Born in 1954, Ruby Bridges has made a giant impact on today’s education. She was one of the first black students to be integrated into an all white school. Everyday of her first grade year, Ruby met a giant mob of people threatening to hurt her. Yet, despite the mob and the loneliness, Ruby’s determination to have a good education caused a ripple effect. She changed the way America views education. Now 60, Ruby has dedicated her life to the foundation she started in order to pursue her dream. Her story has amazed people of all ages for years, and continues to amaze today’s society.
Ruby Bridges Project
Ruby Bridges was in first grade when she was the first black child to be integrated into William Frantz Public School. She had been given a test for what seemed like no reason to Ruby. A little while after taking the test, there was a knock on Ruby’s door. The NAACP had come to inform Ruby’s parents that she had passed the test to be integrated into an all white school. At first, her father, Abon, disagreed to the idea entirely, Ruby’s mother eventually convinced him. There were four other girls who had passed the test. One had dropped out because her parents had decided it was too risky for her and their family. They had gone to a different school leaving Ruby to be the only black girl in her school.
There were no students in Ruby’s class. This was Because their parents did not want their child in the same school as a “n!gger”* or they feared their family and jobs might be hurt by keeping their children in class. Even though Ruby was in a white school, and was to be treated as equal, she had limited opportunities. Despite the situation Ruby still loved her teacher, Mrs. Henry, even though it was just the two of them for most of the year. It wasn’t until the end of the year when other kids started showing up. At first she could not eat in the cafeteria or play outside with the other kids at recess. There were children in the school, yet the criticism was harsh on families who decided to let their children go to school as well. One girl, Yolanda, started to go to school, but her and her family got extreme criticism. Once, on their way to school, a window in their car was shattered by a rock. The harsh protesters left Ruby to be all alone.
During the end of the year, some white children started to come back. Ruby got to visit them sometimes, but they were still separated. One day, during recess, Ruby asked one of the few white children to play. He replied, “ I can’t play with you, because my mama said not to because you’re a n!gger*.” Right then, Ruby realized that everything she had been through for the past year was because of the color of her skin. She didn’t hate the boy for saying this, she knew he was just following his mother’s orders. Ruby would have done the same, but it was the first time she had ever began to explain why things were the way they were. It was the beginning of long road to equal rights.
Every day when Ruby went to school she was greeted with a screaming mob of protesters, and had to be escorted by four US marshals. People threatened to poison or kill her for being in a white school. One woman even put a black baby doll inside a coffin, just to frighten Ruby. As the year went on Ruby had had trouble sleeping and eating. During lunch time, Ruby would not eat anything but chips and soda. Her psychiatrist, Dr. Coles, had said it was probably because of the threats she received about being poisoned. Thankfully by the end of the year Ruby’s appetite returned.
Ruby dedicated her life to The Ruby Bridges Foundation, “With the mission of fostering racial healing and promoting racial equality both locally and nationally.” With this foundation, Ruby goes to schools to speak about racism and her story. Started in 1999, Ruby has raised money for the sake of modern racism. She has made a website for this foundation, showing much information. She uploaded many videos, interviews, and articles. Ruby shares her story, and how to support her cause. By donating, Ruby Bridges’ dream will stay alive.
Ruby Bridges did so many things for civil rights just as a six year old girl. She had been the first child to attend an all white school in the south. Now, only 60 years old, she has a husband named Malcolm Hall and four children. She currently lives in New Orleans, Louisiana. Just recently on November 14, 2014, the fifty-fourth anniversary of when she first entered William Frantz Public School, Ruby received a statue. The statue is to honor Ruby Bridges’ part in the civil rights movement. When people look at the statue Ruby hopes people will know “They can help stop injustice.”
*We didn’t want to say the actual word, sorry!