Essay On Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges was born on September 8, 1954. Ruby Bridges grew up on a farm in Mississippi. Ruby Bridges was born in the same year that the Supreme Court desegregated schools. When she was four years old, her parents moved to New Orleans, hoping for a better life in a big city. In kindergarten, she was one of many African American students chosen to take a test that determined whether or not she would be able to attend a white school. The test was especially difficult, so that it would be hard for students to pass. Bridges’ father didn’t want her to take the test, fearing that there would be trouble if she passed. However, her mother wanted her to pass the test, as she wanted Ruby to get a better education.

In 1960, she was informed by officials from the NAACP(the National Association of Advancement for Colored People) that she was one of six African American students to pass the test. She was going to be the only African American student to attend William Frantz Elementary School, and the first black child to attend an all-white school in the south. The federal district court judge feared that there might be civil

disturbances, so she assigned 4 federal marshals to protect Ruby Bridges.

Gathered at the entrance of the school was a big crowd yelling angrily at Ruby Bridges.

At first, Ruby Bridges thought it was a Mardi Gras celebration. Only one teacher agreed to teach Ruby Bridges, Barbara Henry. Ruby Bridges was the only student in Mrs. Henry’s class, because parents threatened to pull their children out of Ruby’s class and send them to other schools. Despite the angry mob, Ruby walked with her head held high and ignored the threats. The abuse was not only to Ruby Bridges, it happened to her family. Her dad lost his job and the grocery store where they shopped banned them from entering. Despite this, the community started to support Ruby and her family. A neighbor provided her dad with a job and families offered to watch the kids when her parents weren’t home. Gradually, parents began to send their children back to the

school.

After winter break, Ruby began to show signs of stress. She had nightmares and would wake her parents up in the middle of the night. Soon, she started seeing a child psychologist, Dr. Robert Coles. He was very concerned about how much stress it could cause when she was the first black child to attend an all white school. During the first year, Ruby was not that aware of the racism that was pointed towards her. It was in the second year, when a white child rejected her friendship because of her race, that she finally identified the racism.

Despite the racism, she grew up and founded the Ruby Bridges Foundation. The Ruby Bridges Foundation had a vision to to give kids an equal opportunity to succeed. She goes from school to school to promote cultural understanding through community service, so racism can hopefully be eliminated. Ruby Bridges is an inspiring role model for everyone, no matter what their race. With a simple act of courage, she opened the minds of millions of people. She has taught us through her story that you shouldn’t give up on anything, and persist, despite others’ opinions.