How Did The Adults Respond To The Integration By The Little Rock Nine

After Melba is attacked in the bathroom, she is hurt because “no part of me understood why people would do those kind of things to one another.” Describe how the white students at Central High responded to the integration by the Little Rock Nine. How did the adults respond? Were those who abused Melba inherently bad people? Why do you think they acted as they did? Discuss the possible reasons (fear, peer pressure, prejudice, etc.) why the people of Arkansas responded as they did. Use examples from the book to support your answer.

The white students at Central High responded with anger. They didn’t want African Americans near them, “‘Are you gonna let that nigger coon sit in our class?’ a boy shouted as he glared at me” (75). They also harassed the group of nine. For example, while Melba was in a bathroom stall she was attacked by a group of girls, “Flaming paper floated down and landed on my hair and shoulders” (119). The students were willing to do anything that would get the Little Rock Nine out of Central High. Even with a 101st soldier by Melba’s side she was harassed, “One of them kicked me in the shins so hard I fell to the floor” (109). The soldiers weren’t allowed to get into any kind of fights with the students. They’re only there to keep the nine alive.

On September 4, the crowd chanted, “‘Two, four, six, eight, we ain’t gonna interrogate”’ (35). The white adults didn’t like having the Little Rock Nine coming into Central High because it threatened to change their ways. Several women even chased Melba, “Three of them had broken away from the pack and were gaining on me” (77). The mothers didn’t want her attending school with their children. The white people were willing to do anything to get the Little Rock Nine to leave Central