Warriors Don't Cry: Chapters 9–16

by Melba Pattillo Beals
In 1957, Melba Pattillo was one of a group of teenagers who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. In this memoir, she describes her fight to survive and thrive in the sometimes violent aftermath of the Supreme Court decision that declared segregation unconstitutional.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Introduction–Chapter 2, Chapters 3–8, Chapters 9–16, Chapters 17–21, Chapters 22–28
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. enjoin
    issue an injunction
    The immediate issue will be whether Governor Faubus and the Arkansas National Guard should be enjoined from further interference with integration at Little Rock Central High School.
  2. subpoena
    serve a witness with a writ to compel attendance
    Since the governor claimed our going to Central was what caused the trouble, we nine students were subpoenaed to tell that we had seen and experienced on that first day at Central High School.
  3. bailiff
    officer of the court employed to execute writs and processes
    We were squeezed through the crowd and ushered to one of the areas in front, near the bailiff.
  4. preside
    act as executive officer
    "All rise. The Honorable Judge Ronald Davies presiding." The deep voice sounded like a circus ringmaster announcing the next act.
  5. imposing
    befitting an important, distinguished, or powerful person
    As he climbed up to the imposing leather chair and settled in, what stood out most of all were his huge eyes peering through thick horn-rimmed glasses.
  6. moot
    of no legal significance, as having been previously decided
    Judge Davies spoke emphatically: "You are excused, gentlemen, but you understand that this is a moot question. The hearing will proceed."
  7. concede
    admit or acknowledge, often reluctantly
    "The position of Governor Faubus and the military officials of the state is that the governor and the state will not concede that the U.S. Court or anyone else can question the authority of the governor to exercise his judgment in administering the affairs of state, and since he does not concede this responsibility, we will not proceed further in this action."
  8. gauntlet
    a severe or trying experience
    In order to get to our lunch, we walked through a gauntlet of hot flashing lights and squeezed past people shouting questions.
  9. impassioned
    characterized by intense emotion
    He gave a long and impassioned speech, predicting once again that if integration took place, blood would run in the streets of Little Rock.
  10. rove
    move about aimlessly or without any destination
    Like me, they must have been frightened by the news reports that continued to describe roving gangs of segregationists crisscrossing the city, looking to do harm to any of our people they could find.
  11. toll
    ring slowly
    We heard the church bells toll, their echoing clang a protest to the silence that blanketed our community.
  12. shorthand
    a method of writing rapidly
    Although she was petite, I quickly discovered that my shorthand teacher was definitely not one to tolerate any hanky-panky.
  13. reprimand
    an act or expression of criticism and censure
    When students moved away from me, hurling insults, she gave them a stern reprimand.
  14. transfixed
    having your attention fixated as though witchcraft
    I was so transfixed by the sight, I couldn't move.
  15. ebb
    flow back or recede
    The ocean of people stretched farther than I could see—waves of people ebbing and flowing, shoving the sawhorses and the policemen who were trying to keep them in place.
  16. anteroom
    a large entrance or reception area
    I was led to an adjoining anteroom—a smaller office, where some of the eight had gathered.
  17. disheveled
    in disarray; extremely disorderly
    "Melba, where's Melba? Is she all right?" Mother Lois came rushing into the living room, disheveled and frantic.
  18. mull
    reflect deeply on a subject
    I remained glued to the news, mulling over whether or not I should tell them what really happened to me that day.
  19. curdle
    turn from a liquid to a solid mass
    "These pictures are enough to curdle your blood," Grandma said, pointing to the one of reporter Alex Wilson being beaten.
  20. conducive
    tending to bring about; being partly responsible for
    The spacious halls brought again the school feeling, however the atmosphere was not conducive to study but one of uneasiness.
  21. contempt
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    Although some were kind, many showed contempt, especially some boys gathered in the halls.
  22. quash
    put down by force or intimidation
    The article said that President Eisenhower signed a history-making proclamation clearing the way for possible use of federal troops to quash any further school integration violence in Little Rock.
  23. revere
    regard with feelings of respect
    Later Governor Faubus came on television to give what one reporter described as a pleading speech. "We are now an occupied territory. In the name of God, whom we all revere, in the name of liberty we hold so dear, in the name of decency which we all cherish, what's happening in America?"
  24. placid
    not easily irritated
    It was then that I saw the other group of soldiers. They were wearing a different uniform from the combat soldiers outside, but they carried the same hardware and had the same placid expressions.
  25. scathing
    marked by harshly abusive criticism
    I tried hard to ignore the boy, who had now begun a scathing dialogue with one of his companions.
  26. browbeat
    discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner
    “I hope you don't think we're gonna browbeat our students to please you'all," she said.
  27. vie
    compete for something
    Photographers and news reporters scrambled about, taking pictures and vying for scraps of information about how we were being received in class.
  28. tarpaulin
    waterproofed canvas
    Hundreds of olive-drab tents stood in meticulous rows. There were jeeps and larger trucks with tarpaulins.
  29. catcall
    a cry expressing disapproval
    As some of the students continued their catcalls, I fought back tears and headed down the stairs to the principal's office.
  30. notion
    a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
    I was trying hard not to face the notion growing inside me that I was no longer normal, no longer like my other friends.
  31. snub
    refuse to acknowledge
    Most of my other friends were behaving a little strangely as well. Some of them stared at me whenever I saw them or snubbed me or talked to me like you talk to people you don't know well.
  32. disseminate
    cause to become widely known
    FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover accused Governor Faubus of Arkansas of disseminating falsehoods by saying FBI agents held teenagers incommunicado for hours of questioning.
  33. incommunicado
    without means, right, or desire to be in contact with others
    FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover accused Governor Faubus of Arkansas of disseminating falsehoods by saying FBI agents held teenagers incommunicado for hours of questioning.
  34. fleeting
    lasting for a markedly brief time
    There were actually fleeting moments when I didn't think about being a Central High student.
  35. fiasco
    a complete failure or collapse
    The experiment of doing without the 101st had apparently been a fiasco.
  36. brash
    offensively bold
    The boys were brash and bold, behaving as though they feared no consequences.
  37. smug
    marked by excessive complacency or self-satisfaction
    Just then, I noticed the members of the Arkansas National Guard lounging against the walls like cats in sunlight. Gathered in small clusters with smug, grinning expressions on their faces, they had been watching my confrontation all along.
  38. inept
    generally incompetent and ineffectual
    I was as frightened by the ineptness of the Arkansas soldiers as by the viciousness of the increased attacks on me.
  39. belligerent
    characteristic of an enemy or one eager to fight
    Belligerent student protests were firing up the already hostile attitude inside the school.
  40. effigy
    a representation of a person
    The newspaper story contained several vivid pictures of Central High students gathered the day before, hanging the effigy, then burning it.
Created on Tue Sep 03 20:21:49 EDT 2019 (updated Wed Oct 16 12:32:16 EDT 2019)

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