Ruby Bridges Story: First African American Girl In A Desegregated School

On the morning of her first day at William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Ruby Bridges' mother told her: "Now I want you to behave yourself today, Ruby, and don't be afraid." Ruby and her mother went to the school where so many people were outside shouting and throwing things, that the little girl thought it must be Mardi Gras. Despite the fact that it was 1960, there were U.S. marshals walking beside her, and she was the first black child to enter an all-white school in the history of the American South.

It was in 1960 that a federal court ordered the desegregation of schools in the South. The first year Ruby was in the school, parents pulled out their children from the school because they thought it was wrong to have a black girl in that school. So from that, Ruby was the only student in the class left. The teacher, a woman from Boston, was one of the few white instructors who was willing to teach a black child. She and Bridges showed up for school every single day that year, and they held class as if there were no angry mob outside, no conflict over a little girl attending first grade.

From all this drama about Ruby going to the all white school William Frantz, her father lost his job, and her grandparents lost their place as tenant farmers. The Bridges gathered together, and friends would come in the morning to help Ruby get ready for school, or to walk with her to her classroom. By this time, nobody can deny Ruby's heroism. She has demonstrated the value of education to many others. Bridges, who is now 44 years old devoted herself to the education of children. She also started the Ruby Bridges foundation "in the hopes of bringing parents back into the schools and taking a more active role in their children's education."

For more information about Ruby Bridges, go to:

http://www.rubybridges.com/