Ruby Bridges was born September 8, 1954, and she is still alive today. She is now 63. Ruby Bridges was born on a Mississippi farm. Ruby Bridges moved from Mississippi to New Orleans in her youth to be closer to her family and have more opportunities to make a living. Ruby Bridges lived together with her mother Lucille, Abon her father and her brother/sister.

Their family was struggling to obtain money so her dad and mom had both to find jobs. Her dad worked in a gas station at night while her mom worked night jobs to support her growing family. Ruby Bridges was raised in a Christian home. She attended church every Sunday. If she ever had trouble, she would pray to God. Ruby Bridges was an intelligent girl who enjoyed jumping on jump ropes with her siblings and playing softball with them. Ruby went to kindergarten at an all black school. New Orleans schools were largely segregated. Ruby Bridges walked with her family to school every day. Although it was quite a distance, Ruby liked the experience. Ruby Bridges was required to take a test. It was used to determine the smartest students and who would be eligible to attend William Franztz Elementary School. Ruby received a very high score. Ruby’s parents were informed she could attend the local white school to begin integration of black and non-white students.

Her father disapproved of her attending a black school. He was afraid that it could prove to be dangerous. It was not a popular idea for white parents to have their black children live with them at that time. Her mother believed that she would benefit from a high education, and that other black students could join her at William Frantz Elementary school.

Ruby Bridges began her first grade at her former school, although some still opposed Ruby moving to the new school. Ruby Bridges, a white girl, started her first day in the school’s all-white campus on November 14, 1960.

Ruby was astonished to see so many people protesting her first day of school and threatening her and her family with violence. Ruby, who was only a year old, didn’t understand much of what was going on. All she knew was her parents were scared. Federal Marshals drove Ruby to school on that morning and made certain she was safe.

Ruby felt like she was in school from the very beginning. She sat in an office with her mother and watched as her parents pulled their children out of school.

Ruby was William Frantz’s only black student. Although parents were happy with the integration of the school, it was not a good fit for the children in the classrooms. She was the only one in her class. Her white teacher was Mrs. Henry. Ruby and Mrs. Henry were the only ones who stayed with Ruby for the remainder of her year. Ruby enjoyed learning a lot from Mrs. Henry. Ruby became close friends with Mrs. Henry and her family.

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