Walking Tall
How did Ruby Bridges make history 50 years ago?
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"Don't be afraid." That's what Ruby Bridges's mother told her on November 4, 1960. Little Ruby listened carefully to the advice. Soon, four United States federal court marshals, or officers, arrived at the Bridges family home in New Orleans, La., to drive the first grader to William Frantz Public School. A screaming mob was waiting. People stood near the building shouting.
Ruby held her head high. With the marshals surrounding her, the 6-year-old walked into the school and into history books. That morning, Ruby became one of the first African Americans to attend an all-white elementary school in the South.
Ruby Bridges leaves school in New Orleans in 1960, escorted by U.S. marshals. (AP Images)
Dividing Lines
For a long time, parts of the United States were segregated, or separated by race. Under law, black children could not attend the same public schools as white children. People of different races also had to use separate public restrooms and drinking fountains.
U.S. leaders worked hard to end segregation. They wanted all Americans to have civil rights. Civil rights are the rights to be treated equally. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. The case was Brown v. Board of Education.
By the year 1960, however, many Southern cities, including New Orleans, were still not following the court's ruling. That prompted a federal court to take action in New Orleans. It ordered the city to desegregate its public schools. Ruby Bridges was one of the first students to lead the way.
School Days
Ruby made it inside William Frantz Public School that first day. However, there was so much uproar, she didn't make it to class. From the principal's office, Ruby watched as angry parents pulled their children out of school.
On her second day, Ruby met her teacher, Barbara Henry. By then, so many kids ahad been removed from the school that Ruby was Henry's only student. The pair worked one-on-one for the whole year. "Mrs. Henry was one of the nicest teachers I ever had," Bridges told WR News. "She made school fun for me."
Outside the building, people continued to protest. Others, though, believed everyone should have civil rights.
By the end of the year, crowds began to dwindle, or decrease. When Ruby returned to school for second grade, there were no more protesters. Many of the other students had returned.
Teacher Barbara Henry and Ruby Bridges reunited in 1998. (AP Images)
Building Bridges
By the late 1960s, most schools in the United States were no longer segregated, thanks to the efforts of civil rights workers. Other laws were passed that improved life for African Americans. The Civil Rights Act of 1964, for example, helped protect Aftrican Americans' rights to seek jobs.
Bridges never had to attend a segregated school. She graduated from high school and continued her studies in business school.
Today, Bridges speaks to kid about the importance of treating one another equally. She has never forgotten her experience at William Frantz Public School, and she shares details about her first day there in her speeches.
"I wasn't really afraid," Bridges told WR News. "I didn't really know what was going on at the time, and I loved school."
The Little Rock Nine
Before Ruby Bridges, there was the Little Rock Nine. They were nine African American students in Little Rock, Ark. On September 4, 1957, the students attemped to begin classes at the all-white Central High School. But the governor of Arkansas and the angry mobs surrounding the school prevented them from entering.
Finally, President Dwight D. Eisenhower took action. He sent U.S. troops to protect the students, and they finally began classes. High school was far from easy for the group, but some of them went on to graduate. In 1999, Congress awarded the Little Rock Nine the Congressional Gold Medal for their bravery.
©2010, 2011 Weekly Reader Corporation. Story originally appeared in WR News, Edition 4-6, November 12, 2010.
ruby bridge
I learned that you were not afraid of the huge angery crowd.How did you feel about school? I dident know you where so brave. Did you ever know how the other girls ended up? How was school fun? Did ever feel lonely?I learned marshals had to walk you all the way to school with guns.I also learnedthat parents dident send their kids to school.Thank you for all that.
Ruby bridges
I learned that they were poor and a caring family. 4 black girls were selected to go to the white school. Why was they shouting at her what was they saying to her? Why would they want to hurt her? When are they going to be nice to her? when she was so brave and she was just littel.
ruby bridges
hey my name is Stephanie or sheph for short I learned a lot about you. I am wondering what where you feeling when you got there. If I were you I would be scared. Were you? Were you friend's with the other 3 girls? Did they go to the same school? You are nice. I love you for changing history.
Hi my name is Ashley and I
Hi my name is Ashley and I learned allot about you. My class read the story of you I learned that 4 Africa Americans went to white schools. i would love to meet you.the president made marshals walk beside you where you scared? i would be scared what where those white people saying to you when you where interning that school.i think you are so brave. you are so nice to people. Why would people be so mean?
Ruby Bridges
I learnd a lot about you.You were so brave when you wrere in the angry mob.I wonder why the police did not help you,but the marshels helped you.I learned that you werel the only person in your class.I was scared for you when you were in the angery mob.You were so brave praying for all those people.
Ruby Bridges
I learned that Ruby Bridges was very brave because she had to stand in front of that mean mob every day at school. I wonder why the people would not help Ruby? Were the other black girls that were sent to a a white school scared too? I learned that Ruby wasn't really scared because she didn't really understand. I didn't really think that bullying Ruby was really rhe solution because Ruby is really brave and won't quit no matter what. I also learned that Ruby liked it being alone in her classroom with her nice teacher Mrs. Henry. This story made me feel kind of sad. Why wouln't Ruby's parents come to get her? I really enjoyed reading this story it tought me a bunch of things.
Ruby Bridges
I learned that Ruby Briges had to have body gards follow her to school every morning, to protect her from the mob, of angry parents.I think that she was verry brave and strong for getting through the mob every day.
I am still wondering what she felt inside, going through that delema. I am glad that she helped end segragation, because some of my best friend's are colord. Thank you Ruby Bridges.
Ruby bridges
I learned that 4 black girls were slected to go to a white school. I also was wondering where all the other students were at when they were gone. I was happy when you prayed for the white people. Also I think are a brave person.
Ruby Bridges
WEll I want to tell you that I learned that you were really brave when you were little. Well I am wondering what happand with the girls that were with you? I was upset that you were treated so badly.
Ruby Bridges
How were the 4 girls selected to go to a white school? Why did the city & state police not help Ruby? What were they saying when the were shouting at her? How was she not scared with all of this stuff happening? I learned that; Ruby's family was poor, & religious. Ruby was nice, caring, and brave. I was really surprised when I read this book.
Ruby Bridges
Did you know the other girls? Were you scared at first? What were the names of the first boys in your class? Was it fun being the only kid in your class? Was your family strong when you got chose to go to a whites only school? I think you are good role model because you faced your problems and did not run away from them.
Ruby Bridges
Hey Ruby I am a big fan of what you did a long time ago.
I learned you went through a lot when you were little, if you did not go through the doors on the first day that is a little sad what did you do?
I am wondering what happened to the other 3 girls that went to an all white school, did they just stop going to the schools or what?
I felt sad for you because if I had to go through that I could not take it I would tell my mom or dad to stop taking me to go to school.
Thank you Ruby for going through every thing you did as a child.
I learned that the kids are
I learned that the kids are not in the classroom.
ruby bridges
l learned Ruby was a brave girl. l wonder if Ruby was scared. l am glad she was so brave .
ruby bridges
hello ruby bridges I have some questions for you I am wondering what happened to the other 3 girls that was to suppost to go to the white school? and
Was the mob scary? I just want you to know you are really brave.
Ruby Bridges
I was wondering what ever happened to the other students that were selected to attend the all- white school?
Ruby is very brave.
Ruby Bridges
I felt kind of sad in this story because it was unfair to let Ruby alone without any students or friends. I felt really bad for her to deal with all that when she was a little girl. I enjoyed the sorry but the parents took the kids that was so so so so so mean for ruby. I think that was unfair because she had to walk a lot to school and she couldn't go to the closest school to her. Thank you for such an inspiring aritcle and for teaching us that friendships can overcome the color of our skin.
hi
hi ruby i love you.
she made a difference
I belive anyone can do anthing and this prooves it people may not like it but if you do that is all that matters
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