By Anne Williston
~ words meant for reality ~

This is the title of the memoir Melba Patillo Beals, one of the “Little Rock Nine” wrote about the year she spent as one of the first Black students to attend Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. I read this book to prepare to teach it next year and I am blown-away by the undeniable voice of a child who suffered the pain of being treated like an animal, like a non-person. The book talks of some of the details of her days at Central High School, but Melba has such a powerful spirit of courage, it is hard to absorb the reality of the events she describes. Even in the best of circumstances, children can be cruel. For adults to allow teens to torture others as Melba and her 8 companions were reminds me the roots of all childish behavior can be traced to adult behavior, whether it be parents, famous athletes or actors, or men like the governor of Arkansas in 1957 (Orval Faubus) who fought against integration, even when court-ordered to allow it to take place. A definite discussion starter. I think it will be a challenge to teach, but well worth the effort.