Ruby Bridges Facts (2024)

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Facts

Also Known As Ruby Nell Bridges • Ruby Bridges-Hall
Born September 8, 1954 (age 69) • Mississippi
Role In American civil rights movement

Did You Know?

  • After Ruby began attending the all-white elementary school, her father lost his job, her grandparents were evicted, and her mother was refused service at the local grocery stores.
  • Ruby was born the same year that Brown v. Board was decided in favor of desegregation.
  • Ruby attended a desegregated high school.

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Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz

List

Ruby Bridges Facts (2024)

FAQs

What is Ruby Bridges' favorite color? ›

Wear purple! It's Ruby's favorite color. Ask your school to participate.

What is Ruby Bridges' fav food? ›

For dinner, they ate New Orleans or Southern food like red beans and rice. Sometimes, they had fried catfish or shrimp for dinner. Ruby's favorite desserts were banana pudding and sweet potato pie.

What was Ruby Bridges' real name? ›

Ruby Nell Bridges Hall is an American Hero. She was the first African American child to desegregate William Frantz Elementary School. At six years old, Ruby's bravery helped pave the way for Civil Rights action in the American South.

Did Ruby Bridges go to school alone? ›

Bridges says she sees her 6-year-old self enduring a lonely and confusing year in the children's letters. After walking past mobs of protesters, Bridges attended classes alone — and did so for the full year. Some white families permanently withdrew their children from the school because Bridges was a student there.

Is Ruby Bridges black or white? ›

At the tender age of six, Ruby Bridges advanced the cause of civil rights in November 1960 when she became the first African American student to integrate an elementary school in the South.

What is Ruby Bridges' favorite color in 2024? ›

Woodson Book Award for writing about her experience. Despite unfavorable weather forecasts, schools remained steadfast in holding their event with thousands of students marching down the streets waving purple flags–Ruby's favorite color.

Why did Ruby Bridges stop eating? ›

She suffered threats to her life through these months. At one point, Ruby stopped eating the lunches her mother sent with her to school, facing threats by protesters that her food would be poisoned.

Did Ruby Bridges get married? ›

Ruby Bridges got married to Malcolm Hall and had four sons. In 1993, her brother was shot and killed in New Orleans. Ruby's family went to New Orleans to take care of his daughters. In 1999, she wrote a children's book, "Through My Eyes", telling her story and what she went through.

What are fun facts about ruby bridges? ›

Did you know…?
  • In 1999, Ruby wrote a children's book about her experiences, entitled 'Through My Eyes. ...
  • In 2014, a statue of Ruby was erected outside the former William Frantz Elementary School.
  • The singer-songwriter Lori McKenna wrote a song about Ruby called 'Ruby's Shoes.
Oct 1, 2020

Did Ruby Bridges have 4 sons? ›

Answer and Explanation:

Following her marriage to Malcolm Hall, Ruby Bridges had four sons. Her sons are named Sean Hall, Christopher Hall, and Craig Hall, as well as a fourth, publicly unnamed son. Bridges son Craig Hall was killed in a street shooting in New Orleans in 2005.

How old is Ruby Bridges now? ›

Ruby never stopped going to school so as time passed she paved the way for other African American children to attend schools that were desegregated like hers. Today, Ruby Bridges is 68 years old, a mother, and wife, as she remains a lifelong activist for racial equality.

What did Ruby Bridges' dad do? ›

The Bridges family suffered for their decision to send her to William Frantz Elementary: her father lost his job as a gas station attendant; the grocery store the family shopped at would no longer let them shop there; her grandparents, who were sharecroppers in Mississippi, were turned off their land; and Abon and ...

What happened to Ruby Bridges when she was 4? ›

When she was four years old, her family moved to New Orleans. Two years later a test was given to the city's African American schoolchildren to determine which students could enter all-white schools. Bridges passed the test and was selected for enrollment at the city's William Frantz Elementary School.

What did Ruby Bridges pray? ›

When school was over for the day, Ruby hurried through the mob as usual. After she walked a few blocks and the crowd was behind her, Ruby said the prayer she repeated twice a day — before and after school: Please, God, try to forgive those people.

Who inspired the ruby bridge? ›

Answer and Explanation: Malcolm Bridges's, Ruby's younger brother's, death inspired her to establish the Ruby Bridges Foundation. She is currently a promoter of education and helps educate destitute, orphaned, and needy children.

What was Ruby Bridges favorite? ›

Ruby enjoyed playing jump rope, softball and climbing trees when she was a child. When Ruby arrived at the all-white school the crowds of people there to protest her the commotion made her think it was Mardis Gras.

What is Ruby Bridges 4 sons name? ›

Answer and Explanation:

Following her marriage to Malcolm Hall, Ruby Bridges had four sons. Her sons are named Sean Hall, Christopher Hall, and Craig Hall, as well as a fourth, publicly unnamed son. Bridges son Craig Hall was killed in a street shooting in New Orleans in 2005.

What is a fun fact about Ruby Bridges? ›

Interesting Facts about Ruby Bridges

After graduating from high school, Ruby worked as a travel agent for fifteen years. She married Malcolm Hall and had four sons. In 2014, a statue of Ruby was unveiled outside the William Frantz School. Ruby was later reunited as an adult with her former teacher Mrs.

What did Ruby Bridges like to do as a child? ›

Early life

Bridges was the eldest of five children born to Abon and Lucille Bridges. As a child, she spent much time taking care of her younger siblings, though she also enjoyed playing jump rope and softball and climbing trees.

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