Black History Month and Style pick of the Week. Ruby 'Nell' Bridges, one of the 1st Black Students to integrate a formerly all White New Orleans Public School in 1960.
The Civil Rights movements, battle to end segregation, led the Federal Courts to force New Orleans to desegregate their schools, that year. Test were taken and the qualified were chosen to attend the newly desegregrated Schools that Fall of 1960.
The decision must have been the hardest for her family to make. To my understanding, her Father wasn't too keen to the idea due to all the dangerous risk involved. But Ruby's Mother, stood her ground and stressed the importance and what it meant for all black children and not just their own. If you know what New Orleans was back then, then you know what this meant.
Six kids were chosen, two declined, three went to another school and Ruby off to William Frantz by her lonely with Style & Grace!
Ruby, wearing a dress, suit jacket, dress socks, Mary Jane shoes, bow in hair, plaid book bag in hand and just as CUTE as she wanted to be.
The picture most of us has seen, is this little girl (looking sharp) being escorted by the U.S. Federal Marshalls in and out of school for protection from angered whites.
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Can you imagine how scary that must have been for a 6 year old!?! However, I read in an article that Ruby recollects the mob's loud noises, rants and fist shaking, reminding her of the City's Mardi Gras.
For Ruby, prayer was her protection taught by her Mother.
She had to be one of the bravest, little girls, I've ever read about. The black dolls in coffins and the everyday hatred she endured at that time. Riots broke out, her Father fired from work, Grandparents had to relocate, family unable to shop at the local Grocers.
Yet, she continued to walk through the angry crowds and up William Frantz school steps and before she knew, it was all over with, as if nothing even happened.
Integration had begun.
Now, Ruby's journey is connecting children through their schools and after 30 years, she still has a relationship/bond with her 1st grade teacher Mrs. Henry who was kind-hearted and personable with her lessons, gave life in that classroom and some comfort at school making it enjoyable to learn and teaching Ruby her greatest lesson - Never Judge People By Color
Today, Ruby, volunteers at the School William Frantz where she once stood to make History as their 1st Black Student.
