Civil Rights Activists: Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges speaking at Algiers Point temporary branch library in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo by: Infrogmation of

New Orleans.

Synposis: For many years, black and white children did not go to school together. This

happened mainly in the southern parts of the U.S. Ruby Bridges was the first African-

American child to go to a white school in the South. She was 6 years old. Her courage

helped the fight for equal rights for all students.

Early Life

Ruby Nell Bridges was born on September 8, 1954, in Mississippi. She grew up on the

farm where her parents and grandparents worked. Her parents moved to New Orleans

when she was 4 years old.

The year she started school, Bridges was chosen to take a test. If she did well she would

be allowed to go to a white school. Bridges lived only five blocks from an all-white school.

But she went to an all-black school several miles away.

Her father thought there would be trouble if Bridges went to an all-white school. But her

mother wanted her to take the test. She talked to her father, and he finally agreed.

By Biography.com Editors and A+E Networks, adapted by Newsela staff on 08.17.16

Word Count 647

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A Dangerous First Day

Only six African-American students passed the test, and Bridges was one of them. She

would be the first black child to go to an all-white school in the South.

On November 14, 1960, officers drove Bridges and her mother five blocks to her new

school, called William Frantz School. Large crowds of people met them in front. They were

yelling and throwing objects. Policemen stood guard everywhere. Bridges entered the

school with the officers. They took her to the school office, and she spent the entire day

there. Classes were not held that day. Nearly all the white parents at the school had kept

their children home.

Trouble At School And Home

Only one teacher agreed to teach Bridges. Her name was Barbara Henry. She greeted

Bridges with open arms. Bridges was the only student in Henry's class. Parents had said

they would pull their children from her class and send them to other schools. For a full year,

Henry and Bridges sat side by side at two desks and worked on Bridges' lessons.

Henry was very loving and supportive. But Bridges' first weeks at the school were not easy.

People threatened her and said racist things. She was not allowed to go to the lunchroom

or out to the playground to be with other students in the school. When she had to go to the

restroom the officers walked her down the hall.

Bridges' family suffered, too. Her father lost his job at the filling station. Her grandparents

were sent off the land where they had worked for over 25 years. But, slowly, families began

to send their children back to the school, and the protests soon stopped.

Overcoming Problems

Near the end of the first year, things began to settle down. A few white children in Bridges'

grade returned to the school. By Bridges' second year at William Frantz School it seemed

everything had changed. There were no more officers. Bridges walked to school every day

by herself. There were other students in her second grade class, and the school began to

fill with students again. No one talked about the past year. Everyone wanted to put the

experience behind them.

Bridges finished grade school. She then graduated from Francis T. Nicholls High School in

New Orleans. Later, she worked for American Express. In 1984, Bridges married Malcolm

Hall. She had four sons.

Recent Work

In 1993, Bridges' brother Malcolm died. She looked after his children. They, too, attended

William Frantz School. She began to work at the school three days a week.

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In 1999, Bridges formed a group in New Orleans. It is called the Ruby Bridges Foundation.

This group works to end racism and discrimination through learning.

In 2001, Bridges was awarded the Presidential Citizen's Award by President Bill Clinton for

her courage and commitment to equal educational rights.

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Quiz

1 Select the sentence from the section "A Dangerous First Day" that BEST shows why Ruby

needed policemen to guard her.

(A) She would be the first black child to go to an all-white school in the South.

(B) Large crowds of people met them in front.

(C) They were yelling and throwing objects.

(D) Nearly all the white parents at the school had kept their children home.

2 Read this paragraph from the section "Trouble At School And Home."

Bridges' family suffered, too. Her father lost his job at the filling station.

Her grandparents were sent off the land where they had worked for

over 25 years. But, slowly, families began to send their children back

to the school, and the protests soon stopped.

What idea is BEST supported by this paragraph?

(A) Bridges' family wanted to move and find new jobs to avoid problems at the

school.

(B) Bridges' family was treated very badly because Ruby went to an all-white

school.

(C) The white families soon got used to having a black student at school and

welcomed Ruby.

(D) The white families did not realize that Bridges' family was having a difficult

time.

3 Based on the section "Trouble At School And Home," which of the following statements would

Barbara Henry agree with?

(A) Students learn best in small classes with only a few students.

(B) Having students of different races at the same school is dangerous.

(C) Children of all races should be careful in school.

(D) All children should be able to learn at any school.

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4 How did Ruby Bridges become involved with her old elementary school again as an adult?

(A) Her youngest brother died and she took care of his children.

(B) She moved back to New Orleans to start a foundation.

(C) She created a group that is focused on education.

(D) Her four sons began to attend her old school.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 5