9) Melba Patillo- “This is going to work. It will take a lot more patience and more strength from me, But it’s going to work. It takes more time than I thought. But we’re going to have integration in Little Rock.” (Page 117)
10) Melba Patillo- “I look back on my Little Rock integration experience as ultimately a positive force that shaped the course of my life. As grandma India promised, it taught me to have courage and patience. My Central High School experience also taught me that we are not separate. The effort to separate ourselves either by race, creed, color, religion, or status is as costly to the separator as to those who would be separated. (Page 222)
Melba Patillo Beals: Warriors Don’t Cry
1st person journal entries …show more content…
I was walking away from the playing field with my friends and I spotted her a block away. I started to yell out her name and rushed to her. I knew I had her because she couldn’t escape. If she started to run, I would catch up to her. I was hoping she would run just so that I can hurt her even more worst than I had planned to. Link already had her but then she drove away in a car that looked exactly like Link’s. As the engine turned on, I tried my best to get in. All my friends were trying to get in through the passenger door and I ran alongside the car with my hands on the door handle. Eventually as she started to speed up, I had no choice but to let go. She had escaped once again. I can’t wait to get my hands on her again and stop this integration in MY high school, to stop all the “Thank you” she would say, to stop making us look like the bad …show more content…
Today I saved a girl named Melba from one of his plans. I already saw Andy when he was a block away and by seeing Melba’s face, I knew she saw him as well. She was very scared. I mean, who wouldn’t be? If someone is running towards you calling you a nigger, threatening you, I’m sure everyone would react the same way. I knew how far Andy would go and I was not about to let him do that to Melba, not after everything that I have learned from Nana. She was stuck so I had to prepare her on what to do. To fit in with Andy, I would have to call her a nigger and curse at her so I warned her. I also put my keys on the trunk so she can escape using my car. I was anxious seeing Andy and his boys try to get in the car but thankfully she managed to get away. Hopefully, Andy wont realize that the car she used is mine. I feel like a traitor to my friends and family but how am I going to let her be mistreated? Somehow I am going to help her survive all these plans that Andy and his boys have. We just can’t be seen in public