A Child Walks to School. This is Beauty. This is Grace. This is Courage.
Last edited Mon Sep 9, 2013, 01:04 AM - Edit history (1)
Happy Birthday! Ruby Bridges is 59 today.
Born on September 8, 1954, in Tylertown, Mississippi, Ruby Bridges was 6 when she became the first African-American child to integrate a white Southern elementary school, having to be escorted to class by her mother and U.S. marshals due to violent mobs. Bridges’ bravery paved the way for continued Civil Rights action and she’s shared her story with future generations in educational forums.
When Ruby and the federal marshals arrived at the school, large crowds of people were gathered in front yelling and throwing objects. There were barricades set up, and policemen were everywhere. Ruby, in her innocence,first believed it was like a Mardi Gras celebration. When she entered the school under the protection of the federal marshals, she was immediately escorted to the principal's office and spent the entire day there. The chaos outside, and the fact that nearly all the white parents at the school had kept their children home, meant classes weren't going to be held.
Ostracized at School
On her second day, the circumstances were much the same as the first, and for a while it looked like Ruby Bridges wouldn't be able to attend class. Only one teacher, Barbara Henry, agreed to teach Ruby. She was from Boston and a new teacher to the school. "Mrs. Henry," as Ruby would call her even as an adult, greeted her with open arms. Ruby was the only student in Henry's class, because parents pulled or threatened to pull their children from Ruby's class and send them to other schools. For a full year, Henry and Ruby sat side-by-side at two desks working on Ruby's lessons. She was very loving and supportive of Ruby, helping her not only with her studies, but also the difficult experience of being ostracized.
Ruby Bridges's first few weeks at Frantz School were not easy ones. Several times she was confronted with blatant racism in full view of her federal escorts. On her second day of school, a woman threatened to poison her. After this, the federal marshals allowed her to only eat food from home. On another day, she was "greeted" by a woman displaying a black doll in a wooden coffin. Ruby's mother kept encouraging her to be strong and pray while entering the school, which Ruby discovered reduced the vehemence of the insults yelled at her and gave her courage. She spent her entire day, every day, in Mrs. Henry's classroom, not allowed to go to the cafeteria or out to recess to be with other students in the school. When she had to go to the restroom, the federal marshals walked her down the hall. Several years later, federal marshal Charles Burks, one of her escorts, commented with some pride that Ruby showed a lot of courage. She never cried or whimpered. "She just marched along like a little soldier."
http://www.biography.com/people/ruby-bridges-475426?page=2
What an incredibly amazing child. My heart weeps for what she endured, yet my heart soars for her sweet strength to overcome the hatred and prejudice. Thank you Ruby Bridges.
Edit to add Video
***********************This is Posted in The Barack Obama Group*********************
= new reply since forum marked as read
Thank you, she makes the story beautiful.
I have trouble keeping up with my work schedule.
Thanks for the support~
Wonderful first post 
.
I agree~
A sweet beautiful child. At six she showed more dignity and grace than so many that surround us.
She walked with her head held high. Did she understand what was happening at that time? No, not completely. Yet every child is shaped by what surrounds them. They feel the pain, they feel hate, they understand rejection. They understand. That will shape their future.
Ruby Bridges made a choice, she chose to overcome the hate.
She is now chair of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which she formed in 1999 to promote "the values of tolerance, respect, and appreciation of all differences". Describing the mission of the group, she says, "racism is a grown-up disease and we must stop using our children to spread it."[
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Bridges
From the Ruby Bridges Foundation.
Vision
A Child of Courage, a Woman of Determination
On November 14, 1960, surrounded by armed US marshals, six-year-old Ruby Bridges integrated William Frantz Elementary in New Orleans. Many already know Ruby and her story. Norman Rockwell’s painting, “The Problem We All Live With” remains a quintessential image of the Civil Rights Movement. John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley: In Search of America also includes a description of Ruby walking past angry mobs to enter school. Robert Coles penned a 1995 book, The Story of Ruby Bridges, and soon after Walt Disney Home Entertainment produced a television movie based on her life. The movie received the honor of being screened in the White House, and on January 8, 2001 President Bill Clinton presented Ruby Bridges Hall with the Presidential Citizens Medal. In 1999, Ruby published her own award-winning memoir, Through My Eyes.
In addition, a public school in Alameda, California honored Ruby by naming Ruby Bridges Elementary School after her. The school opened on October 27, 2006.
Ruby's likeness is part of the "Remember Them" monument
One of the world’s largest children’s museums, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, has focused on the importance of Ruby Bridge’s story and created a permanent exhibition entitled “The Power of Children,” which has become an icon of the museum. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the lives of three children who faced profound trials and emerged as heroes of the 20th century—Ruby Bridges, Anne Frank, and Ryan White. All three of these children’s stories exemplify Ruby’s belief that every individual can make a difference.
Thank you freshwest. I thank you for what you said.
Thanks Irish~
about not liking one another.. it is passed onto us when we come into this world."
"Never look at another person and judge them by the color of their skin".
Happy Birthday belated birthday wishes to Ruby Bridge and a heartfelt thank you for all your inate wisdom as a child, the strength to endure the ignoance of those who hate solely on the color of other people's skin, and your continuing example of grace, courage and strength for humanity.
Mahalo, she, for a beautiful OP on Ruby Bridge~
Thanks grant.
Excuse more than acceptable.
I am too exhausted after work most of the time to do more than rec a thread. Looking at the clock now, yikes! I have to get up in 5 hours.
I will look up, Rev. Ed King.
Great MLK quote BTW~
