C Q V e R STORY

In 1960, Ruby Bridges became the first black student at her school. Now she's being honored with a new statue at the school.

n November 14,1960, Ruby Bridges arrived at OWilliam Frantz Elementary School in New American student to go to the change the world. “Kids can do Orleans, . It was her all-white school. anything," she told Scholastic first day at the school. Ruby had Exactly 54 years later, on News Kid Reporter Samuel no idea how difficult the day November 14,2014, Ruby Davis. “I want them to be able to would be—and all because of walked up to the school again. see themselves in the statue.” the color of her skin. This time, a crowd welcomed As Ruby approached the her with applause. They had building, an angry mob called gathered to watch a statue of her names. They yelled at the Ruby be unveiled at the school. first-grader, telling her to go To most people, the statue home. Protected by U.S. officers represents Ruby’s role in the called marshals, she walked into struggle for equality. But to Ruby, the school—and into history. it also stands for something Ruby became the first African- else—the power of kids to EqualRights

in School In som e parts of th e U.S., The arrival of Ruby segregation is allowed in schools and Bridges at William Frantz other public places. But in a court case Elementary School was called Brown v. Board of Education, the just one of many important U.S. Supreme Court rules that events in the long battle to segregation in public schools is illegal. integrate schools. Here are However, in many Southern states, a few others. schools don't integrate right away.

4 I SCHOLASTIC NEWS EDITION 4 * February 2, 2015

- ______I in public schools was illegal and had to stop. However, Louisiana and several other states ignored the ruling. In 1960, the U.S. government stepped in and ordered schools in to integrate. Ruby was chosen to help lead the way.

Brave Ruby Many white people in New Orleans were upset about the government’s order. They protested outside the school every day. Many of them refused to let their kids be in the same class as Ruby. So II Unfair Laws Ruby ended up in a class by remind kids that they can help When Ruby was young, herself for the whole school year. stop injustice. “It doesn’t matter 1 segregation, or the separation of She liked studying with her what a person looks like,” she 11! people by race, was common in teacher, Barbara Henry. But she says. “You need to always, I I I parts of the U.S. It was especially often wished she had other kids always give a person a chance.” 111 common in the South. In many to learn with and play with. —by Karen Kellaher, with i § Q Hi places there, black children Ruby bravely stuck it out. By Scholastic News Kid Reporter | | | weren’t allowed to attend the the next school year, the protests Samuel Davis 111 same schools as white kids. Black had stopped. Other black 111 people also had to use different students joined Ruby at William

•111 public restrooms and drinking Frantz. Many white students u n ve ile d (uhn-VAYLD) verb. i |l fountains than white people, returned to the school. shown in public for the first time i f f In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Today, Ruby Bridges hopes in te g ra te (IN-tuh-grayt) verb, to include people of all races 111 Court had ruled that segregation that the new statue of her will

\°in \%A In Little Rock, Arkansas, nine With Martin Luther King Jr. African-American students are and other leaders present. blocked from entering an all- President Lyndon B. Johnson white high school. President signs th e Civil Rights Act of Dwight D. Eisenhower sends in 1964. It outlaws segregation in U.S. troops to make sure the public places like schools, students are allow ed to go to buses, trains, restaurants, th e school. and stores.

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