Warrior's Don't Cry Notes

I. II. III. Chapter 1 A. Context: 1950s-1960s occurred during the era of the Civil Rights Movement. In 1954, the Supreme Court deemed segregated schools unconstitutional. 1. On the narrator’s first day, Governor Faubus dispatched the AK national guard to prevent their entry to school. They returned three weeks later with a court order and protection from the President of the United States, President Eisenhower under the 101st Airborne Division. 2. “During those years when we desperately needed approval from our peers, we were victims of the most harsh rejection imaginable. The physical and psychological punishment we endured profoundly affected all our lives. It transformed us into warriors who dared not cry even when we suffered intolerable pain” B. Narrator Background: 1. Her Mother was one of the first African American women to graduate from the University of Arkansas. 2. Born on the date of the Pearl Harbor Attack and contracted a major infection, during which a white hospital treated her, because her family worked on the railroads. 3. She was not given proper treatment, as “Nigger’s weren’t coddled”. She was not expected to survive, but her mother began doing the treatments the negligent staff had abandoned. Chapter 2 A. Colored people were not born expecting segregation. B. “Instead, the humiliating expectations and traditions of segregation creep over you, slowly stealing a teaspoonful of your self-esteem each day.” C. “Mother Lois’s face would turn red and her mouth would tighten just the same way it did when the insurance man offered her free premiums if she’d be his special colored lady.” Chapter 3 A. When the decision of Brown v. Board of education was announced, her teacher noted that it was something they (the colored people) should be proud of, but was acting worried, concerned and fearful. 1. I hadn’t thought of the immediate implications of the ruling, and never even considered that local african americans, despite not being directly connected with the case, would potentially suffer the consequences. B. “They called our citizens forward-thinking because they were completing construction of the Strategic Air Command military base nearby that brought in lots of different races of people. But I didn’t think we were so progressive because I still couldn’t eat at the lunch counter at the five-and-dime, go to a `` movie'' unless I sat in the balcony, ride the merry-go-round at Fair Park, or went into the white ladies’ bathroom. IV. V. VI. C. She was almost raped, but the ‘retarded’ girl saved her and brought her back home. She was so young, that she had no idea what was happening to her, only that this big white man was angrily snatching her clothes off. 1. “It is important for me to read the newspaper every day...even if I have to spend my own nickel to buy it. I have to keep up with what the men on the Supreme Court are doing. That way I can stay home on the day the justices vote decisions that make white men want to rape me.” D. The Little Rock school board devised a plan for integration in Central Rock High School, and the narrator signed up to be the first of those to integrate in the later two years, but her family/parents did not know! When her family found out while they were vacationing in the North in Ohio, they were furious at her. Chapter 4 Chapter 5 A. As Melba approached her first day of school, her neighbors and other school friends made it a point to tell Melba she was making a mistake. On her first day of school, people, white and colored, lined her street to watch her drive to school, all with wary glances in her direction. 1. “My mind could take in the sights and sounds only one by one: flashing cameras, voices shouting in my ears, men and women jostling each other, old people, young people, people running, uniformed police officers walking, men standing still, men and women waving their fists, and then the long line of uniformed soldiers carrying weapons just like in the war movies I had seen.” 2. “Niggers, go home! Niggers, go back where you belong!” I stood motionless, stunned by the hurtful words. I searched for something to hang on to, something familiar that would comfort me or make sense, but there was nothing. “Two, four, six, eight, we ain’t gonna integrate!” Over and over, the words rang out. The terrifying frenzy of the crowd was building like steam in an erupting volcano.” 3. “As she turned toward us, her eyes hidden by dark glasses, we could see how erect and proud she stood despite the fear she must have been feeling.” Chapter 6 A. Melba and her mother nearly escaped from the mob that lined the front of Central High and returned home to find her neighbors and Grandmother India anxiously awaiting them. She would not be attending Central Rock High that day. B. Melba talked with her friend, Miniejean, who had been sent to the superintendent’s office, and then to the FBI office to be questioned on what happened when she arrived at Central Rock High. 1. “You’ll make this your last cry. You’re a warrior on the battlefield for your Lord. God’s warriors don’t cry, ’cause they trust that he’s always by their side. The women of this family don’t break down in the face of trouble. We act with courage, and with God’s help, we ship trouble right on out.” VII. VIII. C. Melba’s mother’s job at a white school was threatened because she allowed her daughter to go to Central High. D. Her family received a variety of threats, to the point that they had an escape route planned for her should their house come under attack, like the others who were involved in integration, had encountered. 1. Suddenly I heard a loud popping sound, like firecrackers on the Fourth of July. Then the glass was breaking.“Get down, now!” Grandma yelled. I fell forward on my knees, looking at the broken glass. The green vase on top of the television set had shattered into a thousand pieces, spraying slivers all over the walls, the floor, and us. Chapter 7 A. The day after the shooting, Melba and her Grandma India intercepted calls and visitors from their community that discouraged Melba’s integration. 1. Grandma India’s ‘boyfriend’ had shown to fix the window, where he and Grandma India proceeded to get into a heated debate regarding integration, but indicated he would do his best to protect the family. 2. Ladies from the church stopped by with bread and other foodstuffs so that they did not have to show their face at the market so the white people did not shoot their heads off. They were blatantly clear that they would not support their decision to integrate, but would help take care of them as it was their duty to the church and to God, except one: a) “Nonsense.” I knew I could count on Grandma’s feisty friend Mrs. Crae, who shook her finger in their faces. “White folks ain’t never given us nothing. Getting from them’s been like pulling dinosaur teeth. We gotta grab everything we can, and most times pay for it with our blood. You just move right along, girl, you hear me. You integrate, now!” b) “I walked back into the house without saying a word, feeling as if I had been surrounded by enemies even in my own neighborhood.” c) Even her dad said, “Grandma came rushing back from the kitchen to stand in the doorway. He looked at her with angry eyes, pointing his finger at me and shouting in harsh tones that made my knees shake. “Sacrificing this child’s life and endangering the lives and jobs of kinfolks ain’t got nothing to do with freedom! We ain’t free if we’re hungry, or worse yet, hanging from a tree.” Chapter 8 A. Even Melba’s peers indirectly chose not to support her. 1. I waited for her to invite me, to say she’d forgotten and I should come right over. Instead, she explained that they didn’t want me there because they feared segregationists would attack or bomb their homes to get at me. 2. Here I was willing to face mean men with hanging ropes, give up my junior year among friends, and all the parties and fun, to integrate—to make things better for everybody. But Marsha and the gang didn’t see it IX. X. that way. What I was doing wasn’t important at all to them. Instead, I was someone to avoid. B. Even though people in the Church did not approve of what she was doing, they were there to support and protect her. There is a definite difference between approval and protection. 1. “You’re doing the right thing, girl; we’re proud of you!” “It might hurt a little while, but when it stops we’re all gonna feel real good.” “You’re making a mistake, but you’re making it for all of us.” C. A headliner supporter of theirs was Thurgood Marshall. Melba recalls that he did not seem frightened or concerned about what was happening. 1. “Instead he had a self-assured air about him as though he had seen the promised land and knew for certain we could get there. We had only heard rumors of freedom, but he had lived it, and it showed in his every word, his every movement, in the way he sat tall in his seat.” Chapter 9 A. The Little Rock Nine proceeded to the AK Courthouse, where they were met by throngs of people who intended to watch the hearing. The governor, being an elected official, did not appear for his subpoena, but his attorneys spoke on his behalf. 1. Their argument was that the US Court and Federal Government does not have jurisdiction to question the authority of the governor to exercise his judgment in administering the affairs of the state. After this was announced, they asked for the case to be dismissed. This was ruled against, and all of the governor’s attorneys walked out, despite the fact that the hearing was to continue. This shocked the nine and the NAACP 2. Witnesses called by the Justice Department contended that the threat of violence due to integration was not sufficient for the governor to have called troops. a) The problem with the little rock nine being subpoenaed to describe their first attempt at integration lies in the fact that they could not reveal any violence or attempt at the violence that they endured, as that would support the governor’s argument. B. The judge determined that the use of the national guard by the governor was unconstitutional and that the plan for integration should be continued. Chapter 10 A. Reaching Central High was difficult, and the nine were forced to take a circuitous route to get to school. When they arrived, they were met with mobs of angry white people, only being held back by saw horses and police men., B. After finally making it through the door of Central High, Melba was met with hurtful insults and attitudes from students and staff. 1. On her way to homeroom, Melba was slapped, and spit on. 2. In class, students threatened her and shouted rude words at her while the teacher did nothing. 3. During P.E, she was hit with a ball in the face, chased, and kicked. 4. She arrived at shorthand class where she met the teacher that would define her time at Central High, Mrs. Pickwick. 5. But then, they became trapped in as the mob broke through the barricades and raided the school. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 A. The governor continued to conduct campaigns that asked that integration be halted, and efforts at getting rid of the Little Rock Nine became more organized. 1. Efforts to protect the students’ safety and appease politicians meant that the routine of the Little Rock Nine was frequently changed, from guards to school start times to classes. B. Eventually, Melba became so weary from segregationists that she presented flu-like symptoms and stayed home from school the day before the Little Rock Nine was supposed to meet with student segregationist leaders to come to an understanding. 1. Melba had hoped that this meeting would be the beginning of a smooth year. There was a student moderator, which was a student who did not violently oppose the Little Rock Nine, who argued the disruption was all the governor’s fault, but the segregationists argued that forcing them to go to school together was interracial, akin to marrying each other. 2. In the end, the two segregationists reported to the NYT that the NAACP was paying the students to go to school instead of their own volition. C. She continued her absence for two more days, saying in her diary, “I feel like something inside me has gone away. I am like a rag doll with no stuffing. I am growing up too fast. I’m not ready to go back to central and be a warrior just yet.” D. Half of the troops were withdrawn, and Melba turned to her own ‘military commander’ in her head to give the warrior in her direction. 1. “Warriors keep moving. They don’t stop to lick their wounds or cry.” 2. “I thought about how to appear as strong as I could as I walked the halls...I practiced quieting fear as quickly as I could…” 3. “Central High was slowly destroying my life.” Chapter 18 A. Melba, the Little Rock Nine, and their parents were summoned to the superintendent’s office for a meeting after the 101st division had been completely withdrawn. 1. The school officials continued to preach the same message about not responding to attackers and the ‘proper attitude’ the Little Rock Nine were to display. XIX. XX. 2. Melba’s mom struck back and asked what their plan was to protect their students, and the officials said it was none of their business. B. “One girl who happened to meet me alone in a restroom said that she and the other moderate white students were being harassed with telephoned threats and were being ostracized...from segregationists.” C. The adults of the NAACP were under fire as well through economic strangulation and threat of arrest. D. Melba and the Little Rock Nine were frequently featured in popular periodicals and on television, which made them contemplate ‘the wonder of it all’, but the next day they would see an increase in harassment. E. Minneijean was becoming especially impacted by the abuse she suffered, and irrationally believed the only way to overcome it was to sing in front of the students, which concerned the other eight students in this journey with her. F. White charity groups that traditionally gave to poor black people were withholding gifts and donations to force them to give up in exchange for stopping integration. G. The federal government announced that they would no longer press action against mob leaders. H. Melba had been invited to speak at morning chapel to 250 white students at Central High. The students were shocked to find they had the same beliefs about God, and that Melba’s English was perfection (as it should be, her mother is an English teacher). I. A Thanksgiving press conference was held, at which Melba made a frivolous comment that would later cause her trouble (this is an integrated turkey) Chapter 19 A. Newspaper article read “9 Negroes Begin 12th Week at CHS With No Incidents” 1. “We wondered how the...editors had come to the conclusion since they didn’t have anyone inside the school to see us being kicked or inked or spat upon or scalded in hot showers.” B. Harassment from students to the Little Rock Nine intensified, as did harassment against the NAACP leaders. C. Melba describes her increasing loneliness and neglect that made her feel sad and weak. Chapter 20 A. Melba turns 16, and grieves the loss of what she thought turning 16 would mean at her old school. B. Melba holds her birthday party, where Vince is the only one to show. She even begins to recognize differences between him and her, as he looks nervous and ill at ease. 1. “I’d almost forgotten how light-skinned he was...Vince is one of my people, no matter how white he looks.” C. All her other Horace Mann friends chose to attend the party of another popular girl who was holding a Christmas party. Vince left, which really hurt her. XXI. XXII. D. Later, Minnijean was being hassled by white boys in the cafeteria, and she accidentally spilled chili all over them, and she was suspended for the accident, jeopardizing the rest of the Little Rock Nine. Chapter 21 A. After Minnijean’s suspension, segregationist leaders bolstered their official and unofficial attempts to get the Little Rock Nine to leave school. Their Christmas break was ruined with meetings about integration and worry. B. The National Organization of Delta Sigma Theta, a professional women’s sorority, threw a Christmas party in honor of Minnijean, Melba, and the little rock nine. 1. “It was the first time some of my own people were saying a public thanks to us. It lightened some of the pain I felt for all of those who were critical of our going to Central.” 2. “They had made us their secret project, with members of the nationwide organization mailing us gifts and loving notes from across the country to be presented to us that evening. 3. “Tonight I feel the love from my own people. Everybody tried to make us happy. There is the tiniest flicker of hope and joy inside of me. Maybe things will work out.” C. Melba argued with her family to enjoy the last-minute shopping in downtown little rock, an area that they had been avoiding in fear that Melba would be attacked. She was confronted by some people that had previously bullied her, and they threatened her and her brother, Conrad. Conrad started to stand up for his sister, and then all the colored people gathered in the restroom to form a collective group to walk out in order to find safety in numbers. D. Her father stopped by and avoided talking about any of the integration things, and enjoyed a nice holiday moment. Chapter 22 A. The first few days of school in the new year were frightening. 1. “Once we got back into our daily routine, it was evident that segragationists must have spent their holidays thinking up ways to make us miserable. I could feel their electrifying hope of victory all around me: they walked differently, talked differently, and didn’t hesitate to shower us with angry words and deeds, letting us know we were short-timers.” 2. “The rumor was that the White Citizens Council would pay reward money to the person who could incite us to misbehave and get ourselves expelled.” B. After Minnijean returned, there were several incidents involving the Little Rock Nine and white hostile students that resulted in the white students being suspended or otherwise punished. There were bomb threats and other abuses. 1. “In addition to the other indignities and physical pain we endured, we were now taunted...Large, boisterous groups of hecklers stared intensely and harassed the living daylights out of us...or..students showed up at school wearing all black to protest our presence.” XXIII. C. The increased violence made the school officials less uncertain about their ability to protect the Little Rock Nine, which meant they were further excluded from other activities. D. Melba had thoughts of suicide, which her Grandmother India explained would only give the segregationists what they wanted, which lit new determination to persevere in Melba. Chapter 23 A. Minnijean was expelled, but she was given the opportunity to go to a private high school in New York where they would accept her. B. Melba grieved the loss of her friend as she moved to New York C. Melba was equipt with new strategies from her grandmother to combat the abuses she was facing in integration D. Melba was saved from a brutal attack by a white boy named Link, who let her ‘steal’ his car.