Printable Biography of Ruby Bridges

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 Bridges was born in a little cabin around Tylerton, Mississippi; her family was very poor. Her father was Abon and her mother, Lucille, was determined to get their daughter an equal education and take a stand. Due to their strong actions, her father was fired from his job, and her grandparents were forced to leave a farm where they had been sharecroppers for 25 years. On Nov. 14, 1960 in New Orleans Bridges was the focus of the historic day public schools were integrated.

She did not know what it meant and wondered (at the time) why white adults were trying to keep her from an education. Through it all, her parents walked beside her to the school, holding her hand; knowing how this would benefit their children and future children. Although, many consider Bridges a hero, for her the real heroes are her parents. She clearly remembers the white federal marshals, with bands around their arms, escorting her that day from her car and into the building. It was Ruby's first day as a first-grader at William Frantz School. She spent most of the day in the principal's office, when she entered her new classroom, there were no students and she thought that she was early. What had happened was the white parents had taken their children out of school that day.

The pain six-year-old Ruby experienced 37 years ago is still felt as a grown-up. According to Bridges, 37 years ago, fate led her to the job of improving the quality of education for all Black children. Currently, Bridges reaches out to parents and encourages them to take an active part in their children's education.

She tries to make them understand that education has no limitations, she stresses moral responsibility to one another regardless of the color of our skin, social, economic, or political status and all can to ensure a better life for children and us.