Choices In Melba Patillo's Warriors Don T Cry

Improved Essays
Choices in Little Rock

“Two, four, six, eight, we ain’t gonna integrate!” Screamed the mob surrounding the high school. Integration at Central High School in Little Rock Arkansas with the group known as, the Little Rock Nine, sparked many emotions and opinions out of people. The Little Rock Nine consisted of Melba Patillo (the main character of the book) and eight other brave teenagers. Throughout Warriors Don’t Cry many important figures in the book had the power at one point in time. Each of these important figures, such as President Eisenhower, Governor Faubus, the governor of Arkansas, the mob, and the media played significant roles throughout the integration. Even so, it is clear that by the end of the book the media had the most power over all, and made the greatest impact in Little Rock. First off, the media had a big impact on Melba’s life. When she became an adult she ended up being a reporter. (Pattillo) The media had such a big impact on her that when she grew up she wanted to make that mark on other people as well. Some might say that the media didn’t impact her career choice at all, that she just
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Abbott Award from a newspaper in Chicago (The Chicago Defender) where they traveled to the north and felt equal to white people. Some will say that even though they received this award doesn’t mean it impacted them, that is was just a trip were they treated equally to whites, but this is incorrect. “By May 29 the eight of us had flown off to Chicago to receive the Robert S. Abbott Award conferred by the Chicago Defender Newspaper. It was the beginning of a whirlwind tour and another in the series of the awards we received for bravery and significant contributions to democracy.” (Pattillo) Melba and the rest of the Little Rock Nine knew it was not only a trip where they were given a taste of equality, but a trip of gratitude because of integrating Central

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