Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges on her first day of school (www.nwhm.org ())

Four federal marshals surrounded her, her mother at her side. Crowds of white protesters screamed threats at the six year old African American as she walked to her new school. November 14, 1954 was the set date for the integration of schools around America. Six years later, in November 1960, Ruby Bridges began to attend the all white, William Frantz Elementary School. The introduction of Ruby to the school caused a turbulence among white families in New Orleans, and nearly all white students were pulled out of the school by agitated parents. Even the teacher had resigned, unwilling to teach a black student. As she grew up, Ruby began to understand the meaning of racism, and recognized the injustice directed at African Americans. Ruby endured many hardships throughout her life, and it was her sacrificing actions and her courageous heart that lead the way through integration. To this day, Ruby Bridges inspires America as she continues to fight for equal rights by sacrifice, and with an astounding amount of courage.

By integrating her new school, Ruby sacrificed herself for the well being of other black students. During Ruby's first grade year she had to endure the challenges thrown at her from white people, but "...by the next year the community had largely accepted integration as an accomplished fact. White students returned to the school, and more black students joined Bridges." Once that year was over, many people accepted both black and white students at the same school. Her sacrificing actions paid off. This was an accomplished  moment for Ruby and all black students, and because of her, white students became more accepting to both black and white students being equal in the same school. Ruby's family was also affected by their choice to send her to school. Ruby's grandparents were dismissed from their sharecropped field and her father had lost his job, just because everyone was disturbed by a black child attending a white school. "However, the African-American community pulled together to support the family during this time. One neighbor gave Bridges's father a job as a house painter after he was fired." (Ruby (Nell) Bridges).  On the other hand, their neighbors understood the hardships of the family and stepped in to help when Ruby's father was fired. With no income, the neighbors provided jobs for her father and offered to look after the younger children. Even though sacrifice had cost Ruby and her family a lot, she was able to help New Orleans accept integration.

White protesters shouting threats (rubybridgesfoundation.org ())

Ruby's courage allowed her to face life challenges as well as stand for equality. She learned to overcome obstacles from her teacher, and " for the rest of the year, Mrs. Henry stubbornly taught her class of one."(Ruby (Nell) Bridges). Her teacher was a major influence on Ruby. She showed her that not everyone was judgmental about race. Without classmates to jeer and make fun of Ruby, she was able to get a better education from her teacher. Not only did she learn academics, but also to be courageous in a hard time. Ruby gathered her courageous experiences to build the Ruby Bridges Foundation nearly forty years later. To take a stand against injustice, she assembled a foundation as a "...mission of fostering racial healing and promoting racial equity." (Ruby Bridges Foundation). Not wanting other races to share her experiences, Ruby has this foundation to educate American superiors about the unfairness of racism. Because of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, black students are protected against inequalities.

The Ruby Bridges Foundation ( ())

Ruby fought for equality with sacrifice and a lot of courage. Her efforts were recognized by the government with the intention to encourage Americans to also end racism. "That day the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing the anniversary of Bridges' desegregation of the school encouraged Americans to celebrate its importance." (Ruby Bridges). By remembering that day, Ruby inspired Americans to continue what she started, to end racism. There was even a statue built to represent her courage as she walked into school her first day. "To most people, the statue represents Ruby's role in the struggle for equality. But to Ruby, it also stands for something else--the power of kids to change the world." (Scholastic News). The unveiling of the statue was an important event for Ruby. That's when everyone truly saw how courageous she was, and what the outcome of her sacrifices back then has done for society. Ruby Bridges was a girl who made sacrifices and contained a great deal of courage, and inspires America with her virtues and continues to fight for equality.

"National Women's History Museum." Education & Resources. NWHM, 2014. Web. 26 Mar.

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"Ruby (Nell) Bridges." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Biography in Context.

Web. 24 Mar. 2015.

"Ruby Bridges." Gale Biography in Context. Detroit: Gale, 2009. Biography in Context. Web.

              26 Mar. 2015.

"Stepping into history." Scholastic News/Weekly Reader Edition 4 2 Feb. 2015: 4+. Student