisco State University, a school dominated by white students. This simply demonstrates Melba's drive for equality and the eternal flame she has for the movement. Melba states, “…it reminded me of the forbidden enclosures of segregation in Little Rock.” (310). He felt it was his duty to take action and attend college to make a mark. In Santa Rosa she lived with the McCabes, a white family who volunteered to take her in. Although they were initially scared by the thought of living with a white family, they all learned to love each other very quickly. She later expressed, "To this day I call them mom and dad and visit them to bask in their love and enjoy the privilege of being treated as if I were their daughter." (308). She recognizes that although white segregationists were the root cause of so much pain, it was white people who helped her overcome many obstacles in her life. Melba says, “Without the help of other law-abiding white people who risked their lives, I wouldn't be here to tell this story” (309). Melba shows her immense heart and character, she shows that she is not an ignorant person. Never feel hatred or resentment towards the white race as a whole, but realize that there is good and bad in all individuals. It specifically recognizes the efforts of Link and Danny, two white men who saw an opportunity to help the cause and took it. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay In closing, Melba presented us with a powerful narrative that shed light on the crisis in Little Rock and how she was able to overcome that year of her life. It teaches us valuable lessons.