Ruby Bridges
- field
- Civil rights activism
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- First African American child to integrate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans
Lore & Background
As a child, she spent much time taking care of her younger siblings, though she also enjoyed playing jump rope and softball and climbing trees. All four 6-year-old girls were escorted to school by federal marshals during the first day they attended the two schools. 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.
Reader's Guide
Board of Education decision. Her legacy continues to be invoked in discussions of racial equality and education.
Did You Know?
- She was one of six black children in New Orleans to pass the entrance exam for all-white schools; she went to Frantz by herself.
- For over a year, teacher Barbara Henry taught Bridges alone, as if teaching a whole class, because all other teachers refused to teach a black child.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on November 14, 1960?
On that date, six-year-old Ruby walked through a hostile crowd into William Frantz Elementary School, becoming the first African American student to attend the formerly segregated facility. Federal marshals escorted her through the jeering crowd to protect her safety.
Why is Ruby Bridges considered important in civil rights history?
Her act of entering a whites-only school at just six years old became a defining moment in the struggle against racial segregation in American education. The event symbolized the broader fight for equal access to public schools across the South.
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