My Thoughts: This is a must-read. There are so many things to praise and unpack here. It’s hard to know where to begin.
First of all, the historical account: This is such a powerful look at our country decades ago. In light of racial conflicts being in the media so often today, I think it’s so important to see what was and what isn’t. Reading Melba’s first-person account was eye-opening for me. Being born in the 80s, segregation wasn’t a part of my history. It was equally eye-opening to see just how far we’ve come as a nation.
I found it humbling to walk along with Melba and hear of the extreme abuse she endured and to know how much we benefit from it today. While there are forms of racism still present today, it’s much improved compared to where we once were.
Spiritual content: This is a true gem. In many ways, it reminded me of Corrie Ten Boom’s story. The story isn’t just an account of what was or what happened, but of how God had carried her through it. How He created in her a heart willing and able to love and forgive those who had persecuted. It’s a beautiful story of forgiveness. But it’s equally a powerful testimony about leaning on Christ. For those being bullied today, Melba has some valuable lessons on how to deal with bullies.
From a writer’s point of view, my first impression was that the story was all over the place. But that’s the difference between a novel and a memoir. The flow of events are often grouped together by subject and not by chronological events. This tripped me up a bit in the first chapter, but once I wrapped my mind around the fact that this wasn’t supposed to read like a novel, I adjusted rather well and thoroughly enjoyed it.
When reading someone’s life story, you have to understand that you may or may not agree with everything they did. But this is THEIR story. While I wasn’t on board with the with her divorce or the reasons surrounding it, I realize it’s not my place to judge her or pick apart what she could have/should have done based on the partial information I’m given. Melba has graciously shown us intimate moments of her life and her failings in hopes of sharing the lessons she had gleaned along the way. She had certainly done that.

Rating and Recommendation: There are so many applicable lessons on faith, perseverance, forgiveness, and serving Christ on earth that I would highly recommend this book to any Christian or anyone curious to learn how a Christian walks through persecution. I’m giving it 5 stars.

~ I received a copy from Revell through Net Galley. I was not compensated for this review. All thoughts are my own.

Such an awesome book! This book was about the “Little Rock Nine”, the 9 students selected for school integration in Arkansas. I read some of the background of these 9 and was very fascinated by the story. I really enjoyed reading Beals’ memoir. She did a great job, describing in much detail, the fear and everything she was going through when she was integrated into that Arkansas school and was subject to daily attaches, verbally and physically. I admire her strength and faith to be able to go through something like that. Not only did she go through all of that in the school integration, she showed that she continued to face prejudice as she climbed up the career ladder.

There were so many faith lessons in this book. The book showed how Melba turned to God to help her in many of the situations, whether it was her career, her failed marriage, her kids. etc. I really learned a lot in terms of faith and forgiveness.

Rating: 5 out of 5

This book was given to me by Revell Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

There are so many words of wisdom in Melba Pattillo Beal's book, I Will Not Fear, that I hardly know where to start in my review.

The author has had an extraordinary life that might have left others either defeated or at the very least estranged from God. But Beals had a godly grandmother who, from the very beginning never let her forget that God was on her side.

As I read the horrors she was forced to endure at the hands of racists I felt many emotions. Anger, a sense of injustice, frustration at the callousness of people who, for reasons I still cannot understand, were afraid of someone's skin colour. I will never understand that as long as I live, this prejudice against people of any colour or race puzzles me. We are all God's children. We are all made the same way and our blood is all red. While the people of Little Rock, Arkansas showed how small minded and ignorant they were, nine teenagers showed them what strength, courage and good character looked like. For Melba, it was her time to shine for the Lord and she relied heavily on Him every step of the way and He never failed her.

I highly recommend I Will Not Fear. Get your teenagers to read it. Discuss it with them. Have a book group and discuss it. Invite your neighbours. This book is a keeper.

4.5

"You're not doing this for yourself. You are doing this for generations yet unborn."

Martin Luther King's encouragement to a young Melba Beals was the difference between despondency and determination. Melba's experience as one of the nine students integrating into an all white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas had gone beyond the nightmare stage, she was afraid for her life. One of her greatest assets was a godly grandmother who told her more than once, " God is as close to us as our skin, and it's up to us to call on Him if we need help."

Enduring this harrowing experience molded Melba into the kind of woman who went on to complete several post graduate degrees and was honored as a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal. Her unwavering faith was truly amazing, "to God be the glory".

"I knew my boys would have to learn what Grandma had taught me, which is to walk by faith and not by sight alone. . . . . . . no matter what threatening evidence appears to be true, we need not fear because God is always beside us."

For the most part I enjoyed this book. It was very interesting to read about the author's life. She certainly experienced a lot of pain and hardship. It was abundantly clear that her grandmother was a huge spiritual influence in her life. What a blessing to have had someone pour into her life from a very early age. Having that spiritual foundation is what sustained Melba throughout her life. That was clearly portrayed. I have high respect for her journey and her tenacity in never giving up. She has a strong faith, and I am happy she has had such success. I cannot imagine the fear she lived in throughout most of her life. And yet God was with her every step of the way. He is faithful!

What I didn't like about the book was the choppy style. It seemed more like a collection of remembrances taken down over a long period of time rather than the author deciding to write a book about her life. Some phrases were so awkward I had to read them two or three times to understand what was trying to be conveyed. I also wish there had been more detail given about her time as one of The Nine. For that to have been such a defining thing for her, I felt those chapters were more about her relationships than actual events being detailed.

There was also a lot of repetition, again, which seemed like the book was written in stages, or taken from diary entries or articles written by the author and put together in book form. Also, I felt the epilogue was not a true epilogue, but rather just another chapter. It would have been nice to have had a more thorough update on her kids. A good edit to smooth out those issues would go a long way to making the book a better read.

However, the book was still enjoyable, and I'm glad I read it. Knowing God is close by every minute is a wonderful comfort, and the author surely has proven that time and again.

I cannot imagine what it must have been like to be a African American female teen growing up in the 1950s in Little Rock, Arkansas. Beals was one of the nine students chosen by the NAACP to attend the all white Central High School in 1957. It was a federally mandated integration that the whites violently opposed.

The account of Beals' experiences is heartbreaking. She repeatedly shares how she relied on God's strength to endure the threats, name calling, and other mistreatment. In so many cases there was no humans to help and only her faith in God sustained her. She writes of the inspiration from her grandmother, reminding her to keep her focus on what this would mean to future generations of African Americans, Asians, and Mexicans.

Because the governor had a private all white school built and closed all the public schools in Little Rock, the NCAAP found a family to sponsor Beals in California. She was amazed at her acceptance in the schools there. She writes of how she went on to marry, divorce, finish her schooling, and enter a broadcasting career and later being a professor.

Even in her adult life, Beals had repeated times of having to rely on her faith in God for her safety and that of her children. She is one tough woman. As she pursued her education and career, she still experienced discrimination - even as an older woman trying to rent or buy a home.

I recommend this book to those who desire to understand the personal experiences of one of the Little Rock Nine. It is an encouraging account of trusting God and relying on faith in disturbing times.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.