On November 14, 1960, at the age of six, Ruby Bridges changed history and became the first African American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South.
Ruby Nell Bridges was born in Tylertown, Mississippi, on September 8, 1954, the daughter of sharecroppers. Seeking a better life in a big city, her parents moved the family to New Orleans when Ruby was four years old.
In 1954, in a landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional. The fact that Ruby was born the same year of the decision to desegregate schools is notable in her journey as a civil rights activist.
When Ruby was in kindergarten, her parents allowed her to test to see if she qualified to integrate New Orleans public schools, even though her father was hesitant. Ruby was one of six Black children to pass the test. Two of the six students decided to remain in their current school. Three of them transferred to McDonogh No. 19 Elementary. And Ruby was sent to William Frantz Elementary School.
On the first day in her new school, Ruby and her mother arrived with four U.S. marshals for protection. Ruby saw a massive crowd of people shouting, throwing things, and carrying signs as she approached the school. Ruby thought it was Mardi Gras.
As soon as Ruby entered William Frantz Elementary, White families took their children out of the school. On the second day, a White girl broke the boycott and entered the school. After a few days, other White parents began bringing their children back to school, and the protests subsided. However, only one teacher, Barbara Henry, was willing to teach Ruby. For the remainder of the school year, Ruby was in a classroom by herself with Mrs. Henry. Ruby was tormented routinely on her way to school. One woman threatened to poison her, and another showed up with a Black doll in a wooden coffin. The federal marshals had to escort her to the restroom to keep her safe. One of the marshals assigned to Ruby, Charles Burks, proudly said later that she showed a lot of courage. "She never cried or whimpered," Burks said, "She just marched along like a little soldier."
The effects of Ruby's bravery took a toll on the Bridges family. Her father lost his job at the gas station, the grocery store where they shopped banned them from returning, and the farm owners sent Ruby's grandparents from the farm they had sharecropped for over 25 years.
In 1963, Norman Rockwell depicted Ruby's courageous first day of school in a painting called "The Problem We All Live With." It shows a Black girl walking to school escorted by four White men. The image graced the cover of the January 14, 1964 Look magazine.
Ruby still lives in New Orleans. In 1999, she started the Ruby Bridges Foundation to promote the "values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences." The foundation seeks to end racism through education and inspiration. As Ruby said, "Racism is a grown-up disease, and we must stop using our children to spread it."
To learn more about Ruby Bridges, read the book, Through My Eyes, by Ruby Bridges.
FAQs
On November 14, 1960, at the age of six, Ruby Bridges changed history and became the first African American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South. Ruby Nell Bridges was born in Tylertown, Mississippi, on September 8, 1954, the daughter of sharecroppers.
Did Ruby Bridges integrate schools? ›
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 was the first school to integrate black students? ›
Some schools in the United States were integrated before the mid-20th century, the first ever being Lowell High School in Massachusetts, which has accepted students of all races since its founding. The earliest known African American student, Caroline Van Vronker, attended the school in 1843.
Who was the 1st African American to integrate the all white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans LA? ›
On November 14, 1960, four federal marshals escorted six-year-old Ruby Bridges to her first day of first grade as the first Black student to attend previously all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana.
What were the facts about Ruby Bridges as a child? ›
Ruby's parents and grandparents were sharecroppers in Mississippi before her family moved to New Orleans in search of better opportunity. In New Orleans, Ruby shared a bedroom with her younger sister and two younger brothers. Ruby enjoyed playing jump rope, softball and climbing trees when she was a child.
How old was Ruby Bridges when she went to the segregated school? ›
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. Ruby was born on September 8, 1954 to Abon and Lucille Bridges in Tylertown, Mississippi.
What did Ruby Bridges do on her first day of school? ›
On November 14, 1960, her first day, she was escorted to school by four federal marshals. Bridges spent the entire day in the principal's office as irate parents marched into the school to remove their children. On Bridges's second day, Barbara Henry, a young teacher from Boston, began to teach her.
Who was the first black child in a white school? ›
Ruby Bridges - First Black Child to Integrate an All-White Elementary School in the South. On November 14, 1960, at the age of six, Ruby Bridges changed history and became the first African American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South.
What was school like after Ruby's first year of integration? ›
After the first grade, things became more normal for Ruby. She walked to school without the Federal Marshals and attended a full classroom that had both white and black students. She missed Mrs. Henry, but eventually got used to her new classroom and teacher.
Who was the first black person to attend a white college? ›
In 1799, Washington and Lee University admitted John Chavis who is noted as the first African American on record to attend college. However, the first African American to have earned a bachelor's degree from an American university, Alexander Lucius Twilight, graduated from Middlebury College in 1823.
Ruby Bridges helped reform education to where it is now. No more white schools or African-American schools, just one school of all the future generations together as one. Later in life Ruby Bridges created a foundation called the Ruby Bridges Foundation.
Who were the nine African American students that attended an all white school? ›
The "Little Rock Nine," as the nine teens came to be known, were to be the first African American students to enter Little Rock's Central High School. Three years earlier, following the Supreme Court ruling, the Little Rock school board pledged to voluntarily desegregate its schools.
Is the Ruby Bridges Foundation still in business? ›
Her foundation is still running today, and she now travels with her teacher from elementary school, Mrs. Henry, to talk about her story and ways to eliminate racism.
How were Ruby Bridges treated? ›
Ruby faced blatant racism every day while entering the school. Many parents kept their children at home. People outside the school threw objects, police set up barricades. She was threatened and even “greeted" by a woman displaying a black doll in a wooden coffin.
What happened to Ruby Bridges' son? ›
Bridges son Craig Hall was killed in a street shooting in New Orleans in 2005. The crime remains unsolved.
What is Ruby Bridges' famous quote? ›
One famous quote by Ruby Bridges was from a speech given at the dedication of her new Ruby Bridges Foundation ceremony. She said, "Racism is a grownup disease. Let's stop using kids to spread it."
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.
What type of education did Ruby Bridges receive? ›
After grade school, Ruby graduated from Francis T. Nicholls High School in New Orleans. She then went on to study at the Kansas City Business school majoring in travel and tourism. In 1995, a book about her experience at William Frantz titled The Story of Ruby Bridges was published.
Who accompanied Ruby Bridges to school? ›
Six-year-old Ruby Bridges walked into her elementary school on #ThisDayInHistory in 1960 accompanied by federal marshals and taunted by angry crowds. Ruby instantly became a symbol of the civil rights movement, an icon for the cause of racial equality.
