STORIES
Freedom
DONATE

Ruby Bridges

by Madi and Avery from Cincinnati

Photograph of a young Ruby Bridges (https://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography ())
Photograph of a young Ruby Bridges (https://www.nwhm.org/education-resources/biography ())

Ruby Bridges is a hero because she is brave, she didn't give up and kept fighting for herself, and she overcame torture and stress. All over the South, Africans were being segregated and treated harshly because of their skin. One little girl named Ruby Bridges helped change that and influenced the Civil Rights Movement. Many people believe that she is a hero.

People protesting outside of the elementary school (https://www.thinglink.com/scene/730932315928133634 ())
People protesting outside of the elementary school (https://www.thinglink.com/scene/730932315928133634 ())

Ruby Bridges was the first African American child to attend an all white school. Although she was like any other student at William Frantz Elementary School, Ruby got treated differently because of her skin color. Everyday she was escorted into the school by four federal marshals with screaming crowds around her. Ruby was a hero because she was brave and audacious even though what she went through was hard. Ruby took a risk that most people would not have taken. At the time, everything was segregated and the whites despised the African Americans. The whites were furious that Ruby was going to an all white school, and tortured her because of it. They started taking their children out of the school the minute Ruby walked in. "What Ruby did so bravely paved the way for other African Americans, making it easier for other blacks to go to white schools, get a better education and help improve relations between blacks and whites"("Ruby Bridges Bio"). As soon as Ruby started going William Frantz Elementary School, it showed African Americans that they shouldn't care what others think. Ruby helped change what the world thought about African Americans and made it easier for them. Ruby is a hero because she was brave and changed the world.

Four federal marshals escorting Ruby Bridges (http://www.seniorwomen.com/news/index.php/ruby-bri ())
Four federal marshals escorting Ruby Bridges (http://www.seniorwomen.com/news/index.php/ruby-bri ())

Ruby Bridges was a also a hero because she kept fighting for herself even after all the torture and stress. They didn't see a little girl who wanted to get an education, "People didn't see a child, they saw change in what they thought, was being taken from them, they never saw a child," (Ruby Bridges 2:46). Ruby stood up to them and changed the world also later in her life. "A lifelong activist for racial equality, in 1999, Ruby established The Ruby Bridges Foundation to promote tolerance and create change through education" ("Nation Women's History"). She keeps fighting to this day for children's education. Heroes are true people like Ruby who fight for themselves and other people.

Ruby Bridges in front of Willaim Frantz Elementary (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2413509/Ci ())
Ruby Bridges in front of Willaim Frantz Elementary (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2413509/Ci ())

A hero is a person who inspires you, never gives up, and is brave. Ruby Bridges is the true definition of that. She is always inspiring people to do the right thing and helping with racial equality. She never gave up at William Frantz Elementary School, even through all the strife. Little Ruby is as brave as a lion. Ruby is a hero that might have been small then but made a huge difference.

Works Cited "Biography." Biography for Kids: Ruby Bridges. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2017. "National Women's History Museum." Education & Resources - National Women's History Museum - NWHM. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2017. "President Obama Meets Civil Rights Icon Ruby Bridges." President Obama Meets Civil Rights Icon Ruby Bridges. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Jan. 2017. Reporter, Associated Press. "Woman Who Was Escorted into School as First Black Student, Age 6, Offers Thanks 53 Years Later to the White U.S. Marshal Who Protected Her." Daily Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 06 Sept. 2013. Web. 03 Jan. 2017. "Ruby Bridges Bio." Kidzworld. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2017. "Ruby Bridges." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 08 July 2014. Web. 03 Jan. 2017. "Ruby Bridges Goes to School." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2017. ThingLink. " Ruby Bridges, the First African-American Child to Attend... by Nyah." ThingLink. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2017. "Young and Brave: Girls Changing History." Young and Brave: Girls Changing History. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Jan. 2017.

Page created on 1/8/2017 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 1/8/2017 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

The National Women's History Museum - This website tells facts about Ruby's life and bravery.
Biography Ruby Bridges - This website give kid friendly information about Ruby's childhood.