Her Youth

Melba Pattillo Beals was born on December 7th 1941. From an early age  she knew that to have a good education was very important. She was accepted to be one of the first black students, in 1955 to an all-white school at Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas. Two years later on September 23, 1957 at the age of 15, was the first day that she (one of The Little Rock Nine) took that final step in the school.

Integration Experience

They had to evacuate the school in fear because their lives were at risk by the angry mobs of Whites protesting integration in their all white school. On the 25^th of that month, the President of the United States had to send soldiers to protect the black students, but they left on December of that year.

The Move

All of (The Little Rock Nine) finished or graduated that school on May 27th. But she had to go through all sort of harassment. She experienced name calling, being spit at, getting tripped and being hit with eggs.

KKK

The next year the governor of Arkansas closed all white schools in the state so that no Negro student could be enroll in any white school in that state. As Melba waited for schools to reopen, the KKK (Klutz Klux Klan) went crazy by giving a $10,000 reward to whoever killed this little girl Melba. She then moves to Santa Rosa, CA where she finishes school.

Warrior

Melba when on to get a degree in journalism and wrote a book, Warriors Don’t Cry. It was about her experience being one of the members of The Little Rock Nine. In 1999 Melba Pattillo Beals and the other members were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Victory

Upon graduation from high school, Beals attended college at San Francisco State University and worked as a newscaster for the local television.  Beals, at the age of 52, wrote her memories of her experienced at Little Rock Central High called Warriors Don’t Cry. The book has received critical praise for its historical insight.

Today Beals is a communication consultant at her own public relation firm in San Francisco CA.