FACES OF BLACK HISTORY
The Monroe News
Who Is Ruby Bridges?
Ruby Bridges was the first African American child to integrate an all-white public elementary school in the South. She later became a civil rights activist.
Bridges was six when she became the first African American child to integrate a white Southern elementary school. On November 14, 1960, she was escorted to class by her mother and U.S. marshals due to violent mobs. Bridges' brave act was a milestone in thecivil rights movement, and she's shared her story with future generations in educational forums.
Education and Facts
The fact that Bridges was born the same year that the Supreme Court handed down itsBrown v. Board of Educationdecision desegregating schools is a notable coincidence in her early journey into civil rights activism.
WhenBridgeswas in kindergarten, she was one of many African American students in New Orleans who were chosen to take a test determining whether or not she could attend a white school.It is said the test was written to be especially difficult so that students would have a hard time passing. The idea was that if all the African American children failed the test, New Orleans schools might be able to stay segregated for a while longer.
Bridges’ father was averse to his daughter taking the test, believing that if she passed and was allowed to go to the white school, there would be trouble. However, her mother, Lucille, pressed the issue, believing thatBridgeswould get a better education at a white school. She was eventually able to convinceBridges'father to let her take the test.
In 1960, Bridges' parents were informed by officials from the NAACP that she was one of only six African American students to pass the test.Bridgeswould be the only African American student to attend the William Frantz School, near her home, and the first Black child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South.
School Desegregation
Fearing there might be some civil disturbances, the federal district court judge requested the U.S. government send federal marshals to New Orleans to protect the children.On the morning of November 14, 1960, federal marshals droveBridgesand her mother five blocks to her new school. While in the car, one of the men explained that when they arrived at the school, two marshals would walk in front ofBridgesand two would be behind her.
When Bridgesand the federal marshals arrived at the school, large crowds of people were gathered in front yelling and throwing objects. There were barricades set up, and policemen were everywhere.
Bridges, in her innocence, first believed it was like a Mardi Gras celebration. When she entered the school under the protection of the federal marshals, she was immediately escorted to the principal's office and spent the entire day there.
Ostracized at Elementary School
Only one teacher, Barbara Henry, agreed to teachBridges. She was from Boston and a new teacher to the school. "Mrs. Henry," asBridgeswould call her even as an adult, greeted her with open arms.
Bridgeswas the only student in Henry's class because parents pulled or threatened to pull their children fromBridges'class and send them to other schools.
Bridges' first few weeks at Frantz School were not easy ones. Several times she was confronted with blatant racism in full view of her federal escorts.On her second day of school, a woman threatened to poison her. After this, the federal marshals allowed her to only eat food from home. On another day, she was "greeted" by a woman displaying a Black doll in a wooden coffin.
When she had to go to the restroom, the federal marshals walked her down the hall.
Several years later, federal marshal Charles Burks, one of her escorts, commented with some pride thatBridgesshowed a lot of courage. She never cried or whimpered, Burks said, "She just marched along like a little soldier."
Effect on the Bridges Family
Ruby’s father lost his job at the filling station, and her grandparents were sent off the land they had sharecropped for over 25 years. The grocery store where the family shopped banned them from entering.
Gradually, many families began to send their children back to the school and the protests and civil disturbances seemed to subside as the year went on.
Norman Rockwell Painting
In 1963, painterNorman Rockwellrecreated Bridges' monumental first day at school in the painting, “The Problem We All Live With.” The image of this small Black girl being escorted to school by four large white men graced the cover ofLookmagazine on January 14, 1964.
Ruby Bridges Foundation
In 1999, Bridges formed the Ruby Bridges Foundation, headquartered in New Orleans. Bridgeslaunched her foundation to promote the values of tolerance, respect and appreciation of differences. Through education and inspiration, the foundation seeks to end racism and prejudice. As its motto goes, "Racism is a grown-up disease, and we must stop using our children to spread it."
This column was submitted by Florence Buchanan of the Coalition for Racial Equality, Equity and Diversity (CREED). Each day this month, a profile will be featured in observance of Black History Month.
