The Ruby Bridges In The Civil Rights Movement

Ruby Bridges was a woman full of immense bravery and was the first black child to attend an all white elementary school. In the 1960s schools, restrooms, drinking fountains, restaurants and more were segregated. There were different places for different races and if you disobeyed the law it was a punishable offence. First and foremost, “Ruby Bridges will be forever remembered as the tiniest foot soldier in the civil rights movement, chosen at just 6 years old, to be the first black child to attend an all-white elementary school in the Deep South” (Newman 1). Ruby Bridges was one of the very few African American children to be accepted into an all white school. Although there would be lots of hate and discrimination towards her, she took this …show more content…
Many African-American successes would not have reached the point they did without Ruby Bridges. John Pope writes, “It was on display in the White House in 2011, when Bridges met with President Barack Obama, the country's first black president. Speaking of her and other civil rights icons, Obama said ‘I think it’s fair to say that if it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be here today” (1). Ruby Bridges was one of the first children to enroll in a white elementary school and by doing so, the schools in our country were forever changed and people of color could finally get the education they deserved. Therefor many African-Americans would not have been able to accomplish what they have if it were not for Ruby. Inspiring others is an important trait to possess when you're a leader because others will admire and look to you for advice. Furthermore, “In 1999, Bridges, who still lives in New Orleans founded the the Ruby Bridges Foundation to promote ‘the values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences.’ She still continues to inspire.” (1). To this day, Ruby Bridges continues to inspire people through her activism. Bridges always supports others’ differences and strives to help others feel accepted. Because of her experience at William Frantz Elementary, Ruby wanted to help the kids of this generation get a better education and inspire them to …show more content…
Ruby Bridges dedicated herself to make a change for the better of our country even if that meant she had to struggle. As can be seen in, “As soon as Bridges entered the school, white parents pulled their own children out; all the teacher refused to while a black child was enrolled” (2). Even though Bridges enrolling in William Frantz Elementary School caused all the parents to remove their children from school she still continued to attend. Ruby was completely alone in school but that did not stop her because she knew if she did not attempt to make a difference a change would not be made. Though the circumstances were not ideal for Ruby she held out and for that she made a change that will never be forgotten. Bridges also states, “That was the first time I had ever laid eyes on that kind of anger. People were screaming and saying things that a 6-year-old didn’t understand” (Reckdahl 5). Bridges was screamed at, harassed and traumatized all for attending school. People were so terrified of change that they turned their fear into anger and took their anger out on a 6 year old girl who was just trying to go to school. Bridges knew that she had to push through for the greater good. Ruby knew the importance of her attending school so she continued to go even though she was terrified by the angry mobs verbally harassing her each day as she walked into school. It might of seemed like it was