Ruby Bridges

Who Is Ruby Bridges?

Ruby Bridges was just six years old when she became a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement, as the first African American child to integrate a white Southern elementary school. On November 14, 1960, escorted by U.S. marshals and her mother, she walked through hostile crowds to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. This courageous act marked a significant moment in the fight against racial segregation in America. Today, Ruby Bridges continues to share her story, educating future generations about the importance of equality and resilience.

Early Life

Ruby Nell Bridges was born on September 8, 1954, in Tylertown, Mississippi, where her family worked as sharecroppers. At the age of four, her parents, Abon and Lucille Bridges, moved the family to New Orleans in search of better opportunities. Abon found work as a gas station attendant, while Lucille took on night jobs to support their growing family, which included Ruby and her three younger siblings. Despite the challenges they faced, the Bridges family remained hopeful for a better future in the bustling city.

Education and Early Life

Ruby Bridges’ birth coincided with a pivotal moment in American civil rights history—the same year the Supreme Court issued its landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, which ruled school segregation unconstitutional. This historical connection foreshadowed her own significant role in the desegregation movement.

In kindergarten, Bridges was one of many African American students in New Orleans selected to take a test designed to determine whether they could attend a white school. The test was reportedly crafted to be exceptionally difficult, with the intention of making it harder for Black students to pass, thereby prolonging school segregation in the city. Despite living just five blocks from an all-white school, Bridges had to attend a segregated Black school miles away.

While her father was initially against her taking the test, fearing the trouble integration might bring, her mother, Lucille, was determined to secure better educational opportunities for her daughter. She eventually convinced her husband, and Bridges took the test. In 1960, the NAACP informed her family that Ruby was one of only six African American students in New Orleans to pass. Ruby Bridges would go on to make history as the first Black child to attend William Frantz Elementary School, an all-white institution, and the first Black child to integrate an elementary school in the South.

School Desegregation and the First Day

Although school was scheduled to begin in September, legal maneuvers by the Louisiana State Legislature delayed the integration process. By November, the courts had exhausted all delay tactics, and desegregation was set to proceed.

Fearing potential violence, a federal judge requested that the U.S. government provide protection for the children involved. On November 14, 1960, federal marshals escorted Bridges and her mother the short distance to her new school. One of the marshals explained that two agents would walk ahead of Ruby and two would walk behind, ensuring her safety.

When Bridges arrived at the school, a hostile crowd was waiting. Protesters hurled objects and insults, while barricades and police officers lined the streets. Unfazed by the hostility, Bridges, in her youthful innocence, initially thought the scene resembled a Mardi Gras celebration.

Despite the federal marshals’ protection, the tension outside led to a chaotic day. Many white parents kept their children at home in protest, and classes were canceled. Bridges spent the entire day in the principal’s office, marking the beginning of her brave journey into the history of civil rights.

Ostracized at Elementary School

On her second day at William Frantz Elementary School, Ruby Bridges faced the same difficult circumstances as her first. It appeared she wouldn’t be able to attend class, as only one teacher, Barbara Henry, agreed to teach her. Henry, a new teacher from Boston, welcomed Bridges with open arms. Referred to as “Mrs. Henry” even in adulthood, Bridges was the sole student in her class, as other parents withdrew their children in protest of integration.

For an entire year, Henry and Bridges sat side by side, with Henry not only teaching academic lessons but also offering emotional support through the difficult experience of ostracism. Bridges was not allowed to interact with other students; her days were spent in isolation, eating lunch alone in the classroom and escorted by federal marshals even to the restroom.

Bridges faced blatant racism, even in the presence of her federal escorts. On her second day, a woman threatened to poison her, which led the marshals to permit her to only eat food from home. On another occasion, a protestor greeted her with a Black doll in a coffin. Through it all, her mother encouraged her to remain strong and pray, which helped her endure the taunts and insults.

One of the federal marshals, Charles Burks, later expressed his admiration for Bridges, remarking on her bravery. He recalled how she “marched along like a little soldier” without crying or showing fear.

Effect on the Bridges Family

The harassment extended beyond Ruby; her family suffered as well. Her father lost his job, and her grandparents were forced off the land they had sharecropped for over 25 years. The grocery store they frequented banned them. Despite these hardships, members of the community—both Black and white—offered support. A neighbor provided Bridges’ father with a new job, others volunteered to babysit her siblings, and some walked alongside the federal marshals to ensure Ruby’s safety on her way to school.

Signs of Stress

The toll of this ordeal began to show after winter break when Bridges exhibited signs of stress. She had nightmares, sought comfort from her mother at night, and stopped eating her lunch. She would hide her uneaten sandwiches, later discovered by a janitor, attracting rodents. In response, Mrs. Henry began eating lunch with Bridges to provide companionship.

To help Bridges cope, child psychologist Dr. Robert Coles volunteered to provide her with weekly counseling. Coles allowed her to express her feelings and concerns and later wrote articles and books on the psychological effects of such experiences on children, including a children’s book on Ruby’s story.

Overcoming Obstacles

By the end of the school year, the situation had improved. A few white children returned to school, and Ruby had limited interactions with them. While she wasn’t fully aware of the racial tensions at the time, an incident where a child rejected her friendship because of her race gave her a glimpse into the reality of the situation.

By her second year at Frantz School, the hostility had diminished. Mrs. Henry’s contract was not renewed, so she left, and federal marshals no longer escorted Ruby. The school resumed normal enrollment, and no one spoke of the past year’s events. Ruby went on to finish her education at the integrated Francis T. Nicholls High School in New Orleans and later pursued studies in travel and tourism.

Husband and Children

In 1984, Ruby Bridges married Malcolm Hall in New Orleans, and together they raised four sons.

Norman Rockwell Painting

Ruby’s courageous journey was immortalized by artist Norman Rockwell in his 1963 painting “The Problem We All Live With.” Depicting Bridges being escorted by federal marshals, the painting graced the cover of Look magazine in 1964. In 2011, the Norman Rockwell Museum loaned the artwork to the White House at the request of President Barack Obama, where it was displayed for four months in the West Wing.

Book and Movie

Bridges’ story reached even more audiences through various media. In 1995, Dr. Robert Coles published The Story of Ruby Bridges, a children’s book recounting her experience. Around the same time, she reconnected with Barbara Henry on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Disney also produced a TV movie in 1998 titled Ruby Bridges, chronicling her integration experience.

Ruby Bridges Foundation

In 1999, Ruby Bridges founded the Ruby Bridges Foundation, inspired by the tragic death of her youngest brother, Malcolm, in a drug-related incident. She began volunteering at William Frantz Elementary School, where she became a parent-community liaison, recognizing the importance of active parental involvement in education.

The foundation was established to promote values of tolerance, respect, and diversity, working toward ending racism through education. Its motto, “Racism is a grown-up disease, and we must stop using our children to spread it,” encapsulates its mission to foster a more inclusive society.

In 2007, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis unveiled an exhibit showcasing Bridges’ life, alongside exhibits on Anne Frank and Ryan White, further highlighting her enduring legacy in the fight for civil rights.