Ruby Bridges

Young Ruby Bridges (Google )

Hero is defined as a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities. Everyone has a hero, whether it is by this definition or not. For me, Ruby Bridges was and still is a strong courageous and brave little girl. What would it be like to be protested against everyday just for trying to bring equality to the world? The fact that she was so courageous still takes my breath away every time I hear it. Ruby Bridges is my hero because she stood up and fought for a problem some people are still dealing with now, racism. In a very big way she succeeded. Equality was brought to schools and we were one step closer to a racist free world.

Ruby Nell Brides, now Ruby Bridges Hall, was born on September 8, 1954 in Tylertown, Mississippi. Four years after her birth Ruby’s family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. When Ruby was in kindergarten her mother volunteered her to take a test to find out if she was eligible to join an all white school. Ruby and five others were accepted. They were all scattered to different schools. Ruby was the only one of the six to be accepted into William Frontz Elementary School. Her father did not want Ruby to go to that school because he was afraid someone might try to harm Ruby or one of the other family members. On the other hand her mother wanted Ruby to go to the school, she told Ruby, “take this step forward…for all African American children.” On the first day of school Ruby had never seen an angry mob before. So when she first saw the crowd she thought it was Mardi gras. She said “Driving up I could see the crowd, but living in New Orleans, I actually thought it was Mardi gras. There was a large crowd of people outside of the school. They were throwing things and shouting and that sort of goes on in New Orleans at Mardi gras.” On the first day they made her stay in the office. As she did, she watched mother after mother going into the school and coming out with a child in their arms marching down to join the protesters outside the school. Even the teachers left, all but one Mrs. Henry. Mrs. G stayed and thought a class with only Ruby in it for more than a year. Some people in New Orleans supported Ruby and continued to take their kids to school.

For me the perfect world would be a place with no global warming, no economic crisis, and no racism. Ruby Bridges took a big step in accomplishing them for fourteen years she worked as a flight attendant then she stayed home to take care of her four sons. She started the Ruby Bridges foundation in 1999 for “The value s of tolerance, respect and appreciation of all differences.” Ruby says, “Racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using children to spread it.” Ruby is proud that her mother put her in an all white school, she would have done the same thing with her kids.

Peace is not just a word or a symbol; it is a way of life. Nearly all great heroes believe in MLK JR., President Abraham Lincoln and Ruby Bridges. With peacefulness comes responsibility and equality which, in my opinion, is the perfect way to live. Ruby Bridges did many great things in her life to be proud of. She changed the world and now she is a full time mom taking care of her four children.