Melba Pattillo Beals
Keynote Speaker: Journalist, Author of "Warriors Don't Cry" & Member of the "Little Rock Nine"
-
Travels From:
-
Speaking Fee:
-
Categories:
Melba Pattillo Beals Biography
Melba Pattillo Beals was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941. Her parents were divorced when she was seven, and her mother and grandmother — both strong, intelligent women — had a great impact on her life. Beals' mother, Dr. Lois Pattillo, was an English teacher, and one of the first black students to integrate the University of Arkansas, graduating in 1954.
Beals was 12 years old on May 17, 1954 — the date the Supreme Court ruled in "Brown vs. Board of Education" that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Just over a year later, on May 24, 1955, the Little Rock school board adopted a plan to limit integration to Central High School, but claimed this would not occur for another two years.
When the time came to sign up for Central High, Beals raised her hand and put her name on the sheet. "I thought about all those times I'd gone past Central High, wanting to go inside... I reasoned that if schools were open to my people, I would also get access to other opportunities I had been denied, like... sitting on the first floor of the movies theater" (Beals, 1994).
Then, on Dec. 1 1955, when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Beals knew that "our people were stretching out to knock down fences of integration" (Beals, 1994). Mrs. Parks'action and the tremendous response from the community gave Beals hope for change, despite Governor Orval Fauvus'refusal to allow integration in public schools.
But it was Beals' first trip to Cincinnati, Ohio in early August, 1957 that gave her a glimpse of life without segregation. On this unforgettable trip to visit relatives, Beals went to the movies with a white friend, ate at lunch counters and fancy restaurants, walked through department stores, and used "regular" bathrooms. For the first time, white people — from her relatives'neighbors to salespeople and waiters — were friendly and treated her with respect.
Beals wanted to stay forever, but the trip was called short when they received the call from Little Rock that she was among nine black children who would be entering Central High that fall. Inspired by the life she saw in Cincinnati, Beals returned to Arkansas with the conviction that one day she would receive the same respect in Little Rock.
Of the original 17 students that had signed up for Central High, only nine — Beals and eight other black students — chose to stand up to the threats of violence and take on the challenge of integration. These nine childhood friends had much in common: they were all strong students, with strict, hardworking parents. But most of all, they were individualists with strong opinions.
The brave young students soon discovered that integration would mean a struggle to stay alive as Little Rock's segregationists rampaged and steadfastly refused to obey the law. In order to attend Little Rock's all-white Central High School in 1957, Beals and her friends faced the kind of mob brutality that compelled then-President Eisenhower to send combat-ready soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division to protect their lives.
Under the scrutiny of reporters who came from around the world to observe rampaging mobs block her entry to Central High and the explosive Little Rock school crisis, 15-year-old Beals learned how to relate to the media; she also decided to pursue a career in journalism.
At seventeen, Beals began selling articles to major newspapers and magazines. She later 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 the NBC affiliate, KRON-TV.
Beals has appeared on national radio and television shows, and written numerous articles for periodicals like People and Essence. Her latest book, "Warriors Don't Cry," tells her remarkable story of the 1957 struggle to integrate Central High, a turning point in America's history and the coming of age of our country.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Melba Pattillo Beals and other top speakers and celebrities.
Melba Pattillo Beals Videos
How do I book Melba Pattillo Beals to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Melba Pattillo Beals for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Melba Pattillo Beals, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Melba Pattillo Beals or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Melba Pattillo Beals for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Melba Pattillo Beals, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Melba Pattillo Beals are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Melba Pattillo Beals, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Melba Pattillo Beals speak about?
Melba Pattillo Beals is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Diversity & Inclusion, Civil Rights, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Authors, Social Justice and Social Activism.
Where does Melba Pattillo Beals travel from?
Melba Pattillo Beals generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Melba Pattillo Beals?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Melba Pattillo Beals for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Melba Pattillo Beals for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Melba Pattillo Beals or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Melba Pattillo Beals is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Diversity & Inclusion, Civil Rights and Black Heritage. The estimated speaking fee range to book Melba Pattillo Beals for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Melba Pattillo Beals generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Minnijean Brown Trickey, Fania Davis and Bobby Seale. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Melba Pattillo Beals for an upcoming event.
VIDEO
Melba Pattillo Beals Videos
BOOKS
FAQS
-
How do I book Melba Pattillo Beals to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Melba Pattillo Beals for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Melba Pattillo Beals, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Melba Pattillo Beals or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Melba Pattillo Beals for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Melba Pattillo Beals, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Melba Pattillo Beals are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Melba Pattillo Beals, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Melba Pattillo Beals speak about?
Melba Pattillo Beals is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Diversity & Inclusion, Civil Rights, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Authors, Social Justice and Social Activism. -
Where does Melba Pattillo Beals travel from?
Melba Pattillo Beals generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Melba Pattillo Beals?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Melba Pattillo Beals for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Melba Pattillo Beals for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Melba Pattillo Beals or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
BOOK MELBA PATTILLO BEALS
We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.
Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.
We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.
We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.
Gauge Interest and check availability for appearances, speaking engagements, or corporate events.
Provide you with speaking fee to book Melba Pattillo Beals or other celebrity appearance fees
Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities
Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process
This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.
All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.
