At just six years old, Ruby Bridges was soon to play a significant role in American history. Breaking through the racist segregation of school children, and becoming the first child of color to attend an all-white elementary school in the American South.
Bridges' was born on the 8th of September, 1954, in the poverty ridden town of Tylertown, Mississippi. Ironically this was the year that the US Supreme Courts 'Brown v. the Board of Education' decided to make an attempt at ending racial segregation in public schools across the country. At four years old, Ruby and her parents moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in search of a better life. Shortly after the Bridges' change in residency, Ruby was selected as one of the many African-American children
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Ruby's father was hesitant to send his daughter to the all white William Frantz Elementary School, as he was aware of the uproar that this could cause. Rubys mother on the other hand was all for the opportunity as she believed that Ruby could receive a better education here. After a lot of thought and consideration the Bridges agreed to have their daughter enrolled. Of the six students that passed, Bridges was the only student who agreed to the enrollment, and on the 14th of November, 1960, after the states many attempts to delay the school transfer; Bridges became not only the first child of color to go to William Frantz Elementary School but also the first child of color to attend an all-white elementary school in the South. The federal district court judge was aware of the chaos that was yet to come, so it was sought that the US government provided federal marshals to accompany the child to school everyday for the sake of her safety. The news of the attempted integration had spread resulting in Bridges arrival being met by outraged mobs, barricades and numerous police officers. The majority of Bridges first day was spent within the principals office due to the uproar from white parents