09/09/2025
Happy Birthday to the Fearless Heroine, Ruby Bridges!
REMINDER: When Ruby Bridges desegregated her school, she was just 6 years old. She’s now 71, showing how people who lived through that pivotal moment are still with us today.
Ruby Nell Bridges was born on September 8, 1954, in Tylertown, MS, to sharecropper parents. When she was four, her family moved to New Orleans seeking better opportunities. In 1960, at just 6 years old, Ruby became a pivotal figure in the American civil rights movement when she became the first African American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South.
On November 14, 1960, Ruby, escorted by federal marshals, bravely walked through angry crowds of protesters to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans. Her image, a small girl in her white dress, walking with quiet dignity past screaming adults, became an iconic symbol of courage and determination. For months, she attended classes alone, as white parents withdrew their children and teachers refused to teach her.
Despite facing daily harassment and threats, Ruby persevered with remarkable resilience. Her teacher, Barbara Henry, was one of the few who welcomed her, and child psychiatrist Dr. Robert Coles helped her cope with the psychological pressure. Ruby’s bravery helped pave the way for school desegregation across the nation.
Today, Ruby as an activist, author, and speaker, continues to champion education and civil rights. She founded the Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999 to promote tolerance and unity. Her childhood courage transformed her life and helped shape American history, demonstrating that even the youngest voices can spark significant social change.
