Melba Pattillo Beals

Melba Pattillo in 1957

Melba Pattillo was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Pearl Harbor day, December 7th, 1941. There were many complications with her birth. She had a severe infection on her head. The doctor 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 about two days, Melba had a massive infection. When the family was at the hospital, the janitor told them the news he heard from the doctor. Ms. Pattillo ran out of the room looking for Epsom salt. After they used it Melba’s infection cleared up 100 percent.

When Melba was seven, her parents got a divorce. Melba’s mother, Dr. Louis Pattillo was an English teacher, and one of the first black students to integrate the University of Arkansas, graduating in 1954. When Melba started to go to school at Central, Dr. Pattillo lost her job. They threatened that if Melba continued to integrate at Central her mother would lose her job, but Melba continued to go to school, so she lost her job. Dr. Pattillo was the only one making income in the family. Melba’s father, Will Pattillo, worked on the railroad. He stood about 6 foot tall and was an intimidating man. Even though he and Melba's mother got divorced when she was seven, he still loved and cared for their family. Conrad Pattillo is Melba’s younger brother. He supported Melba all through her years at Central. When Melba would come home, he would sit on his bike and welcome her home.

The Supreme Court of Topeka, Kansas ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional in May of 1954. The case was the Brown vs. Board of Education trial. That day Melba's teacher told the class that, and they passed around a slip of paper to sign if you were interested in attending Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Melba signed her name along with 17 others, but eight of them backed out because of the violent actions that the families went through. In the fall term of 1957, Melba went to an all white school for the first time. She went with Thelma Mothershed, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Ernest Green, Minnijean Brown, Carlotta Walls, Terrence Roberts, and Gloria Ray Karlmark. Melba considered quitting so many times, but every time her grandmother would always say, "You're supposed to carry this banner for our people."

Melba and her family, especially her mother, were very scared of the raging segregationists. Melba's grandmother would stand guard in the front of the house at night with a rifle. Melba was no longer allowed to go out as much. Her parents were scared someone would try and kill Melba. In the fall term of 1957, Melba went to an all white school for the first time. Her entry was delayed many times. Each time was for the same reason; parents would call and complain that they didn’t want their children going to the same school as a black person. They would go to court, but almost every time the school integration continued to take place. When the students finally were able to go, the school was so violent toward them that they had to send airborne soldiers to Little Rock to protect them. Someone even threw a stick of dynamite at her. If her soldier didn’t tell her to duck, it would have hit her. She was very good in English, even though she wanted to participate in extra school events like the newspaper or the yearbook, she couldn’t. After all the violent things she had been through, she moved after her junior year. Melba’s mother soon lost her job because of Melba staying at Central High.

At seventeen, Melba began selling articles to newspapers and magazines. She also received a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University. She worked as a news reporter for San Francisco's public television station, KQED, and for NBC, KRON-TV. Ms. Beals has appeared on national radio and television shows, and written many. Her latest book, Warriors Don’t Cry, tells her story of integrating Central High. She also wrote a book called; White is a State Of Mind. Melba now has three kids and currently lives in California. She is a motivational speaker and published writer.