In 1954 the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that segregation in public schools was illegal. But Louisiana and several other states ignored the ruling. A desegregation order requires the school board to undertake specific action to accomplish desegregation goals in the areas of student assignment, faculty assignment, staff assignment, facilities, extracurricular activities, and transportation. The courts are supposed to enforce these orders until all effects of past discrimination have been remedied. In 1960, a federal judge ordered Louisiana schools to integrate. Earlier that year, Ruby Bridges was chosen to help integrate William Frantz Public School. November 14, 1960 was the day Ruby Bridges became a powerful symbol of the civil Rights …show more content…
They were warned to avoid many public places such as neighborhood stores and her father Abon was fired from his job making money sparse. But many sympathetic citizens from across the country sent the family money and other gifts to help them get by. Ruby Bridges also received a letter of support from former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Ruby Bridges was a big influence towards desegregation in the south. If it were not for her and her family, things may have been segregated for a while more. However, the black population of New Orleans rose from 37 percent in 1960 to 45 percent in 1970, and became a majority of 55 percent by 1980. Ten years after Bridges and three other girls became the first black children to attend New Orleans public school, more than 70 percent of the students in the public school system were …show more content…
It was a turbulent time for race relations in the south as riots and demonstrations raged across the city. Bridges stated that even though her parents never told her she was going to Frantz she was never scared. ("Ruby Bridges Remembers") However she was lonely seeing that she was unable to eat in the cafeteria or go to the playground because of the dangers that could have come to her. She had no friends other than her teacher who she claims helped her to make school fun for her and was her only and best friend.
Ruby bridges and the other three black student helped to bridge the segregation gap so that people like me can go to any school and get an education equal to that of white people. If it were not for their bravery there is no telling how long segregation in schools would have