a) Melba as heir to social gospel of Grandma
Throughout the first 15 chapters of Warriors Don’t Cry by Melba Beals, the intimate and nuanced relationship between Melba and Grandma India is noteworthy. Through Melba’s recount of her adolescent life, the reader can sense that Grandma India has perhaps given Melba the most wisdom and practical advice out of anyone in her life. In particular, Grandma India endows much of her faith and beliefs surrounding God to Melba, which ultimately shapes much of the way Melba acts in her childhood and adolescence. Melba functions in a way as Grandma India’s heir in faith, in which Melba is inheriting the faith and life stances of her grandmother. For example, Grandma India emphasizes that despite all the segregation, violence, and constant fear that Melba’s family as well as Black people throughout the South have to endure, a steadfast belief in God and His ultimate plan for Black people will lead to an improvement of circumstances. Grandma India assures Melba that the time will eventually come where justice for Black folks in the South will occur, but that time lies in God’s hands.
Melba echoes this belief in God, for instance, in one of her diary entries where she writes, “I apologize, God, for thinking you had taken away all my normal life. Maybe you’re just exchanging it for a new life” (90). This entry was in response to the great respect and comfort that Melba felt when she and the other students comprising the Little Rock Nine were being interviewed by newscasters about their thoughts regarding the road to integration. Melba recounts that she had never felt so respected by a white person, and so she thanks God for giving this experience to her. Melba mirrors Grandma India’s belief in God and His plan for everyone with this diary entry, so it is clear that Grandma India has greatly influenced Melba’s faith in God, which has indeed increased her hope for her future. In addition, another example of Grandma India’s faith being transferred to Melba is when they were having one of their patented private talks in the garden, when Melba admitted to Grandma India that she “believed each human being was really only a spirit–made by God, and that our bodies were like clothes hanging in the closet” (10). It is likely that many of the private talks between Melba and her grandma prior to this specific example revolved around religion and faith in God, so Grandma India’s influence on Melba’s faith is present once more.
Here is a song from one of my favorite artists, Aminé, which thanks his mother for taking great care of him as a child and setting him straight whenever he went off-kilter. Aminé represents a kind of social heir to his mother when he developed a strong work ethic, which he owes greatly to his mother’s lessons. Although he is rapping about his mom here, the relationship here is very similar to Melba and Grandma India’s relationship, in which Grandma India took care of Melba and instilled in her many life lessons and faith-related beliefs.
It was very interesting to see the power of faith within the book and how it played such an impactful role in the lives of many of the individuals in the Black community, especially Grandma India and Melba. It was also interesting to see some of Melba’s thoughts and opinions regarding her faith and whatever the situation she was referencing in her diary. One quote that came to mind after reading your post was when Melba wrote “What if Grandma is wrong? What if God can’t fix things? What if the white people are always going to be in charge? God, now, please give me some sign you are there and you are gonna do something to change my life. Please hurry!” (18). This quote and the quote you added from page 90 pair well when thinking back to a comment from Grandma India where she was essentially telling Melba to be patient and that God works on His own schedule. It was just beautiful to see over time the growth and progression towards equality the Black community has patiently been waiting and working for.
Your analysis of the relationship between Melba and Grandma India beautifully captures the depth of their bond and Grandma India’s profound influence on Melba’s faith and worldview. It’s striking how Grandma India serves as both a caregiver and a spiritual guide, imparting wisdom and resilience in the face of adversity. Your comparison to Aminé’s song adds another layer to understanding the concept of social heirship, highlighting how familial relationships can shape our values and work ethic.