In Warriors Don't Cry, Melba displays optimism through hard times, her strong faith in God, and the strength to fight for what she believes is right.
These qualities help her survive her difficult year at Central High School. In 1957, Melba Patillo, turned sixteen. that was also the year her life took a surprising turn. Following the year her life took a surprising turn. Following the 1954, supreme court ruling of Brown vs board of education, Melba was one of the nine students chosen to integrate Little Rock’s Central High School.
Throughout the school year, Melba is harassed, taunted, threatened and beaten.But through it all she had her head held high, she refused to back down even when things were at their worst. When Melba Patillo wrote this book she had to go through every gruesome and painful detail all over again. She went through so much and we can read her remarkable story in her own words. Somehow, Melba manages to stay optimistic.
Everyday, no matter what happens, she is always positive. She can always look on the bright side of things. Despite worry and concern, she wrote in her diary “There is the tiniest flicker of hope and joy inside me. Maybe things will work out” (-page 153).
This shows how hopeful she is, even though she is worried about making through another day at Central High, she still believes things might work out. She thinks if she just tells white people shes nice, they will like her or if she just keeps trying everything will work out. Thats definitely are of the many qualities that helped her make it through Central High. Melba wouldn't have made it through her year at Central High without her strong faith in God. From a very young age, her grandmother taught her that “God is always there. ” Every diary entry she wrote was her personal prayer to God asking for strength.
In her diary she wrote: “Please God, make space for me” (-page 86). Its surprising how after her days at Central High, she still wants to go. It seems like Melba has such strong faith in God, that she believes everything will get better. Her grandmother was a really big part of her life and so was the faith she believed in. Without the prayers and her faith, she wouldn't have made it through the long year at Central High. Another large part of her success at Central High, is her strength.
Strength in being able to work through something very difficult with a smile on your face, not showing defeat. I blinked back tears of disappointment” (-page 102). Even though Melba is hurt and upset, she won't let them see her break down. She won't admit that it hurts and she won't give them the satisfaction of knowing it does. It takes a lot of push back tears, smile and pretend everything is fine. Melba went through a lot in her sixteenth year, she was a warrior in a battle of integration.
Through her fight, she showed optimism, faith in God, and strength. These qualities got her though so much. She is an admirable hero who refused to back down. A warrior on a dangerous battle field.
