Ruby Bridges
RUBY BRIDGES
Have you had a passion so strong, that it just needed to be let out? Something that you felt the world needed to know? That's Ruby Bridges, one of the first African-American girl to go to an integrated public school in Louisiana. She felt apprehensive, scared and clueless all at the same time. If you were in her situation, what would you feel or do? Ruby Bridges was an important figure in shaping the modern day America, and in doing so showed all of us kids what it really means to fight for your right, without violence.
THE EARLY YEARS
Ruby Nell Bridges was born on September 8, 1954 in Tylertown, Mississippi. Her parents were sharecroppers, people who rented land and instead of paying with money, they paid with crops. "Sharecropping is hard work. On the day before Ruby was born, I carried 90 pounds of cotton on my back. I wanted a better life for Ruby." ( Lucille Bridges) Both sets of Ruby's grandparents were sharecroppers and she would spend very hot summers helping them. In 1958, Ruby's family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, and lived on a heavily populated African-American block. Her mother did various night jobs, while her father was a service station attendant and by the time she was 6, she had many brothers and sisters. Her job was to watch them, and she did a pretty good job. Ruby Bridges' life really didn't include anything off her block, but that was all about to change.
KINDERGARTEN AT JOHNSON LOCKETT
When Ruby was 5 years old, she started kindergarten at Johnson Lockett Elementary School. "My segregated school was fairly far from my house, but I had lots of company for the long walk. All the kids on my block went to Johnson Lockett" (Ruby Bridges) Ruby's school was all black, and she had many friends. In the spring of 1960, the government decided to force two white school to integrate and Johnson Lockett was to test their kindergarteners to see if they could make it in white schools. So, Lucille dressed up Ruby in her Sunday
Have you had a passion so strong, that it just needed to be let out? Something that you felt the world needed to know? That's Ruby Bridges, one of the first African-American girl to go to an integrated public school in Louisiana. She felt apprehensive, scared and clueless all at the same time. If you were in her situation, what would you feel or do? Ruby Bridges was an important figure in shaping the modern day America, and in doing so showed all of us kids what it really means to fight for your right, without violence.
THE EARLY YEARS
Ruby Nell Bridges was born on September 8, 1954 in Tylertown, Mississippi. Her parents were sharecroppers, people who rented land and instead of paying with money, they paid with crops. "Sharecropping is hard work. On the day before Ruby was born, I carried 90 pounds of cotton on my back. I wanted a better life for Ruby." ( Lucille Bridges) Both sets of Ruby's grandparents were sharecroppers and she would spend very hot summers helping them. In 1958, Ruby's family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, and lived on a heavily populated African-American block. Her mother did various night jobs, while her father was a service station attendant and by the time she was 6, she had many brothers and sisters. Her job was to watch them, and she did a pretty good job. Ruby Bridges' life really didn't include anything off her block, but that was all about to change.
KINDERGARTEN AT JOHNSON LOCKETT
When Ruby was 5 years old, she started kindergarten at Johnson Lockett Elementary School. "My segregated school was fairly far from my house, but I had lots of company for the long walk. All the kids on my block went to Johnson Lockett" (Ruby Bridges) Ruby's school was all black, and she had many friends. In the spring of 1960, the government decided to force two white school to integrate and Johnson Lockett was to test their kindergarteners to see if they could make it in white schools. So, Lucille dressed up Ruby in her Sunday