How Did Ruby Bridges Contribute To The Civil Rights Movement

While many who contributed to the Civil Rights Movement remain nameless, some left their name in American History. The youngest involved in the Civil Rights Movement and very notable was Ruby Bridges. Bridges’ perseverance during a time of adversity helped pave the path to overcoming educational equalities, discrimination, racism, prejudice, and stereotyping.

"She had a ribbon in her hair, a peanut butter sandwich in her lunchbox, and the U.S.

Constitution at her back" (Washington Post Finn). Ruby Bridges was one of the first

African-American students to attend an all-white school after the Brown vs. Board of Education court case ruled unanimously that segregation in public schools would be unconstitutional. At the time of the Civil Rights Movement, society thought very differently of African-American people. Not only was Ruby a six-year-old brave African-American girl living in New Orleans but she was breaking down the walls of segregation. Bridges taught society that having courage and perseverance has no age barrier or size.

In 1959, “When Ruby was in kindergarten, she was one of many African-American students in New Orleans who were chosen to take a test determining whether or not she could attend

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The test was designed to be extremely strenuous so students would not be able to pass. The plan was if all the African-American children did not pass the test, New Orleans schools would continue to segregate whites and blacks from each other. She lived closer to the all-white school but attended an all-black segregated school several miles away. Ruby’s father, Abon, was against her taking the test, thinking that if she passed and was allowed to go to the all-white school, there would be extreme controversy. Her mother, Lucille however, stressed the problem, knowing that Ruby would get a better education at an all-white school. Her mother was eventually able to persuade her father to allow her to take the