Precious Ruby

1960...

For those of us born in the 60's, it doesn't seem that long ago. Sure, the fashions and music were different, and the prices of food, homes, and gasoline were staggeringly low compared to today. But all in all, life wasn't that much different, was it?

Oh my, was it ever. Let me introduce you to a precious little girl named, Ruby Bridges. This sweet child didn't have an ounce of racism her little body; she had no idea of the hero she would become.

Ruby attended a school far from her house, even though William Frantz Elementary School was much closer. Why? Segregation. She was African-American, the students of William Frantz Elementary were white. Boggles the mind, doesn't it?

Ruby was chosen of one of 5 children to be integrated into all white schools. One decided not to integrate at the last moment, and the other three were sent to another school. That left little six year-old Ruby to attend the all white school by herself. She and the other kids had passed a test that was purposely designed as a "surely to fail" test; that way the whites would be convinced that segregation was right. (Makes my blood boil.)

Precious Ruby passed, and the big day came. U.S. Marshals showed up at her door to escort her to her school. There was an angry mob of people, students as well as adults, at the school to protest educating a little black girl in a white school. Ruby had no idea what the fuss was about. Day after day, the protesters greeted her with hateful, terrifying remarks and signs. One adult, white women threatened to poison Ruby every day. Teenage boys changed the words to The Battle Hymn of the Republic, and sang, "Glory, glory segregation, the south will rise again." Ruby was terrified when she saw a group of boys carrying a casket with a little black doll in it. Can you imagine? My heart is so heavy. It is so hard to believe the ignorance and lack of compassion.

Ruby attended first grade alone. All of the white kids in her class were pulled from school; their parents would not allow their children to be educated in a classroom that allowed black kids. What a shame. Ruby went to school every day. Thankfully, there was a teacher willing to stay. God bless Mrs. Henry.

Mrs. Henry watched Ruby walk through the angry mob every day. One day she noticed that Ruby stopped and spoke to some of the people in the mob. Mrs. Henry questioned Ruby, asking why she would want to stop and speak to them. Ruby insisted that she had not spoken to them. She explained that every day before and after school, when she was safely a few blocks away from the mob, she would stop and pray for them. That day, Ruby had forgotten to pray, so when she was in the middle of the mob, and realized she hadn't, she stopped to quickly pray. What did she pray? That God would forgive them, just like He forgave those long ago who said hateful things about Him. What an amazing child.

The end of the school year brought change. A few kids were allowed by their parents to join Mrs. Henry's class. Ruby was finally not alone. This was the first time she realized what all of the commotion was about. A boy in her class said, "I can't play with you. My mama said not to because you're a nigger." Ruby had no idea all year that that was everybody's problem with her. It was suddenly clear to her. Heart wrenching, isn't it?

Ruby will forever have a special place in my heart. She is inspiring, strong, and amazing. That little girl had more courage in her at the age of six, than many of us have as adults. She didn't understand everything that was going on at the time, but still, it took an enormous amount of courage to walk through that angry, hateful mob day, after day, after day.

May we all learn from precious Ruby. I will never forget her; she is a hero.