can you remember your first day in school? 

Imagine yourself getting ready. Changing into a beautiful big pink dress, Or a bright blue suit. You have your favorite shoes on and a big smile. All your notebooks and pencils are packed in and ready to go. You walk out the door and realize there is a huge crowd screaming in dislike because they don't want you to walk into school......

.........this is the story of Rubi Bridges. 

A brave, brown, and beautiful little girl. 

Ruby was born September 8, 1954, in a humble, godly home. She was the oldest of 5 children

Ruby's parents and grandparents were sharecroppers on a large farm in Tylertown, Mississippi.

Even though Ruby's parents worked all day, There were nights when Ruby and her siblings didn't get to eat because her parents didn't make enough money.

Sometimes hungry but she and family only grew closer.

Ruby was born in a very special year. 

A year of change 

a year of hope

a year of faith

In 1954, segregation in schools was finally over. this meant that children of all different shades were able to attend the same schools.

Brown. v Board of education 

Before that time, african american children were separated from white children.

"The same but not equal"

Plessy V Ferguson

African American children all over New Orleans were put up to the test. Each child had to take a tricky test to decide if they could go to an all-white school.

ruby was one of the 6 african american children who successfully passed the exam.

It was here, November 14, 1960, Ruby's first day of school at Wiliam Frants Elementary. She knew it was not going to be easy, but her parents encouraged her to be brave. 

While getting ready for school she heard a knock at the door. At first glance, she saw 4 tall white men. They were US Marshalls who would take Ruby and her mother to school. 

Protestors from the whole community came early in the morning and late in the afternoon to discourage Ruby and scare her. Time after time her family lifted her with love and bravery.

Rubys' father said to her "Take this step forward for all  african american children"

Ruby wasn't the only one experiencing hard treatment. ruby's father and grandparents were fired from their jobs just because she was granted permission to attend an all-white school.

Even though the first school year was troubling for the whole family, Ruby never missed a day of school! 

Even though segregation was not permitted Ruby was separated from all children at all times. The whole year she spends alone in a classroom learning by herself. In the same classroom, she had to eat her lunch.