Ruby Bridges Risks

What happens when we take risks? People all over the world take risks. We enjoy creating new experiences, exploring new landscapes, and trying fresh foods. Sometimes, we take risks for the sake of it. Other times, we do it for something important. As a society, we face uncertain outcomes. This uncertainty makes it inevitable that we have occasional losses and gains. In history, three people took risks to gain freedom, independence, and peace in their lives. Ruby Bridges, John Lewis, and Marian Anderson represent heroes who risked their lives, facing disastrous odds to pursue freedom and preach peace. The Story Of Ruby Bridges, by Robert Coles, illustrates a dangerous risk taken for the sake of improving people’s lives. In the history of civil

Parents withdrew their children from schools and protested against integration. Coles implies this by saying, “The people carried signs that said they didn’t want black children in a white school. People called Ruby names; some wanted to hurt her” (Coles, 11). Yet, despite the danger and hostility, Ruby Bridges and her family remained committed to making a change in their community and becoming educated. Having to deal with a racist school is no easy feat, and it is a risk that Ruby took. This cost all her willpower and strength to survive in an environment where she was not wanted. Through Ruby’s struggle, we started to see a drastic change in the amount of segregation in schools, and people started to open up. This taught people to respect everyone for who they are, not by the color of their skin. This is an important modern lesson as well, to respect people for their differences and get along together. By defying the norms of society and standing up for her education, Ruby Bridges brought a wave crashing down upon racism and segregated

Marian was a world-class singer who faced racism and segregation, despite her fame. She received an invitation to a concert but was denied, and had to sit outside the theater. Marian couldn't believe the audacity to refuse her entrance because of the color of her skin (Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen). This outrage led to Marian work harder and harder, and even in the face of risk and racism, she persevered. When she sang, she started with “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing." Marian had to fight society, remarks, and insults harming her confidence. But Marian stayed strong and proved that because you are one color doesn’t mean that you are irrelevant. She proved modern concepts correct in her time. We should learn to stand up for what is right, and for what is. If Marian hadn’t stood up for herself, we wouldn't have been able to see the monumental impact Marian had on black culture and music. Marian set a precedent for courage in her time and proved to us that she took a big risk for a big