The Impact of Ruby Bridges
on the United States & the
Civil Rights Movement
Nyjai L. Taliaferro
Ruby’s Story
Ruby was born on September 8, 1954, in Tylertown,
Mississippi. Like any other African American family during
this decade, Ruby and her family were looked down
upon. When Ruby was about four years old, her family
moved from Tylertown to New Orleans.
 The judge ordered Ruby to attend Frantz Elementary
School for Whites. She was the first black child to walk
into Frantz Elementary School.
 The day Ruby had to go to school, she was escorted by
Federal Marshals, in doing so, an angry crowd of white
parents were outside the school doors chanting, "twofour-six-eight, we don't want to integrate."
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Ruby’s Story Cont..
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When Ruby finally stepped into the school, at the age of six, it was
almost empty. Some of the white parents took their children out of
school, because they didn't want their child to have to deal with a
little black child. White people thought that black or any other
race shouldn't be treated as equals.
Some white people threatened to poison Ruby and hurt her and her
family if she went to their school.
Her dad lost his job because his boss didn't think that someone
should be working for him if his child was going to an all-white
school.
Unlike most of the white parents, some still took their kids to
school and it didn't matter to them who was their, too.

After the winter break, Ruby
started seeing a child
psychiatrist (Dr. Coles).
 He got interested in Ruby by
seeing her go into school with
the Marshals surrounding her
and how she dealt with it all.
 Ruby's family suffered a
great deal because of her
attending Frantz Elementary
School for Whites. Besides
her father losing his job, her
grandparents lost their place
as tenant farmers, and her
family was threatened.
 Research
question: How did the actions of Ruby
Bridges shape the history of the Civil Rights
Movement and the United States?
 Thesis:
Ruby Bridges help to break the barrier of
segregation by becoming the first black child in an
all white school. She is an influential symbol of the
U.S. and helped them revolt against discrimination
and segregation.
Ruby’s Achievements
She established a foundation called "The Ruby Bridges
Foundation" and its motto is "RACISM is a grown-up disease.
Lets STOP using kids to spread it." The foundation exists to
encourage people to stop being racist and stop the injustices
from happening again.
 She has a school named after her, “Ruby Bridges Elementary
School” in California.
 She became an honorary deputy marshal at a Washington,
D.C., art gallery that featured an exhibit of paintings by the
artist who made her famous when she was younger.

http://www.bet.com/video/blackgirls
rock/2011/irock-tribute/bgr11ruby.html
Why I Chose this Topic
 To
me, this the story of Ruby Bridges is one of
the most important events in the Civil Rights
Movement.
 This
event is also somewhat relatable.
My Learning Outcome
I learned more about what Ruby Bridges is
doing now, after becoming a Civil Rights
Movement icon.

 Today,
Ruby has spoken at conferences, telling people
about her experience not too long ago. She informs
people about segregation, and why everyone should be
treated equal. She's achieved peoples' respect across
the nation
 Ruby Bridges School of Community Service & Social
Justice
Works Cited
Bridges, Ruby. "The Education of Ruby Nell." Ruby Bridges. Guidepost, n.d. Web.
6 Apr 2013.
"Ruby Bridges." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online
Academic Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 08 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1511746/Ruby-Bridges>.
Shay, Allison. "Remembering Ruby Bridges." Publishing the Long Civil Rights
Movement. N.p., 14 Nov 2012. Web. 7 Apr 2013.
Bridges, Ruby. I Am Ruby Bridges. New York : Scholastic Inc., 2009.
Bridges, Ruby. Through My Eyes. New York : Scholastic Press, 1999.
Lambert, Laura J., Ruby Bridges, in Doris Weatherford, ed., A History of
Women in the United States: State-by-State Reference (Scholastic,
2003), Vol. 2, p. 118.