Norman Rockwell. (February 1, 2009) |
Six-year-old Ruby smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Her mother had dressed her in a beautifully ironed white dress with matching shoes and socks. She even had a white ribbon in her hair. She was getting ready for her first day in a new school.
With a concerned look on her face, her mother said, "Now I want you to behave yourself today, Ruby, and don't be afraid."
Of course -- what was there to be afraid of?
Her mother and father had disagreed about her going to the new school. But her mother had insisted she go. Tall and solemn men led Ruby and her mother to a car. They all climbed inside and drove to William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. The marshals would escort her to school every day for almost a year. The year was 1960.
When they arrived at the school, they found the street was lined with people shouting and shaking their fists. Ruby didn't think anything of it. She thought it was a lot like Mardi Gras -- there is a lot of racket then too.
Ruby was the only student in Mrs. Henry's class. The first thing she taught Ruby was the alphabet. They played games and did jumping jacks for exercise. She grew to love Mrs. Henry.
Ruby was the first African American child to attend an all-white public school in the South. Some white people protested because they did not believe in mixing the races. They stood on the street, shouted threats and waved signs. Parents took their children out of the school. That's why Ruby was alone in her class.
People outside the school called her bad names and said they would hurt her if they could. President Eisenhower ordered federal marshals to protect her, because the police in New Orleans refused.
Ruby didn't hate the protesters. In fact, she prayed for them every day: "Please, God, try to forgive these people."
She figured that all white people were not alike. After all, Mrs. Henry was nice, and she was white.
Charles Burks, one of the U.S. marshals, said, "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 proud of her."
Later, students started coming back to Frantz Elementary. They acted as if nothing had happened. But something had.
In the words of Ruby's mother:
"Our Ruby taught us all a lot. She became someone who helped change the country. She was a part of history, just like generals and presidents are part of history. They are leaders, and so was Ruby. She led us away from hate, and she led us nearer to knowing each other, the white folks and the black folks."
To learn more, visit www.rubybridges.org/.
Recommended reading:
"The Story of Ruby Bridges," by Robert Coles, and "Through My Eyes," by Ruby Bridges.
February is Black History Month.
With a concerned look on her face, her mother said, "Now I want you to behave yourself today, Ruby, and don't be afraid."
Of course -- what was there to be afraid of?
Her mother and father had disagreed about her going to the new school. But her mother had insisted she go. Tall and solemn men led Ruby and her mother to a car. They all climbed inside and drove to William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. The marshals would escort her to school every day for almost a year. The year was 1960.
When they arrived at the school, they found the street was lined with people shouting and shaking their fists. Ruby didn't think anything of it. She thought it was a lot like Mardi Gras -- there is a lot of racket then too.
Ruby was the only student in Mrs. Henry's class. The first thing she taught Ruby was the alphabet. They played games and did jumping jacks for exercise. She grew to love Mrs. Henry.
Ruby was the first African American child to attend an all-white public school in the South. Some white people protested because they did not believe in mixing the races. They stood on the street, shouted threats and waved signs. Parents took their children out of the school. That's why Ruby was alone in her class.
People outside the school called her bad names and said they would hurt her if they could. President Eisenhower ordered federal marshals to protect her, because the police in New Orleans refused.
Ruby didn't hate the protesters. In fact, she prayed for them every day: "Please, God, try to forgive these people."
She figured that all white people were not alike. After all, Mrs. Henry was nice, and she was white.
Charles Burks, one of the U.S. marshals, said, "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 proud of her."
Later, students started coming back to Frantz Elementary. They acted as if nothing had happened. But something had.
In the words of Ruby's mother:
"Our Ruby taught us all a lot. She became someone who helped change the country. She was a part of history, just like generals and presidents are part of history. They are leaders, and so was Ruby. She led us away from hate, and she led us nearer to knowing each other, the white folks and the black folks."
To learn more, visit www.rubybridges.org/.
Recommended reading:
"The Story of Ruby Bridges," by Robert Coles, and "Through My Eyes," by Ruby Bridges.
February is Black History Month.
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