Historical Spotlight: Ruby Bridges

For most Black Americans, it’s historically been a struggle to access equitable and quality education. From being denied the ability to read and write during the days of slavery to the more modern white flight phenomenon of hoarding better resources, it’s always been an uphill battle to enrich the minds of a demographic that’s been unjustly discriminated against. Join me as we shine a Historical Spotlight on Ruby Bridges, the brave young girl who helped desegregate schools in Louisiana. 

Ruby was born on September 8, 1954 to her parents Abon and Lucille Bridges. She was the oldest of her parent’s five children and she took her role as big sister seriously by taking care of her younger siblings. The family moved from her birth hometown of Tylertown, Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana when she was four years old. 

Ruby was born right as the Civil Rights Movement was gaining traction. The pivotal case of Brown v. Board of Education that made integration possible was decided just three and a half months before Ruby was born. Despite the ruling being finalized in 1954, most of the southern states were extremely resistant and refused to enforce the new federal laws. Federal troops had to be called in to protect brave Black Americans like the Little Rock Nine from the racist and volatile mobs that threatened their lives. 

Integration was slow to take root throughout the south and didn’t actually exist until many years later. As a way to supersede the federal ruling, many school districts like the New Orleans Parish School Board administered an entrance exam to keep Black children out of white schools. 

Ruby attended a segregated kindergarten in 1959, but was one of six Black children who passed the entrance exam to attend the all-white William Frantz Elementary School. Two of the six decided to stay at their segregated school, three were transferred to another all-white school named McDonogh No. 19 Elementary School, and Ruby attended William Frantz by herself. Ruby, along with the other three kids sent to all-white schools, were escorted by federal marshals for their safety.

Her dad was initially reluctant to send his six-year-old daughter into the belly of the beast, but her mom was adamant that she needed a better education and to be a symbol of hope for all Black American children. As Ruby approached William Frantz on her first day, she saw a large crowd that was gathered around throwing things and shouting obscenities. Despite her young age, she never cried and remained courageous throughout the whole ordeal. 

Getting past the ravenous mob outside was just the beginning of the discrimination she faced. The second that Ruby stepped foot inside the building, white parents rushed to take their children out. All of the teachers except for one refused to teach while a Black child was enrolled. Barbara Henry from Boston, Massachusetts was Ruby’s only teacher for over a year. 

That very first day was extremely chaotic and not much learning actually happened since Ruby and her mom spent the entire day in the principal’s office. There was such an uproar that she wasn’t even able to go to her classroom until the next day. Over the next few days, the white parents brought their kids back to the school and the protests dissipated. 

Ruby was the only child in her class and received threats constantly. The U.S. Marshals protecting her made sure she only ate the food she brought from home due to fear of poisoning and didn’t allow her to participate in recess in fear of what the other children would try to do. She also met with a child psychiatrist weekly in her home.

Unfortunately, her family suffered for their decision to try and provide their daughter with better opportunities. Her dad lost his job as a gas station attendant, the local grocery store refused their business, her grandparents, who were sharecroppers in Mississippi, lost their land, and her parents ultimately separated. 

While the negative impact was extremely loud, there were some pockets of support spread here and there for the risk that Ruby took. Some white parents kept their kids enrolled despite the protests. A neighbor helped her dad get a new job. Local people babysat, watched their home to prevent any harm from happening, and even walked behind the federal marshals’ as they took Ruby to school. Even the immaculate clothing she wore was donated to her family. 

Ruby went on to graduate from a desegregated high school and remained in the New Orleans area throughout her adulthood. She married her husband, Malcolm Hall, and they had four sons together. She worked as a travel agent for 15 years before becoming a full-time parent. 

As a New Orleans native, she unfortunately lost her home to the catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but she and her family rebuilt and still reside in the area today. Despite being an icon, she values her privacy and balances her activism with her personal life. 

She now serves as chair of the Ruby Bridges Foundation that was formed in 1999 to promote the “values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences.” The overall mission of the foundation has been described by Ruby as “racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it.” 

Her life has been honored over the years through awards, music, TV shows, and movies. Her child psychiatrist even went on to write a children’s book in 1995 called The Story of Ruby Bridges. He donated the proceeds to the Ruby Bridges Foundation to provide money for school supplies or other educational needs for impoverished New Orleans school children. 

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis installed an exhibit called “The Power of Children: Making a Difference” in November 2007, which featured an authentic recreation of Ruby’s first grade classroom. She even got the opportunity to meet with President Barack Obama at the White House on July 15, 2011. She was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Bill Clinton on January 8, 2021 and was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame on March 5, 2024. 

She continues to serve as a shining beacon of hope, resilience, and courage. She risked her life to pave a way for further generations and has continued giving back to build up her community. Ruby is a living icon, legend, and a true inspiration to those who continue to fight for justice, equality, and better conditions. 

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Signed, 

Jessica Marie