Warriors Don't Cry

On Monday, the Black students gather to enter Central High School for a second time. Their travel plans are better organized, and they make their way to one of the school’s side entrances. Later they find out that the hostile crowd across the street from Central became distracted by Black reporters and other journalists. The crowd attacked these journalists, accusing them of trying to divert the mob from the presence of the Black students.

The Little Rock Nine end up inside the school an hour after classes begin. As they walk through the halls, people hurl epithets at them. They go to the principal’s office, where the nine are broken up. Each receives a different homeroom class and an adult guide. On Melba’s way to class, a white woman accuses her and other Black students of wanting to marry white people. Melba thinks, “Why would I choose to marry one of those mean Little Rock white people” (74-75).

When she goes to her first class and sits down, all the white students move away from Melba. Her guide takes her to her second class, outdoor volleyball, where the other girls try to hit her with the ball. Melba sees three adult white mothers climbing over a fence so they can attack her.