Jackson Creek Middle School
American Heroes: Melba Pattillo Beals
*Biography*
Melba Pattillo beals was born on December 7,
1941 (Pearl Harbor Day)
During delivery, there were many complications with Melba's
birth. The doctor's used forceps to get her out of her mother,
but when they did they damaged her scalp. Melba was delivered in
a white hospital, only because the hospital serviced those who
worked on the railroad and their families, Will Pattillo worked
on the railroad. The doctor had told the nurse to tell them that
Epsom salt and warm water every hour would clear up the
infection, but the nurse didn't tell the family. After two days
Melba had a massive infection, and her mother had gathered the
minister of their church, and all of the family to say their
goodbyes. While her mother was pacing back in forth of Melba's
room the Janitor walked by and told the family the news he had
heard after Melba was born. Ms. Pattillo ran out of the room
yelling for Epsom salt. She approached the nurse and asked her
why she hadn' t informed the family of the treatment. The nurse
replied with a racial slur, and walked away. Ms. Pattillo got the
salt and treated Melba, within 48 hours the infection had cleared
up 100 percent.
On May 17, 1954 when Melba was a seventh grader, the
supreme court of Topeka, Kansas ruled that segregation in public
schools was unconstitutional. The case was titled the Brown vs.
Board of Education trial. That very day Melba's teacher told
explained to the class that that meant, and they passed around a
slip of paper that you were to sign if interested in attending
Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Melba signed her
name along with 17 others, but eight of them had backed out
because of the violent actions that the families had already
experienced.
Melba did not inform her family of the
decision she had made to attend Central, because she really
thought nothing of it. Her whole life she was brought up with
segregation. In the year of 1957, Melba caught her first real
glimpse of life with out segregation. Her and her family took a
trip up north to Cincinnatti. There the people would smile at
them, service them, and respect them even if they were different
races. She liked that life. But one week into the vacation, they
received a call during dinner from Will, Melba's father. He had
informed Ms. Pattillo about the integration that Melba had signed
up for. He told her that eight other people had put their names
down, and were going to enter Central High School (an all-white
school) in the fall term of 1957. After the Pattillo's heard of
the news, they immediately went home.
Melba was scheduled to attend Central with
eight other students:
Thelma Mothershed,
Elizabeth Eckford,
Jefferson Thomas,
Ernest Green,
Minnijean Brown,
Carlotta Walls,
Terrence Roberts
Gloria Ray Karlmark
The family was scared, especially Melba's
mother. The population of Little Rock was 107,300 white to 30,000
black.Their life was consumed with raging segregationists who
could call in anger and express their thoughts on the integration
to Melba and her family. They called at all hours of the night
and threatend the family. Melba's grandmother would stand gaurd
in the front of the house at night with a rifle in one hand and
her embroidering in the other. Melba was no longer aloud to go
out as much, in fear that people would follow her home and
discover where she lived.
Melba considerd quitting so many times. But
everytime her grandmother would always say, "You're
suposed to carry this banner for our people."
Entry to Central was delayed a number of
times. Each time for the same reason, a group of mothers
complained of the integration. The courts held hearings with the
mothers, and the nine students had press sessions. But almost
every time the school integration continued to take place.
Things
got even more dangerous when the press sessions started, becasue
the students faces were all over newspapers. People who read the
newspapers would know who they were, and could find out private
information about them, like where they lived and where they went
on a daily basis.
When the students finally were able to go
into Central, the school was so violent toward the nine
that Eisenhower had to send 101st airborne soldiers to Little
Rock to protect them. The soldiers were not allowed to get too
close to the students. All they could do was redirect the
students so that they could avoid the trouble as best they could.
Melba's soldier was named Danny. He would tell her not to go a
certain way or to not use the bathrooms if he heard any of the
mean tricks the students were planning to do to the nine. Melba
was in so much danger at Central High School. One day she was
walking through a stair well and someone threw a stick of
dynamite at her. Her 101st Airborne protector named Danny told
her to duck and she barely missed the stick of dynamite that
whizzed right by her face.
Melba excelled in school, especially in English.
Although she was not allowed to participate in any of the school
extra curricular things, like the newspaper or the yearbook, she
really wanted to. She later went on to have many jobs as a news
journalist for stations like NBC, and she published two books , Warriors
Don't Cry and White is a State of Mind.
Melba's mother lost her job because of the
integration. Her superiors had told her that if Melba continued
to integrate at Central than her job would be taken away from
her. Melba did not quit integrating and Dr. Pattillo's job was
lost. She was the only person with an income in their family.
Melba began writing articles for local newspapers, which brought
in a small amount of money. Eventually Melba's mother persuaded
them to give her job back to her.
Melba
never walked in front of her classmates at Central to graduate,
because after her junior year she moved. Her diploma was sent to
her in the mail. Melba now has three kids and currently lives in
California. She is a motivational speaker and published writer.
Melba worked hard to get where she is today, and I think that is
another of her great qualities.
"My Grandmother
India always said God had pointed a finger at our family, asking
for just a bit more discipline, more praying, and more hard
work." -Melba Pattillo Beals, Warriors Don't Cry
By: Maggie S.
Last Updated: 12-05-01
