Ruby Bridges is a significant figure in American history, known for her role in the civil rights movement. Born on Sept. 8, 1954 in Tylertown, Mississippi, she became the first African American child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in the South.
In 1960, at the age of six, she attended William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her bravery and the support of her family and community helped pave the way for the integration of schools across the country. Though Bridges’ experience in school caused distress due to constant racism and torment of her family, Ruby Bridges never missed a day of school.
Now, the Ruby Bridges Foundation and Bridges herself continue to host speaking engagements and write children’s books to strive for an end to racism in America. Ruby Bridges’ courageous actions and her contributions to the fight for equality continue to inspire many.
