Ruby Nell Bridges Hall born September 8, 1954 is a prominent American civil rights activist. She made history on November 14, 1960, as the first African American child to attend the previously all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis. Her courage as a young girl was immortalized in Norman Rockwell’s 1964 painting, The Problem We All Live With.
Ruby Bridges Biography 2025
However, despite the ruling, many southern states resisted implementing school desegregation and delayed integration efforts. By 1957, in response to violence over school desegregation, federal troops were sent to Little Rock, Arkansas, to protect the Little Rock Nine as they integrated Central High School. In New Orleans, the Orleans Parish School Board sought to block Black children from attending white schools by administering an entrance exam to potential Black students, including Ruby Bridges.
Ruby Bridges Biography Details
| Born |
Ruby Nell Bridges
September 8, 1954 (age 70)
Tylertown, Mississippi, U.S.
|
| Occupation(s) |
Philanthropist, activist |
| Spouse |
Malcolm Hall |
| Children |
4 |
| Website |
www.rubybridges.com |
Ruby Bridges Early Life
Ruby Bridges was born at a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, just three months and 22 days after the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling. This Supreme Court decision, issued in May 1954, declared the segregation of public schools based on race unconstitutional, allowing Black children the right to attend previously whites-only schools. Bridges was the eldest of five children born to Abon and Lucille Bridges. Growing up, she often helped care for her younger siblings, but also enjoyed activities like jump rope, softball, and climbing trees. The family relocated from Tylertown, Mississippi, where Ruby was born, to New Orleans, Louisiana, when she was four. In 1960, when Ruby was six, her parents responded to a request from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and volunteered her to be part of the effort to desegregate New Orleans public schools, despite her father’s initial hesitation.
Ruby Bridges Bio
| Personal Information |
Details |
| Name |
Ruby Nell Bridges |
| Date of Birth |
September 8, 1954 |
| Birthplace |
Tylertown, Mississippi |
| Family |
Eldest of five children |
| Parents |
Abon and Lucille Bridges |
Background and Historical Context
| Civil Rights Context |
Points |
| Supreme Court Ruling |
Brown v. Board of Education (1954) |
| Desegregation Timeline |
Resistance in the South until the 1960s |
| Federal Intervention |
1957 – Troops sent to Little Rock, Arkansas |
| Integration Exam |
Orleans Parish administered an entrance test for Black students |
Ruby Bridges School Integration
| Event |
Details |
| Date of Integration |
November 14, 1960 |
| School |
William Frantz Elementary |
| First Black Student |
Ruby Bridges |
| Escorts |
U.S. Marshals |
The Protests and Challenges
| Challenges Faced |
Details |
| White Student Boycott |
Most white children pulled out of school |
| Teacher Refusal |
All but one teacher refused to teach her |
| Racial Threats |
Threats of poisoning and racial violence |
| Classroom Experience |
Ruby was taught alone by Barbara Henry |
Support and Solidarity
| Support |
Information |
| White Families |
Some continued to send children to Frantz |
| Neighbors |
Helped with jobs and family support |
| Local Helpers |
Provided protection and babysitting |
| Coles Family |
Helped with clothing and personal support |
Psychological and Emotional Support
| Support Services |
Details |
| Child Psychiatrist |
Dr. Robert Coles provided counseling |
| Emotional Struggles |
Ruby was emotionally impacted by the experience |
| Published Work |
Coles’ book The Story of Ruby Bridges |
Ruby Bridges and Family Hardships
| Consequences |
Facts |
| Father’s Job Loss |
Her father lost his job as a gas station attendant |
| Social Isolation |
The family faced discrimination in the community |
| Economic Struggles |
Loss of store privileges and farmland |
Ruby Bridges Later Life and Contributions
| Event |
Details |
| Marriage and Family |
Married Malcolm Hall and has four children |
| Career |
Worked as a travel agent and later a full-time parent |
| Philanthropy |
Founded the Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999 |
Awards and Honors
| Award |
Years |
| Presidential Medal |
Presidential Citizens Medal (2001) |
| Honorary Degree |
Honorary Doctorate from Tulane University (2012) |
| John Steinbeck Award |
Recognized for commitment to democratic values (2016) |
| National Women’s Hall of Fame |
Inducted in March 2025 |
Impact on Society
| Impact |
Details |
| Civil Rights Symbol |
A figure of courage in the desegregation movement |
| Educational Advocacy |
Promotes racial tolerance through her foundation |
| Public Recognition |
Schools and statues named in her honor |
Media and Cultural Impact
| Event |
Years |
| Film Adaptation |
Ruby Bridges (1998 television film) |
| Song |
Featured in Lori McKenna’s song “Ruby’s Shoes” |
| Exhibits |
Documented in “The Power of Children” at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis |
Ruby Bridges Reflection and Future
| Reflection |
Facts |
| Public Appearances |
Met with President Barack Obama at the White House (2011) |
| Teaching Future Generations |
Advocates for children to see their potential in her story |
William Frantz Elementary School
| School Event |
Points |
| Integration Day |
Ruby entered on November 14, 1960 |
| School Impact |
The school was heavily damaged during Hurricane Katrina |
Ruby Bridges The Rockwell Painting
| Painting |
Years |
| Artist |
Norman Rockwell |
| Year |
1964 |
| Subject |
Ruby Bridges walking to school escorted by U.S. Marshals |
Milestones in Ruby Bridges Life
| Milestone |
Details |
| First Day at Frantz |
November 14, 1960 |
| 50th Anniversary |
Reunited with the first white child to break the boycott in 2010 |
| Memorial Statue |
Statue of Ruby at William Frantz Elementary School |
Ruby Bridges Net Worth
Ruby Bridges has an estimated net worth of $3M.
Ruby Bridges Summary
Ruby Bridges early life, integration efforts at William Frantz Elementary, and the subsequent challenges faced by her family and herself became a pivotal chapter in the Civil Rights Movement. Her courage in confronting extreme hostility and her eventual recognition as a global symbol of resistance and tolerance has left an indelible mark on history. Through the Ruby Bridges Foundation, she continues to advocate for racial equality and the empowerment of children everywhere.
