From the archives: Ruby Bridges reflects on desegregation 35 years after making history

Key Concepts

• Integration: The process of bringing together people of different races or ethnic groups into a previously segregated institution or society.
• Civil Rights Movement: A historical period in the United States, primarily in the 1950s and 1960s, that aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.
• Federal Marshals: Law enforcement officers of the U.S. Marshals Service, often tasked with protecting individuals during critical or dangerous situations.
• Parent Teacher Liaison: A role within a school that facilitates communication and collaboration between parents and teachers.
• Suburban Schools: Schools located in suburban areas, often characterized by different demographics and resources compared to inner-city schools.
• Private Schools: Educational institutions that are not funded by the government and typically charge tuition.

Ruby Bridges' Return to Frantz Elementary School

This segment details the return of Ruby Bridges to Frantz Public Elementary School in New Orleans, over three decades after she became a pivotal figure in the desegregation of American schools.

Historical Context: The 1960 Integration

• The Event: In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges was the first Black child to integrate Frantz Elementary School, which was then an all-white institution in the South.
• The Ordeal: Ruby's entry into the school was met with intense hostility. She was escorted daily by federal marshals to navigate a "gauntlet of hate" from protesting parents.
• Ruby's Resilience: Despite the threats and the sounds of objects hitting the pavement, Ruby was instructed by her mother to "just look straight ahead." She would sing nursery rhymes to cope, such as "2 4 6 8. We don't want to integrate."
• Isolation: Due to a boycott by white parents, Ruby attended class alone, with only her teacher, Barbara Henry, for company.
• Teacher's Perspective: Barbara Henry described Ruby's self-possession and sense of purpose at such a young age as "extraordinary."

Expert Analysis and Inspiration

• Dr. Robert Coles: A Harvard professor and children's expert who studied Ruby and became her friend. He wrote a children's book about her, aiming to inspire children to "rise above their surroundings" and "be larger and bigger morally."
• Norman Rockwell's Painting: Ruby's childhood experience was immortalized in a famous painting by Norman Rockwell, making her a "part legend" and an inspiration.

Ruby Bridges Hall's New Role

• Return to Frantz School: In the present day, Ruby Bridges Hall, now a mother of four, has returned to Frantz School in a new capacity.
• New Position: She is serving as the Parent Teacher Liaison, having transitioned from her business career.
• Mission: Her goal is to improve the school, which has become an all-Black inner-city school. She emphasizes the importance of parental involvement, stating, "If I can't go back into France school and other schools and get the parents to come back and be involved in their kids' education, I will feel like what I did was in vain."

The Unintended Consequences of Integration

• Integration's Shortcomings: The transcript acknowledges that integration did not unfold as initially planned.
• White Flight: Over the past 35 years, white parents in New Orleans, as in other cities, have opted to send their children to suburban schools.
• Affluent Exodus: Affluent parents of all races have also chosen private schools.
• Ruby's Perspective on "Failure": When asked if her actions "failed," Ruby Bridges Hall asserts, "I don't think so. I don't think it failed." She believes that "People have to be taught again to get to know each other, to want to live together."

Legacy and Ongoing Efforts

• Generational Impact: For 35 years, Ruby Bridges was a symbol passed down through generations, representing bravery and the struggle for equality. Mothers told their children about her, highlighting her solitary lunch and playtime.
• Current Challenge: The child whose initial steps brought hope for integration is now embarking on a new "uphill climb" to address the challenges facing contemporary schools.

Conclusion

Ruby Bridges' story is a testament to enduring courage and the ongoing pursuit of educational equity. Her return to Frantz Elementary School as a Parent Teacher Liaison signifies a commitment to fostering parental engagement and improving the educational landscape for current students, acknowledging the complex legacy of integration and the continuing need for societal change.