This is Your Time E-Book

Ruby Bridges

• Herausgeber: ONE
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

A moving, timely letter about the struggle for racial equality by Ruby Bridges, the first black child to integrate an all-white school in the United States, featuring stunning photographs throughoutOn November 14, 1960, at the age of six, Ruby Bridges became the first black child to integrate an all-white school in New Orleans. Escorted by federal marshals past angry segregationist protesters, young Ruby attended William Frantz Elementary and earned a place in civil rights history.Sixty years later, Ruby has written an impassioned letter to young people engaging in the fight for racial equality. Her words, a call to action imbued with love and grace, are paired with black-and-white photographs from then-and now. This is Your Time will inspire readers as the struggle for liberty and justice for all continues, and the powerful legacy of Ruby Bridges endures.

Leseprobe

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I dedicate this “letter of peace” to Congressman John Lewis, icon of the civil rights movement, with admiration. He was known as the conscience of Congress, truly an example of “a soul generated by love.”

Job well done, our good and faithful servant! The torch is passed!

We have much work to do, Young Peacemakers of the World….

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CONTENTS

TITLE PAGEDEDICATIONTHIS IS YOUR TIMEIMAGE CREDITSACKNOWLEDGMENTSCOPYRIGHT

1

This is Your Time

To the young peacemakers of the world,

Sixty years ago, in 1960, my life changed forever. Although I was not aware of it, my country was changing too. What I remember about that time, through my six-year-old eyes, is that there was extreme unrest, much like we see today. I was chosen to be the first black child to go to an all-white school, William Frantz Elementary, in my hometown, New Orleans.

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I did not yet know that I had stepped into the history books.3

The 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education deemed racial segregation in schools unconstitutional.

4

For my whole first-grade year I had to be escorted to and from school by four federal marshals, under the order of the president of the United States, because people were afraid for my safety.5

U.S. marshals escort Ruby Bridges from William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in November 1960.

6

Going into and coming out of school every day, I walked through crowds of people yelling, screaming threats, throwing things at six-year-old me. They were against the integration of black and white children in the same school. I had been so excited to meet and make new friends at school, and was met with something utterly different and terrifying.7

Angry segregationist protesters gathered daily outside Ruby’s school (1960).

8

It was a difficult decision for both of my parents to agree to let me go to school along with the marshals, especially for my dad, but they knew it was necessary. My father, like most dads, wanted nothing more than to protect his little girl. But as a young black man, it was not safe for him to walk me to school.9