A Class Act Ruby Bridges talks about how she made history—just by going to school

magine being the only an important role in helping student in your class. black people gain equality in her Parents would rather keep home state. Today, Ruby is their children at home than viewed as one of the heroes of let them go to school with the . you. Angry crowds yell at you as you enter ' Kept Apart and leave the school In 1960, the United huilding each day. For States was a different your protection, place than it is today. bodyguards escort you In many areas, to and from school. especially the South, black That's what life was like for people were segregated, or first-grader Ruhy Bridges in separated, from white people. 1960. That year, she became the Many states had separate first African-American student at schools for white and black an all-white school in New students. Orleans, . Ruby was In 1954, the U.S. Supreme just 6 years old, but she played Court had ruled that segregation in public schools was illegal. But Words to Know Louisiana and several other states intagrate (in-tuh-grayt) verb, to ignored the ruling. In September i include people of all races 1960, a federal judge ordered racism (ray-si-zuhm) noun, unfair Louisiana schools to integrate. treatment of people based on race He set a deadline of Monday,

I Rights The U.S. Supreme Court In Brown v. Board ofEducatio rules that "separate but the U.S. Supreme Court Ruby Bridges's -equal" train cars for overturns the 1896 ruling. arrival at William Iblack people and white The Court declares segregati Frantz Elementary people are legal. The in public schools unlawful. ruling Schools il School was just one -Hows . ,. manysta' key event in the long egrega are slow 1 battle for equal rights n schools teg rate for all Americans. ¿o continue. Even with Mrs. Henry's support. Ruby had a tough time. "I wasn't allowed in the cafeteria or to play on the playground," she says. "What bothered me most was the loneliness in school every day." Eventually, things got better. The protesters slowly went away. As a result of Ruby's bravery, more black students went to the school the following year.

November 14, 1960. Earlier that The message was clear: Ruby was Lasting Lesson year, Ruby Bridges had been not welcome. Today, Ruby visits schools to selected to become the first black Ruby says she was too young to talk to students. She encourages student to attend the all-white realize what was happening. "I kids of all races and backgrounds William Frantz Elementary was never really afraid because I to accept one another. School. wasn't quite sure what was going "[My experience] has inspired on," she told Scholastic News Kid me to want to keep making a A Difficult Year Reporter Abigayle Lista. difference in this country," she Nothing could have prepared The next day. Ruby met her says. "I think that racism is ugly Ruby for her first day at William teacher, a white woman named and so unfair. And I believe that Frantz. As U.S. marshals walked Barbara Henry. She took Ruby to we all need one another." her and her mother to the school, her classroom, which was empty. —Natalie Smith, with Scholastic protesters shouted and shook All the white parents had taken News Kid Reporter Abigayle Lista their fists. Ruby didn't make it their kids out of school. For the to class. She and her mother rest of the school year. Ruby was spent the day in the principal's the only student in Mrs. Henry's MORE ONLINE: office. They watched through the class. "She wasn't just my Teachers: The digital version office windows as angry wbite teacher," Ruby says. "She was my of this issue features a video parents pulled their only friend in related to this story! www.scholastic.com/sn4 children out of class. school."

ine black stude Ruby Bridges integrates President Lyndon B. locked from William Frantz Johnson signs the Civil ^rating an all-w Elementary School in RightsActof1964.lt school in Little . Three outlaws segregation , Arkansas. other girls are the first in schools, >resident Dwight D. black students to attend businesses, and .ihower sends nearby McDonogh public facilities. The deral troops to ensu' No. 19 Elementary act protects the rights lat the students ma' ^hool. Protesters of women, as well as ; to school. ther at both schools. people of all races.

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