- Link is a coward in Beals’s memoir. I can support that stance with the following evidence….
Link is a coward in Beals’s memoir and I can support this with some of the actions he commits in the name of helping Melba. The first interaction the reader had with Link was when he helped Melba escape from Andy. Link told Melba that he was going to hand her the keys to his car but she did not believe his intentions. Once Link got out of the car to help her, he said, “Listen to me. I’m gonna call you nigger – loud. I’m gonna curse at you, but I’m gonna put my keys on the trunk of this car. Get out of here, now,” (Beals, 249). At first glance, this action may look courageous, but once you tie in his further actions into the memoir, which I will address in a minute, you start to wonder why he didn’t stay in the car and drive off with her if it was a dangerous situation. Especially since Melba could have been arrested for stealing Link’s car if Andy forced Link to report her, which could put Melba in even more danger. Next, I want to discuss when Link decided to join the hecklers as Melba calls them and says, “’ Hey, I’m not gonna stay in detention hall every morning for a week just for a little nigger-beating pleasure,’ I heard Link say…But I heard Link’s voice as he said it was better to leave now and he’d help them get me later for sure,” (Beals, 261). This interaction was not provoked because Melba’s life was endangered by Andy or someone like Andy, Link decided to say these things on his own to fit in. One can infer he is keeping up appearances, but why does he have to be a main character of bullying to keep up appearances? Finally, I want to address when his nanny died. It was a very tragic situation because his nanny could not get proper health care. After all, she was African American. I understand that Link may have needed a friend for support, but the interaction he had with Melba at this time did not make me feel like he truly was supporting her. Link proceeded to, “insisted I come to meet him. When I said I couldn’t get away, he called me a thousand times that day insisting he had to see me or something awful would happen,” (Beals, 305). Melba had a lot to handle on her own with the integration of Little Rock, but when she needed Link to stand up and take her side, he did not. Except, when Link needed Melba to comfort him over his nanny’s death, Melba had to come running to him or else he would not leave her online. To me, this seemed like a more take than give and take relationship on Links end. He could only stand up for Melba in private and she had to come whenever he needed her, but Link could not constantly stand by Melba’s side when she needed someone to be an ally.
While it’s understandable to interpret Link’s actions as cowardly in Melba Beals’s memoir, alternative perspectives may challenge this characterization.
Firstly, in the instance where Link assists Melba in escaping from Andy, it’s important to recognize the risks he faced by directly involving himself in the situation. Link’s decision to confront Andy and create a distraction, even though using harsh language, could have escalated the danger for himself and Melba. By leaving the keys on the car’s trunk and instructing Melba to flee, Link demonstrated courage by attempting to aid her escape while minimizing his vulnerability to potential retaliation.
When Link joins in with the hecklers, it’s plausible to argue that he may have felt compelled to conform to social pressures rather than acting out of genuine malice or cowardice. In environments where racism and prejudice are common, individuals may succumb to peer pressure as a means of self-preservation or fitting in, even if their personal beliefs or actions contradict such behavior. Link’s participation in heckling may reflect a nuanced response to complex social dynamics rather than a simple act of cowardice.
Link’s behavior following nanny’s death could be interpreted as a manifestation of his own grief and emotional turmoil rather than indicative of cowardice. While it’s regrettable that Link’s support for Melba may have decreased during this period, it’s plausible that his overwhelming grief and need for companionship clouded his ability to support Melba. Grief can manifest in various ways, and Link’s actions may be better understood within the context of his personal struggles rather than solely as acts of cowardice.
So, while Link’s actions may appear cowardly from one perspective, it’s important to consider alternative interpretations that account for the complexities of human behavior and the social dynamics at play. Factors such as risk assessment, social pressures, and personal grief may all contribute to understanding Link’s actions in a more nuanced light. (I don’t believe what I’m arguing; I personally think he’s a coward. I just wanted to disagree for the fun of it🙂)
After reading both your post and Julie’s reply, I agree that Link is a coward, but there is more to the story of human interaction and behavior. Just as Melba Beals was a kid going through the ugly battle of integration, so was Link. Expectations for a teenager to step up in the face of oppression and racism is a tough ask and in a few blog posts ago, Amara so beautifully wrote about Melba being on the fine line of victimhood and heroism. For Link, he stands on the line of cowardliness and bravery. He befriends Melba, leaves his keys in the car for her to escape a brutal bullying situation, attends the segregationist meetings and informs Melba of what is going to happen, which could really get him into a lot of trouble if caught. Even with all of these “heroic” or brave acts, they are quickly overshadowed when he is the main heckler of Melba or allows for her brutal treatment while keeping up his appearances. I think Link serves as a complex character because he is young, may be good spirited, has some desire to help and do what is right, but sticks very very closely to the status quo. Do you think he stuck to the status quo because he was a teenager figuring himself out in a time of turmoil? or do you think his age and being a teen is a cop out because the Little Rock Nine stood and did what was right?
I thought your analysis was thought-provoking and you provided accurate evidence as to why Link should be characterized as a coward. In addition to Julie’s comments, I think there is a gray area between his acts of “courage”. Since the memoir portrays the violence inflicted on Melba and the other eight students as common occurrences, it is almost natural for a reader to want to cling to any sense of safety or protection. However, your analysis provides a nuanced perspective on Link’s character, highlighting instances where he falls short of being the supportive ally Melba needs in her fight against discrimination and violence. I think that Imani brings to light important characteristics of his character. While his actions did have some merit to them, he too often followed the status quo.