US History told by Black America
Ruby Bridges
On November 14 , 1960 , at the age of six , Ruby Bridges changed history and became the first African American child to integrate an allwhite elementary school in the South .
In 1954 , in a landmark case , Brown v . Board of Education , the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional . The fact that Ruby was born the same year of the decision to desegregate schools is notable in her journey as a civil rights activist .
When Ruby was in kindergarten , her parents allowed her to test to see if she qualified to integrate New Orleans public schools , even though her father was hesitant . Ruby was one of six
Black children to pass the test . Two of the six students decided to remain in their current school . Three of them transferred to McDonogh No . 19 Elementary . And Ruby was sent to William Frantz Elementary School .
On the first day in her new school , Ruby and her mother arrived with four U . S . marshals for protection . Ruby saw a massive crowd of people shouting , throwing things , and carrying signs as she approached the school . Ruby thought it was Mardi Gras .
As soon as Ruby entered William Frantz Elementary , White families took their children out of the school .
On the second day , a White girl broke the boycott and entered the school . After a few days , other White parents began bringing their children back to school , and the protests subsided . However , only one teacher , Barbara Henry , was willing to teach Ruby . For the remainder of the school year , Ruby was in a classroom by herself with Mrs . Henry . Ruby was tormented routinely on her way to school . One woman threatened to poison her , and another showed up with a Black doll in a wooden coffin . The federal marshals had to escort her to the restroom to keep her safe . One of the marshals assigned to Ruby , Charles Burks , proudly said later that she showed a lot of courage . “ She never cried or whimpered ,” Burks said , “ She just
Octavious Catto
Octavius Valentine Catto was an educator , intellectual , and civil rights activist in Philadelphia . He became principal of male students at the Institute for Colored
Youth , where he had also been educated .
Catto fought against laws that prohibited African Americans from riding railways , segregated education within the city ’ s schools , and limited the right of African Americans to vote .
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