Ruby Bridges

In 1960, a six-year-old girl became the first black student to enter a white elementary school in the South. Her name was Ruby Bridges. On her way into the school she walked past a crowd of angry, shouting white people. She was protected by guards. When she came to her classroom, it was full of empty desks. All the angry white parents had taken their children out of her class.

Ruby and her teacher, Mrs. Henry, worked together all year, even though she was the only student in the class. By the next school year, there were no guards and no protesters. White students returned to the school, and Ruby even had a few black classmates. Ruby's bravery led to better education for children of all races.