Ruby Nell Bridges: a Life of Courage and Achievement

Introduction

Throughout this essay, one will come to find that all five ecological systems are present. Whether it be the microsystem of Ruby and her family, how she was treated among peers at school, or the mesosystem relating to her parents' connection with Ruby's teacher at the white school, the exosystem between her father's fears and treatment by whites pushed onto Ruby or her mother, the macrosystem of the all African-American street Ruby lived on or the school she attended before the white school, and finally the chronosystem where Ruby and her parents connected with the NAACP as well as the U.S. Marshals (government), these will all be discussed below.

Ruby Nell Bridges: A Life of Courage and Achievement

Ruby Nell Bridges was born on September 8, 1954, in Tylertown, Mississippi. Her parents were sharecroppers, people who rented land and instead of paying with money, they paid with crops. In 1958, Ruby's family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, and lived on a heavily populated African-American block. Her mother did various night jobs, while her father was a service station attendant. By the time she was six, she had many brothers and sisters. Her job was to watch them, and she did a pretty good job. Ruby Bridges' life really didn't include anything off her block, but that was all about to change.

Early Education and Integration

When Ruby was five years old, she started kindergarten at Johnson Lockett Elementary School. Ruby's school was all black, and she had many friends. In the spring of 1960, the government decided to force two white schools to integrate, and Johnson Lockett was to test their kindergarteners to see if they could make it in white schools. Lucille dressed up Ruby in her Sunday finest and took her uptown to the school board room to be tested. That summer, several people from the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) came to her house and told Ruby's parents that she had passed the test and was to go to William Frantz Elementary School. It was closer and better than Johnson Lockett. Ruby really didn't understand what was going on, but she was about to find out.

The Challenge of Integration

On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges was ready to go to her new school. William Frantz Elementary School was an all-white school, and many people were outraged because it was being integrated. In fact, the start of the school year was delayed because government officials found a way to slow down the process. On the Sunday before she went, her mother said, "There might be a lot of people outside the school, but you don't need to be afraid. I'll be with you" (Bridges, 1999). On that November morning, many federal marshals showed up at her door, saying they were to escort her to her new school. When they got to William Frantz, a huge mob of people were outside the school. The mob was shouting things and holding unpleasant signs. After Ruby finished her first-grade school year, she had slowly gotten used to the whole fiasco, and she went through school with the same respect as she had in first grade. Her experiences highlight the intense racial tensions of the time and the courage it took to stand against them. It did get better throughout her career; she finished high school and became a flight attendant.

Legacy and Impact

When Ruby got older, she did many things to help the Civil Rights Movement. She established a foundation called "The Ruby Bridges Foundation," and its motto is "RACISM is a grown-up disease. Let's STOP using kids to spread it." The foundation exists to encourage people to stop being racist and prevent injustices from happening again. Ruby also showed the world that anyone, even a little six-year-old, can stand up to racism. Her story is a powerful reminder that if you have a big enough passion for something, you can make a difference. Ruby Bridges is an American hero in many ways. She showed the world that African-Americans are just as capable as white people. She stood up to racism non-violently, and she was very brave at six years old (Coles, 1995).

Conclusion

Ruby Bridges' journey through the ecological systems demonstrates the profound impact one individual can have in challenging systemic injustice. Her courage and the support of her community and organizations like the NAACP were instrumental in paving the way for future generations. Ruby's life serves as a testament to the power of resilience and the enduring fight for equality.

References

Bridges, R. (1999). Through My Eyes. Scholastic Press.

Coles, R. (1995). The Story of Ruby Bridges. Scholastic Paperbacks.