This is a diary I wrote OTD in 2019. But I am re-posting most of it again today, as we need a source of inspiration in these trying times.
Sixty four years ago on this day in 1960, 6-year old Ruby Bridges walked into the William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, escorted by four federal marshals and made history by becoming the first African-American child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South.
Here is some background info, mostly lifted from en.wikipedia.org/… with some minor editorial changes —
Ruby Nell Bridges Hall was born on September 8, 1954 in Tylertown, Mississippi.
A few months before her birth, the Brown v. Board of Education court ruling declared the process of separating schools for black children and white children unconstitutional. Most southern states were extremely resistant to the decision and took no steps to integrate schools. Most white parents supported segregated schools.
In early 1960, Bridges was one of six black children in New Orleans to pass the (intentionally challenging) test that determined whether blacks could go to all-white schools. Two of the six decided to stay at their old school, Bridges went to Frantz, and three children were transferred to McDonogh No. 19 and became known as the McDonogh Three.
Bridges and her mother were escorted to school by four federal marshals during the first day that Bridges attended William Frantz Elementary. In the following days of that year, federal marshals continue to escort Bridges, though her mom stayed behind to take care of her younger siblings.
As soon as Bridges entered the school, white parents pulled their own children out; all the teachers except for one refused to teach while a black child was enrolled. Only one person agreed to teach Bridges and that was Barbara Henry, from Boston, Massachusetts, and for over a year Henry taught her alone, "as if she were teaching a whole class."
There were protests, boycotts, threats and chaos at the school. After a few days, white parents began bringing their children to school. Bridges remained the only child in her class, as she would until the following year.
Every morning, as Bridges walked to school, one woman would threaten to poison her, while another held up a black baby doll in a coffin; because of this, the U.S. Marshals allowed Bridges to eat only the food that she brought from home.
John Steinbeck in Travels With Charley, wrote about the scene at the school - “No newspaper had printed the words these women shouted. It was indicated that they were indelicate, some even said obscene, On television the soundtrack was made to blur or had crowd noises cut in to cover. But, I heard the words, bestial and filthy and degenerate. In a long and unprotected life I have seen and heard the vomitings of demoniac humans before. Why then did these screams fill me with a shocked and sickened sorrow?” Check out the gut-wrenching description of the despicable scene by John Steinbeck at books.google.com/...
Former United States Deputy Marshal Charles Burks later recalled, "She showed a lot of courage. She never cried. She didn't whimper. She just marched along like a little soldier, and we're all very very proud of her.”
Ruby Bridges Hall
Bridges, now Ruby Bridges Hall, still lives in New Orleans with her husband, Malcolm Hall, and their four sons. After graduating from a desegregated high school, she worked as a travel agent for 15 years and later became a full-time parent.
Ruby has been a civil rights activist and she is chair of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which she formed in 1999 to promote "the values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all difference.
A statue honoring Ruby Bridges was unveiled on Nov 14, 2014 at the William Frantz Elementary School. Check out the story. Barbara Henry was present too.
The Problem We All Live With
Norman Rockwell made this iconic painting in 1964 titled The Problem We All Live With, depicting Ruby on her way to school. The painting is framed such that the marshals' heads are cropped at the shoulders. On the wall behind her is written the racial slur "nigger" and the letters "KKK"; a smashed and splattered tomato thrown against the wall is also visible. The white protesters are not visible, as the viewer is looking at the scene from their point of view.
It is a terrifying image, yet one that depicts young black Ruby as a pillar of strength, poised, unafraid, unperturbed, books and ruler in hand, walking into the future. A sight that must have been terrifying for many of the white observers at the time.
Ruby Bridges visited the White House on July 15, 2011 to see the painting that was on display outside the Oval Office in summer that year. President Obama told her, "I think it's fair to say that if it wasn't for you guys, I wouldn't be here today.”
Ruby Bridges at the Obama White House. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Here is a video of the visit -
Here are some documentaries about Ruby Bridges and that fateful day. Watch some of the scenes in the first video and feel the pain — this sh*t is still present in today’s America; we have neo-Nazis setting policies in the WH.
Ruby Bridges talks about history and civil rights.
Barbara Henry, the brave and enlightened teacher, is herself a civil rights activist. In her essay at www.judynewmanatscholastic.com/…, she wrote -
Oh, the treasured, cherished memories of our loving year together. How easy it was, the magic: two strangers with hearts free of prejudice became as one. We had only each other and we, in truth, needed no other. As much as I was there for her, she was there for me.
I still consider our first moments each day as something sacred; Ruby, after making her way through cruel shouts, would enter the room as if a guardian angel had just placed her down—and then, in her beautiful outfit, she’d come to greet me as her gentle smile broke and her gorgeous eyes looked up with a sense of wonder for whatever adventure would be ours that day. Of all the truly wondrous happenings of our successful year, the above are forever memories!
Only the blossoming of Ruby’s innate gifts and academic ability allowed for our parting to be less sad. She had achieved all that was asked of her—a moral, political, and social victory could be claimed, and Ruby owned her academic achievement.
Our love story lived on, each never forgetting the other and expecting we would one day meet again. Secured through the decades was the now-well-recognized photo of us at the blackboard. But she was always present in my heart and in my mind’s eye.
When the two met at the Oprah Winfrey show -
Epilogue
Why do we need a diary on Ruby Bridges? Do we need one every year? Why do we need to watch the pain and hurt again? We are familiar with the event and the history — it is 64 years old, why does it matter?
I think it matters. It matters to all who seek justice and all who strive to make a better world. It is important to remember stories of people that brought change. It is important to remember history’s brave figures that fought the dark forces of their times so that we may lead a better life today. It is important to learn history’s lessons, again and again, lest we forget them. It is important to learn and draw inspiration from them for our own endeavors in making the world a better place for all. It is important to remember the giants on whose shoulders we stand.
It is useful to take some time off our daily struggles with trump and the GOP and draw some energy from the likes of Ruby Bridges. If they could do it in those dark days with such few resources against such overwhelming odds, we can certainly do better. And we will.
Further Reading
- en.wikipedia.org/...
- Travels with Charley, John Steinbeck, books.google.com/…
- Ruby’s Shoes — meetmythamerica.wordpress.com/...
- 'The Problem We All Live With' by Norman Rockwell — www.thoughtco.com/…
- Teaching Ruby Bridges — www.bostonglobe.com/…
- In Her Own Words: Barbara Henry’s Experience — www.judynewmanatscholastic.com/...
- President Obama Meets Civil Rights Icon Ruby Bridges — obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/…
- New Ruby Bridges statue inspires students, community — www.nola.com/...
- Bay Area students participate in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day— www.kron4.com/…
