The Problem We All Live With

November 14, 2016 11:59 AM

56 years ago today, 6 year old Ruby Bridges walked up the steps of the William Frantz Elementary School and into history, on the first day of integrated schools in New Orleans.

Alone at first (virtually all 9th ward parents removed their children from the school) and guarded daily by Federal Marshals, Bridges was soon joined - after a fashion - by two white students, who were educated in a classroom separate from hers. Three other 1st grade students, Leona Tate, Tessie Prevost, and Gail Etienne, attended the formerly all-white McDonogh Elementary School in another part of the city.

As an adult, Bridges-Hall began to volunteer at William Frantz, and was reunited with her former teacher, Barbara Henry, following the publicaton of a book about her contribution to Civil Rights. Today, young girls tell her story, and Bridges-Hall has been a passionate voice for the restoration of the 9th ward (including her school) following Hurricane Katrina.

Eleanor Roosevelt's My Day column for November 14, 1960.

Ruby Bridges Wikipedia

Previously on Metafilter

posted by anastasiav (6 comments total)

I want to add, on a more personal note, that the unsung heroes of this story are Ruby's parents -- her father, Abon Bridges, and her mother, Lucille Bridges. Their bravery and love for their child set an example that I am not sure many parents could match. It is one thing to put your own body and life on the line, but quite another to volunteer to send your child into the maelstrom.
posted by anastasiav at 12:05 PM on November 14, 2016 [13 favorites]

I just bought the book mentioned above for my nearly 6 year old last night! With the recent election I've been thinking about ways to talk to her about what is going on and how we should treat other people.

Her Kindergarten teacher has her sitting next to a kid from Iraq who is an English language learner. She was selected for that spot because she's a good student and pretty helpful, but she definitely struggles with communication issues with her neighbor.

Out of all of the kids in the school she should understand what it's like to attend school in something other than her first language. She went to preschool briefly in Japan and was the only non-Japanese kid in her entire school. But more than 6 months have passed and her 5 year old brain is not capable processing that experience in a way that would influence how she sees things right now. We're going to read some books and talk about stuff over the upcoming Thanksgiving break.
posted by Alison at 12:41 PM on November 14, 2016 [10 favorites]

I just can't even. What a brave child. I found school hard enough and I had absolutely nothing to complain about in comparison.
posted by kitten magic at 4:41 PM on November 14, 2016

Oh thank you so much for this. It feels so good to be reminded of goodness and decency and hope and change. As a middle class white woman who will be able to put my shoulder to the foul wind and weather this atrocity of an administration I know I'm privileged and I am also so very hungry for inspiration. What can we do to help? How can we make it through together? I'm so scared for all of us, so much so for those more vulnerable than me, and narratives of bravery and decency and love and forward momentum are so important. Thank you for your lovely post. Really, thank you so much for telling the story of how humans can do better.
posted by eggkeeper at 9:49 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

The children's museum in Indianapolis includes her in a permanent exhibit along with Anne Frank and Ryan White.
posted by brujita at 9:57 PM on November 14, 2016 [1 favorite]

It's really moving hearing Ruby talk about her old teacher like that. You can hear the gratitude and love in her voice.

What inner strength that 6-year-old must've had. Going through that horror just to go to school. It's something to aspire to.
posted by gkhan at 8:48 AM on November 15, 2016 [2 favorites]