The Story of Ruby Bridges

Unlike the Little Rock Nine before her, six-year-old black student Ruby Bridges had to break the segregation barrier alone in 1960 at New Orleans' William Franz Elementary School. Bridges was so alone, in fact, that she and her teacher Mrs. Henry had the place to themselves, since all of the white parents pulled their kids from classes. Based on the 1995 picture book written by Robert Coles (the famed Harvard professor who also served as a child psychiatrist for Bridges) and watercolor-illustrated by George Ford, The Story of Ruby Bridges traces Ruby's experiences: from her family's crop-picking roots in Tylertown, MS to their move to Louisiana, after which Ruby is selected to become one of the first black children to attend in-name-only desegregated schools following the Supreme Court's 1954 landmark ruling in Brown vs. the Board of Education. For months, federal marshals escorted the young girl to class amidst the taunts of name-calling white crowds, yet Ruby and her family continued to demonstrate strength and courage. Bridges would eventually go on to start the Ruby Bridges Foundation, a group that promotes tolerance. An uplifting inspirational tale of perseverance in the face of shameful adversity, this is highly recommended. Aud: E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)