Imagine being three years old and knowing, at that early age, you and your family, as people of color, are expected to step out of the way of whites, remain submissive and tolerant despite being disrespected, and live in a constant state of fear—as lynching mobs are free to torment your community at any given moment.

March Forward, Girl is the young adult autobiography by Melba Pattillo Beals, tracing her struggles to live with the restrictions and maltreatment forced upon her and other people of color in 1940s and 50s Little Rock, Arkansas. Starting with her memories as a little girl, Beals paints a world where even an innocent child could see the obvious differences between the behavioral expectations of whites and those of the "colored" community under Jim Crow Laws. Whites have access to the best amenities and schools, are able to talk down to, and use epithets toward, their brown-skinned counterparts, and are free to commit acts of violence, rape, and murder against blacks without consequence.

As a child, young Melba sadly learns there is no safe or sacred place when it comes to racist hatred or the merciless punishment of its victims.

As a result of generations of blacks teaching their children not to question these oppressive rules aloud or voice dismay, Beals' family taught her that being silent is a matter of survival. Her parents and grandmother constantly try to enforce, ingrain, and display the seemingly endless expectations of how to act in the presence of whites: "Don’t speak unless spoken to," "don’t look them in the eye," and "don’t touch anything" when shopping in their stores. Young Melba attempts to understand these unwritten guidelines are in place to protect the black community from potential confrontations, but is unable to accept her circumstance without a strong urge to refute it. She knows there is another world to be had, aside from the unjust one she was born into.

Eventually, Beals makes her own imprint on American history, just as she set out to do as a young girl with big dreams and a wide vision for the quality of life everyone deserves. After the Brown vs. Board of Education decision ruled "separate does not mean equal," a teenage Melba becomes part of the Little Rock Nine, a chosen group of black students who bravely participated in integrating segregated schools in 1957—a landmark action Beals writes about in her bestseller Warriors Don’t Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High. Thanks to the strength and courage of Beals and others like her, the United States has not been the same since.

Writing Style

Beals does a wonderful job recounting both negative and positive childhood experiences. Her ability to recollect specific events that occured at an early age is not only remarkable, but simply shows the effect of her the memories. Her story's flow is very gentle, almost reflecting a certain air of innocence with a child-friendly tone—March Forward, Girl would probably have been categorized a children’s autobiography if not for the heavy nature of the content. Even the most horrific scenes, including a lynching and sexual assault toward young black women, are presented with as much dignity, sensitivity, and honesty as could be articulated. Perhaps Beals does this out of respect for both readers and victims, or, to convey her own naiveté during certain experiences.

As one would imagine, the most abrasive words in the book are from the direct racist quotes used toward Melba and her family. I appreciate the lack of censorship because it allows one to tap into their own sense of empathy. If you read these horrible words and feel uncomfortable, angry, frustrated, or disgusted, you can better imagine how it felt to be on the receiving end of such hostility. Beals speaks in the first person, which would usually carry a rather informal tone, though she often refers to her family as Mother Lois, Papa Will, and Grandma India.

We experience the repetition of the same lessons and rules to abide by, much like the experiences of many readers. However, there are quite a few life lessons to be learned from the scolding by young Melba’s grandmother, mother, and father: Just the title "March Forward, Girl" is a lesson worth adopting as it undoubtedly encourages persistence during challenging times.

Illustration Style

Being familiar with other books illustrated by Frank Morrison, it is safe to say his abilities are quite versatile. From realistic depictions to more cartoon-like drawings, his imagination appears to be limitless. In March Forward, Girl, Morrison takes the interesting approach of creating what appear to be pencil sketch pictures in plain black and gray. These images look very kid-friendly and simple, as if to bring a softness to the blow that is the storyline. Personally, it took me some time to view the illustrations as a complement to the text's serious tone of text; eventually, I did, and due to the disturbing nature of racism as a whole, it became clear that more complex illustrations were not necessary. The real black-and-white photos that appear periodically throughout the book, from Beals' personal collection, are nothingl ess than eye-opening. 

Librarian's Thoughts

Reading this book was difficult but necessary; as necessary as reading any literary vessel that holds an important lesson about historical tragedies, the trials of life, and the survivors who overcame them. March Forward, Girl is excellently written and age appropriate for young adults. In school, many of us read about historical events like the Little Rock Nine  in a textbook paragraph or two, nothing like reading a first-hand account. The textbooks often don’t do justice for learners and eyewitnesses. I’m in my 30s and do not recall hearing much about this particular event, perhaps seeing a photo a couple of times. Overall, I highly recommend March Forward, Girl for teens and adults.
 

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