Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Beals pg (41-91)

Summary

On the morning of September 4, Melba Beals begins to enter the tragedy of Central High School. Hundreds of citizens are gathered around just to wait for the arrival of the African American children. Melba stares at the seven stories high, two long city blocks building with astonishment. As of her arrival with her mother, she sees chaos around her environment with people running, uniformed police officers, men and women waving their fists, and soldiers carrying weapons. Melba started to see her friend Elizabeth, an African American friend, where she was the center of attention because of her standing alone with soldiers in front of Central High. Melba and her mother starts to realize that not only she was in trouble, they were also. They both eased their way out of the crowd not trying to attract attention, where a white man suddenly calls them out. Melba and her mother started to run for their lives to the car because of the danger of four men chasing after them like trained police dogs. They barely arrived to the car, and sped away from the men abusing the vehicle with anger. They drove around the familiar streets just to feel safe that no one was chasing them.

Melba and her mother safely arrived at home, frightened that this was happening. Melba knew that she could not leave the house without any permission, where she stayed at home a few days without going to school. One night during dinner, a boy called the house who Grandma thought to be Vince, Melba's crush. As Melba picked up the phone, she recognized that it wasn't Vince and it was a man who sent a threat to their house. One night, after talking to the real Vince, a sudden sound of gun shots were fired at Melba's house. Glasses were shattering, windows were broken, it was terrifying. Grandma took a rifle and shot out the window and made a big explosion. People along the house suddenly ran into their cars and escaped. Scared for her life, Melba wonders if they would come back. 

Quote

"Freedom is not integration. Freedom is being able to go with Grandma to the wrestling matches" (Beals 83).

Reaction

Life for Melba Beals was like being stuck in a shell, trying to find its own way out. With all the integration going on, it's very dangerous to even walk out the house alone. In the quote, Grandma did not let Melba go to the wrestling matches, one of favorite activities to do with Vince and Grandma. Grandma only would let Melba go to the matches when the integration dims down. The quote also sparks a meaning in life, where freedom is not just based on having no more integration involved, but it is as simple as just going to an event with your family, not having any consequences in the long run.