Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Beals

Setting

• The setting took place in Little Rock, Arkansas in the early 1950's.

Support

• My mother was one of the first few blacks to integrate the University of Arkansas, graduating in 1954. (Pg.1)
• "First off, I was bom on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941 .(page1).

Melba(main character)

• Melba is very courageous and kind.
• She is also intellectual and smart.

Support

• "I will be here tomorrow and the next day, and the next."(pg142)
• "Every day grandma and I prayed hard for Minijean to have strength and peace..."(pg162)

Grandma India

• Melba's grandmother.
• India is religious,fearless,and trustworthy .

Link

• Is a white boy who warns Melba about what the segregationist are planning on doing to her.
• Link is thoughtful, cautious, and trustworthy.

Danny(#3)

• Danny is brave and loyal man.
• He was the soldier assigned to protect Melba.

Conflict

• The attempt made by Melba and eight other African-American students to integrate Little Rock High School

Support

• "It was like being a soldier on a battlefield."(pg225).
• "Freedom is not integration."(page 52).

Conflict(#2)

• One of her biggest conflicts was when Danny left her.
• She had no one to help her or to protect her after he left.

Brief Summary

• This story is about a girl named Melba Beals who has to go through integration to attend high school.

Theme

• The prominence of race relations

Supporting Evidence

• "Namasté” The God in me sees and honors the God in you"pg.222)
• "Good morning. I am Derrick Noble, president of the student body. Welcome to Central High School.(pg.224)"

Our Opinion

• I think this was a good book.
• It showed what Melba had to go through to make her generation and younger generations to go to school with whites.

Conflict(plot)

• Melba was apart of integration and most white people did not want to integrate so it was difficult for her.

Support

• "I do wish I was dead."(pg.160)

Resolution(plot)

• Melba solved her conflict with integration by continuing Central High and toughen it out until the end of the year.

Support

• "I have to stay here and go back to Central," I argued.(pg216)
• "Everything depends on it,"(page216).

Text-to-Self

• I have had a similar experience like Melba.
• When Danny left and Melba was there alone and had nobody to protect her anymore I felt the same way when a friend of mine moved.

Support

• "I just had to pretend it wasn't so, even though some part of me kept saying I truly had to fend for myself,"(pg138).

Text-to-Self

• When link was very upset about his nanny dying on his graduation day.
• My grandfather died a few days before my first softball game.

Support

• "He was grieving because Mrs.Healey had died on the day of his graduation,"(pg.216).