1 00:00:14,916 --> 00:00:23,516 Speaker 1: Pushkin. Hi. Everyone, Please note a racial slurry said twice 2 00:00:23,556 --> 00:00:25,956 Speaker 1: in this interview at around the twenty four minute mark. 3 00:00:26,556 --> 00:00:39,876 Speaker 1: Please take care while listening. I remember the knock at 4 00:00:39,876 --> 00:00:43,116 Speaker 1: the door and my parents opened the door and four 5 00:00:43,476 --> 00:00:47,236 Speaker 1: very tall white men were standing at the door, and 6 00:00:47,556 --> 00:00:51,196 Speaker 1: I remember they had these yellow bands on their arms, 7 00:00:51,516 --> 00:00:56,356 Speaker 1: and my thought then was you know who were they? 8 00:00:58,116 --> 00:01:01,556 Speaker 1: And not really knowing, but I remember the conversation. I 9 00:01:01,636 --> 00:01:06,316 Speaker 1: remember them saying, we are US Marshals and we've been 10 00:01:06,356 --> 00:01:09,756 Speaker 1: sent by the President of the United States. Were here 11 00:01:09,836 --> 00:01:13,396 Speaker 1: to escort you and your daughter to school today. That's 12 00:01:13,476 --> 00:01:17,476 Speaker 1: Ruby Bridges, an icon of the civil rights movement. When 13 00:01:17,516 --> 00:01:19,996 Speaker 1: Ruby was six years old, she became the very first 14 00:01:20,036 --> 00:01:24,876 Speaker 1: African American student to desegregate William France Elementary, an all 15 00:01:24,876 --> 00:01:28,356 Speaker 1: white school in Louisiana. She was not only the first, 16 00:01:28,476 --> 00:01:31,836 Speaker 1: but also the only black child attending the school, and 17 00:01:32,076 --> 00:01:35,036 Speaker 1: US marshals had to escort Ruby there to make sure 18 00:01:35,116 --> 00:01:38,796 Speaker 1: she wasn't harmed by protesters along the way. No one 19 00:01:38,876 --> 00:01:42,436 Speaker 1: told Ruby how monumental this moment was, and it would 20 00:01:42,476 --> 00:01:44,956 Speaker 1: be years before she would put all the pieces together 21 00:01:45,156 --> 00:01:48,116 Speaker 1: and fully appreciate her role in shaping the future of 22 00:01:48,196 --> 00:01:53,156 Speaker 1: civil rights in America. I thought that this was an 23 00:01:53,196 --> 00:01:58,516 Speaker 1: incident that just happened in my community, on my street. 24 00:02:00,596 --> 00:02:04,036 Speaker 1: That's what I thought. I wasn't aware that it was 25 00:02:04,156 --> 00:02:07,276 Speaker 1: so important, that it changed the face of education, and 26 00:02:07,356 --> 00:02:12,956 Speaker 1: that people around the country were familiar with it. I 27 00:02:13,076 --> 00:02:17,836 Speaker 1: did not realize that my walk, my story, was a 28 00:02:17,956 --> 00:02:22,236 Speaker 1: part of a much bigger family, the civil rights family, 29 00:02:22,716 --> 00:02:28,276 Speaker 1: the civil rights movement. On today's show, we hear the 30 00:02:28,316 --> 00:02:31,316 Speaker 1: story of how six year old Ruby Bridges changed the 31 00:02:31,356 --> 00:02:35,516 Speaker 1: course of history. I'm Maya Shunker, and this is a 32 00:02:35,556 --> 00:02:38,316 Speaker 1: slight change of plants, a show about who we are 33 00:02:38,436 --> 00:02:41,356 Speaker 1: and who we become in the face of a big change. 34 00:02:45,636 --> 00:02:48,796 Speaker 1: Ruby Bridges was born in nineteen fifty four, the same 35 00:02:48,876 --> 00:02:52,036 Speaker 1: year the US Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in 36 00:02:52,116 --> 00:02:56,116 Speaker 1: Brown Versus Board of Education. Up until that point, public 37 00:02:56,156 --> 00:02:58,916 Speaker 1: schools were allowed to segregate on the basis of race, 38 00:02:59,756 --> 00:03:03,156 Speaker 1: but in Brown v. Board, the Supreme Court declared segregated 39 00:03:03,196 --> 00:03:06,956 Speaker 1: schools to be inherently unequal in rule that it was 40 00:03:07,076 --> 00:03:12,916 Speaker 1: unconstitutional to racially segate children in public schools. Despite this ruling, 41 00:03:13,076 --> 00:03:17,436 Speaker 1: states in the South resisted the Court's order and segregation continued, 42 00:03:18,316 --> 00:03:21,396 Speaker 1: but eventually a federal judge ordered the New Orleans School 43 00:03:21,436 --> 00:03:25,516 Speaker 1: Board to act, and after years of resistance, they finally 44 00:03:25,556 --> 00:03:28,836 Speaker 1: initiated a plan to integrate two white schools, starting with 45 00:03:28,876 --> 00:03:32,476 Speaker 1: students in the first grade. Still, the board did not 46 00:03:32,556 --> 00:03:36,116 Speaker 1: make it easy. They introduced a number of new requirements 47 00:03:36,156 --> 00:03:39,556 Speaker 1: just for black students. One of these requirements was an 48 00:03:39,676 --> 00:03:42,916 Speaker 1: entrance exam, and nearly one hundred and forty perspective first 49 00:03:42,916 --> 00:03:46,356 Speaker 1: graders took the test. A handful of them passed, and 50 00:03:46,476 --> 00:03:51,996 Speaker 1: Ruby Bridges was one of them. Ruby, the NAACP shows 51 00:03:52,036 --> 00:03:54,596 Speaker 1: up at your doorstep in the summer to tell your 52 00:03:54,636 --> 00:03:58,436 Speaker 1: parents that you've passed this test and you're now allowed 53 00:03:58,516 --> 00:04:02,956 Speaker 1: to attend William France Elementary School. I'm wondering how your 54 00:04:02,956 --> 00:04:06,676 Speaker 1: parents responded to this news. My mother was the one 55 00:04:06,716 --> 00:04:10,956 Speaker 1: who really initiated this, and I think, you know, for 56 00:04:10,996 --> 00:04:14,276 Speaker 1: the most part, like most moms, they want, you know, 57 00:04:14,356 --> 00:04:16,956 Speaker 1: the best for their children. And not to say that 58 00:04:16,996 --> 00:04:20,796 Speaker 1: my father didn't want that, but my father had just 59 00:04:20,956 --> 00:04:25,916 Speaker 1: recently gotten out of the service where he fought in 60 00:04:25,956 --> 00:04:29,516 Speaker 1: the Korean War, and a segregated branch of the military. 61 00:04:30,316 --> 00:04:34,676 Speaker 1: He felt like if you could be on the battlefield 62 00:04:35,756 --> 00:04:38,276 Speaker 1: next to a white soldier fighting for the same country, 63 00:04:38,276 --> 00:04:40,596 Speaker 1: and yet at the end of the day, if you lived, 64 00:04:40,636 --> 00:04:44,116 Speaker 1: you couldn't go back to the same barracks together. Because 65 00:04:44,116 --> 00:04:48,276 Speaker 1: he was black and his counterpart was white. They couldn't 66 00:04:48,316 --> 00:04:51,356 Speaker 1: eat in the same mess haul together. So he felt like, 67 00:04:51,476 --> 00:04:56,916 Speaker 1: why send me to this integrated school facing all of 68 00:04:56,916 --> 00:05:02,196 Speaker 1: the problems that could have happened, because things wouldn't change anyway. 69 00:05:02,956 --> 00:05:05,596 Speaker 1: And that's really how he felt. But I do believe 70 00:05:05,636 --> 00:05:08,796 Speaker 1: that they were very excited that I'd passed the test, 71 00:05:09,796 --> 00:05:14,076 Speaker 1: and you know, your mom eventually convinces your dad, who's 72 00:05:14,076 --> 00:05:16,756 Speaker 1: on the fence, right, and they do decide to enroll 73 00:05:16,836 --> 00:05:20,076 Speaker 1: you in William, France that fall, and you know, I 74 00:05:20,156 --> 00:05:23,316 Speaker 1: know there were delays because of increased resistance from opposition, 75 00:05:23,396 --> 00:05:26,196 Speaker 1: but you do end up having an enrollment date of 76 00:05:26,236 --> 00:05:32,716 Speaker 1: November fourteenth, nineteen sixty and the night before your first day, 77 00:05:32,836 --> 00:05:35,516 Speaker 1: your mom tells you that you'll be joining a new school, 78 00:05:35,556 --> 00:05:38,076 Speaker 1: but she doesn't tell you much more than that. No, 79 00:05:38,556 --> 00:05:41,076 Speaker 1: you know, and I grew up in an era where 80 00:05:41,476 --> 00:05:46,196 Speaker 1: you know, you were seen and really not heard. I mean, 81 00:05:46,356 --> 00:05:48,316 Speaker 1: we could not even be in the same room with 82 00:05:48,356 --> 00:05:52,556 Speaker 1: adults when they were having grown up conversation. It wasn't 83 00:05:52,636 --> 00:05:55,916 Speaker 1: like they were gonna sit me down and explain everything 84 00:05:55,916 --> 00:05:58,796 Speaker 1: to me. You know. It was only on a need 85 00:05:58,876 --> 00:06:01,196 Speaker 1: to know basis. That's, you know, how they felt. So 86 00:06:01,396 --> 00:06:04,396 Speaker 1: the only thing they said is Ruby, you're going to 87 00:06:04,436 --> 00:06:06,996 Speaker 1: go to a new school today, and you better behave now. 88 00:06:07,036 --> 00:06:09,436 Speaker 1: I do remember taking the test, you know, weeks before, 89 00:06:09,716 --> 00:06:14,476 Speaker 1: but I wasn't privileged to what the test was about 90 00:06:14,516 --> 00:06:18,276 Speaker 1: what all of that meant. I just knew that I 91 00:06:18,396 --> 00:06:20,356 Speaker 1: was going to be going to a new school. And 92 00:06:20,436 --> 00:06:23,356 Speaker 1: like most kids, you're a little bit nervous when you 93 00:06:23,396 --> 00:06:25,156 Speaker 1: have to switch schools because you're going to leave your 94 00:06:25,156 --> 00:06:28,276 Speaker 1: old friends and you know, and your teacher in the 95 00:06:28,316 --> 00:06:30,796 Speaker 1: school that I had just gotten used to because I 96 00:06:30,836 --> 00:06:35,716 Speaker 1: was only there for kindergarten, so that was it. And also, Ruby, 97 00:06:35,716 --> 00:06:39,796 Speaker 1: you better behave, And that's what I was concentrating on, 98 00:06:39,916 --> 00:06:42,996 Speaker 1: is behaving. I'm wondering, Ruby, if you can bring us 99 00:06:42,996 --> 00:06:45,836 Speaker 1: back to that first morning when you were getting ready 100 00:06:45,836 --> 00:06:50,036 Speaker 1: for your new school. Well, I remember that morning because 101 00:06:50,076 --> 00:06:53,516 Speaker 1: I had already had a first day. I had had 102 00:06:53,516 --> 00:06:56,036 Speaker 1: a first day of the year before, and yet this 103 00:06:56,076 --> 00:06:59,876 Speaker 1: first day was totally different. You know, neighbors were coming 104 00:06:59,916 --> 00:07:04,876 Speaker 1: over my mother's friends were coming to dress me for school, 105 00:07:05,156 --> 00:07:08,956 Speaker 1: and you know, I had all these beautiful new things 106 00:07:09,236 --> 00:07:14,716 Speaker 1: to where that really didn't happen when I started kindergarten, 107 00:07:15,556 --> 00:07:17,516 Speaker 1: and it just seemed like the house was full of 108 00:07:17,596 --> 00:07:21,916 Speaker 1: people and it was all centered around me going to school, 109 00:07:21,996 --> 00:07:25,476 Speaker 1: and so that in itself was very different. Did I 110 00:07:25,516 --> 00:07:28,916 Speaker 1: feel special? Yes? I felt really special for some reason 111 00:07:28,956 --> 00:07:31,716 Speaker 1: as a matter of fact, in my tiny six year 112 00:07:31,716 --> 00:07:34,436 Speaker 1: old mind, remembering the test that I had taken and 113 00:07:34,556 --> 00:07:39,316 Speaker 1: how excited everybody you are was about the test. I 114 00:07:39,436 --> 00:07:42,276 Speaker 1: really thought that the reason why this was so different, 115 00:07:42,276 --> 00:07:46,516 Speaker 1: and so many people were excited and congratulating my parents 116 00:07:46,516 --> 00:07:48,716 Speaker 1: and saying, oh my goodness, she's so smart. You know, 117 00:07:49,236 --> 00:07:52,836 Speaker 1: I really felt like, okay, that test must have been 118 00:07:52,876 --> 00:07:57,156 Speaker 1: so important and no other kids could pass it that 119 00:07:57,236 --> 00:08:01,996 Speaker 1: now I am going from first grade straight to college. 120 00:08:02,556 --> 00:08:07,036 Speaker 1: So I thought. I thought everybody was so excited because 121 00:08:07,036 --> 00:08:10,516 Speaker 1: it just had never seen a six year old goes 122 00:08:10,636 --> 00:08:15,916 Speaker 1: straight to college. But you know, that's the imagination of 123 00:08:15,956 --> 00:08:19,396 Speaker 1: a child in the innocence that protected me during that time. 124 00:08:19,876 --> 00:08:23,116 Speaker 1: So I remember that back and forth, and then I 125 00:08:23,156 --> 00:08:25,996 Speaker 1: remember the knock at the door and my parents opened 126 00:08:26,036 --> 00:08:29,556 Speaker 1: the door and four very tall white men were standing 127 00:08:29,636 --> 00:08:34,196 Speaker 1: at the door, and I remember they had these yellow 128 00:08:34,236 --> 00:08:39,716 Speaker 1: bands on their arms, and my thought then was who 129 00:08:39,716 --> 00:08:45,076 Speaker 1: were they? And not really knowing, but I remember the conversation. 130 00:08:45,236 --> 00:08:50,116 Speaker 1: I remember them saying, we're us Marshals, and we've been 131 00:08:50,156 --> 00:08:53,556 Speaker 1: sent by the President of the United States. We're here 132 00:08:53,636 --> 00:08:56,996 Speaker 1: to escort you and your daughter to school today, And 133 00:08:57,116 --> 00:09:01,116 Speaker 1: even then it just felt so important. I remember us 134 00:09:01,116 --> 00:09:03,236 Speaker 1: getting into the car with them. Two of them sat 135 00:09:03,276 --> 00:09:05,436 Speaker 1: in the front seat and two in the back. My 136 00:09:05,516 --> 00:09:07,796 Speaker 1: mom and I got into the car with them and 137 00:09:07,836 --> 00:09:11,276 Speaker 1: we started this very art drive to my new school. 138 00:09:11,716 --> 00:09:16,316 Speaker 1: And then even some of the neighbors they seemed ready 139 00:09:16,876 --> 00:09:20,596 Speaker 1: to go as well, and we got in a car, 140 00:09:20,676 --> 00:09:22,716 Speaker 1: we started to drive, and all of the neighbors actually 141 00:09:22,756 --> 00:09:28,756 Speaker 1: walked behind the car. Wow, did the federal marshals give 142 00:09:28,796 --> 00:09:31,796 Speaker 1: you instructions about what to do when you arrived at 143 00:09:31,796 --> 00:09:36,356 Speaker 1: the school? Not really me, but I overheard the conversation 144 00:09:36,436 --> 00:09:38,716 Speaker 1: where they were talking to my mom about how we 145 00:09:38,716 --> 00:09:40,396 Speaker 1: should get out of the car, and you know, I 146 00:09:40,436 --> 00:09:43,196 Speaker 1: remember them saying this, bridges will get out first, We'll 147 00:09:43,236 --> 00:09:45,476 Speaker 1: surround you in your daughter. We want you to walk 148 00:09:45,476 --> 00:09:52,876 Speaker 1: straight ahead and don't look back. I remembered that I 149 00:09:52,916 --> 00:09:55,396 Speaker 1: did see all of the people standing out in front 150 00:09:55,396 --> 00:09:57,676 Speaker 1: of the school when we drove up. But again, living 151 00:09:57,756 --> 00:10:00,556 Speaker 1: here in New Orleans and being accustomed to mighty gras, 152 00:10:00,836 --> 00:10:04,316 Speaker 1: you know something that every kid here in the city 153 00:10:04,396 --> 00:10:08,636 Speaker 1: looks forward to. When I saw all of the people, 154 00:10:08,796 --> 00:10:13,356 Speaker 1: and I I saw barricades, you know where the people 155 00:10:13,396 --> 00:10:17,076 Speaker 1: were standing behind the barricades. I saw police officers on 156 00:10:17,716 --> 00:10:23,356 Speaker 1: motorcycles and horseback. All of that actually happens during my degras, 157 00:10:24,436 --> 00:10:26,636 Speaker 1: because at any given time, you could be in your 158 00:10:26,636 --> 00:10:30,556 Speaker 1: car and stumbled into a parade and you have to 159 00:10:30,556 --> 00:10:32,956 Speaker 1: stay in your car and wait till the parade passes. So, 160 00:10:34,836 --> 00:10:37,716 Speaker 1: you know, I say that to say that I did 161 00:10:37,836 --> 00:10:44,716 Speaker 1: not feel a need to be afraid. Ruby, You're I mean, 162 00:10:44,716 --> 00:10:46,876 Speaker 1: I have this visual in my head, right there's there's 163 00:10:46,916 --> 00:10:53,156 Speaker 1: people protesting and screaming and rebelling against integration. And from 164 00:10:53,156 --> 00:10:55,756 Speaker 1: what I understand, you know, the community knew that there 165 00:10:55,796 --> 00:10:58,316 Speaker 1: would be some schools that would need to integrate that day, 166 00:10:58,356 --> 00:11:00,236 Speaker 1: but they didn't know which ones, right, So the parents 167 00:11:00,236 --> 00:11:02,916 Speaker 1: in this school are finding out in real time that 168 00:11:03,116 --> 00:11:06,596 Speaker 1: their children's school is the one that's being integrated. Is 169 00:11:06,596 --> 00:11:10,436 Speaker 1: that right? Yes, I mean, the schools were kept secret, 170 00:11:11,076 --> 00:11:14,956 Speaker 1: and so I guess what created the crowd that morning 171 00:11:15,236 --> 00:11:19,516 Speaker 1: is parents showing up to bring their kids to school, 172 00:11:20,076 --> 00:11:23,036 Speaker 1: but they waited outside to see if indeed it was 173 00:11:23,076 --> 00:11:26,116 Speaker 1: going to be their school. And that school normally holds 174 00:11:26,116 --> 00:11:29,596 Speaker 1: about five hundred kids, so you can imagine all of 175 00:11:29,636 --> 00:11:32,036 Speaker 1: the parents that were waiting around out in front of 176 00:11:32,036 --> 00:11:37,556 Speaker 1: the school. And so finally when I drove up, they 177 00:11:37,636 --> 00:11:40,316 Speaker 1: knew it was their school. And so the minute I 178 00:11:40,476 --> 00:11:45,596 Speaker 1: was escorted inside of the building, the federal marshals escorted 179 00:11:45,636 --> 00:11:48,356 Speaker 1: my mom and I straight to the principal's office and 180 00:11:48,516 --> 00:11:50,876 Speaker 1: we went into the principal's office and took a seat 181 00:11:51,356 --> 00:11:54,956 Speaker 1: where I was waiting to be assigned to a class. 182 00:11:55,876 --> 00:11:58,596 Speaker 1: But the next thing that happened is all of those 183 00:11:58,636 --> 00:12:02,596 Speaker 1: parents that had been waiting outside, they immediately rushed inside 184 00:12:02,596 --> 00:12:05,636 Speaker 1: of the building. And as I was sitting there in 185 00:12:05,676 --> 00:12:09,516 Speaker 1: the office with my mom, you know, behind these glass windows, 186 00:12:09,596 --> 00:12:13,076 Speaker 1: the federal marshals were standing right outside the door, so 187 00:12:13,116 --> 00:12:16,636 Speaker 1: no one could actually come into the office, but they 188 00:12:16,676 --> 00:12:19,396 Speaker 1: were passing the office and I could see them and 189 00:12:19,476 --> 00:12:23,796 Speaker 1: they would pass the window, and then you know, a 190 00:12:23,796 --> 00:12:25,516 Speaker 1: few minutes later, I would see them come back by 191 00:12:25,516 --> 00:12:27,756 Speaker 1: the window and there were kids with them. So that 192 00:12:27,916 --> 00:12:32,036 Speaker 1: kept happening all morning, back and forth, and I watched 193 00:12:32,076 --> 00:12:35,876 Speaker 1: that the whole day. Finally the bell rang and the 194 00:12:35,956 --> 00:12:39,916 Speaker 1: principal came into the office and she said school was dismissed. 195 00:12:40,916 --> 00:12:45,716 Speaker 1: You can leave. And I remember thinking, Wow, college is easy, 196 00:12:48,716 --> 00:12:52,996 Speaker 1: you know, because nothing happened. And I was expecting something 197 00:12:53,036 --> 00:12:57,236 Speaker 1: to happen that day, but it didn't because parents went 198 00:12:57,276 --> 00:13:02,716 Speaker 1: into every classroom, they pulled out every child and they 199 00:13:02,796 --> 00:13:07,356 Speaker 1: never came back. Ruby. When you leave school on that 200 00:13:07,356 --> 00:13:11,476 Speaker 1: first day and you head home with your mom with 201 00:13:11,516 --> 00:13:16,076 Speaker 1: these federal marshals, what do you remember from that evening? 202 00:13:17,076 --> 00:13:20,236 Speaker 1: I was excited, you know, in my mind, I didn't 203 00:13:20,276 --> 00:13:27,156 Speaker 1: have a bad day that day. Or my father, I think, 204 00:13:27,316 --> 00:13:29,516 Speaker 1: asked me, you know, how was your day, and I 205 00:13:29,556 --> 00:13:32,556 Speaker 1: said it was, you know, it was good, and that 206 00:13:32,636 --> 00:13:36,996 Speaker 1: was pretty much it. There wasn't a conversation between us. 207 00:13:38,396 --> 00:13:41,636 Speaker 1: I do remember my mom saying when she got home, 208 00:13:41,636 --> 00:13:43,916 Speaker 1: she turned a television set on and she could see 209 00:13:44,636 --> 00:13:49,476 Speaker 1: the whole country was actually watching what was happening. And 210 00:13:49,636 --> 00:13:52,476 Speaker 1: I don't think that either one of them expected that. 211 00:13:53,596 --> 00:13:57,436 Speaker 1: And I remember her saying, oh my god, what have 212 00:13:57,476 --> 00:14:01,796 Speaker 1: I done. There was no way of them knowing exactly 213 00:14:01,916 --> 00:14:05,716 Speaker 1: how this was going to play out. They were told 214 00:14:05,796 --> 00:14:10,316 Speaker 1: to expect some opposition, and that's why the Federal marshals 215 00:14:10,316 --> 00:14:13,476 Speaker 1: were there. I know they expected that, but I don't 216 00:14:13,476 --> 00:14:22,076 Speaker 1: believe they expected what she actually saw that day. On 217 00:14:22,116 --> 00:14:25,196 Speaker 1: the second day of school, from what I've read, the 218 00:14:25,556 --> 00:14:30,516 Speaker 1: protesting seems to intensify even more absolutely because after the 219 00:14:30,556 --> 00:14:34,036 Speaker 1: first day, then the whole country knew which school it was, 220 00:14:34,796 --> 00:14:40,916 Speaker 1: so people gathered forces. They were chanting and screaming and 221 00:14:40,956 --> 00:14:44,956 Speaker 1: shouting all sorts of threats. I think for the most 222 00:14:44,996 --> 00:14:52,916 Speaker 1: part I must have blocked that out, but definitely from photographs, 223 00:14:53,076 --> 00:14:58,076 Speaker 1: from footage that I seen after the fact, they were chanting, 224 00:14:58,116 --> 00:15:02,396 Speaker 1: We're gonna hang her, We're gonna poison her. The federal 225 00:15:02,436 --> 00:15:05,396 Speaker 1: marshals took those threats very seriously. As a matter of fact, 226 00:15:05,636 --> 00:15:10,716 Speaker 1: I was never allowed to have lunch cafeteria because of 227 00:15:10,756 --> 00:15:14,676 Speaker 1: the threats about poisoning me and my mother had to 228 00:15:14,676 --> 00:15:17,516 Speaker 1: prepare my lunch and I would have to eat my 229 00:15:17,596 --> 00:15:21,076 Speaker 1: lunch at my desk and not go to the cafeteria 230 00:15:21,116 --> 00:15:24,156 Speaker 1: because they were concerned about that. But yes, they were 231 00:15:24,196 --> 00:15:30,476 Speaker 1: making all sorts of threats protesters carried a small box 232 00:15:31,756 --> 00:15:36,836 Speaker 1: and it was actually a baby's coffin, and they put 233 00:15:36,836 --> 00:15:41,636 Speaker 1: this black doll inside of the box and they would 234 00:15:41,676 --> 00:15:45,036 Speaker 1: march around the school with it. And so whenever I 235 00:15:45,076 --> 00:15:47,876 Speaker 1: would see the box, that's what would really frighten me 236 00:15:48,716 --> 00:15:51,996 Speaker 1: more than anything. I wasn't I don't really remember being 237 00:15:52,436 --> 00:15:56,076 Speaker 1: frightened of the crowd, but when I had to pass 238 00:15:56,156 --> 00:16:03,316 Speaker 1: the box, I would have nightmares about the box. And 239 00:16:03,396 --> 00:16:05,876 Speaker 1: when it comes to who's going to teach you, all 240 00:16:05,876 --> 00:16:08,436 Speaker 1: of the white teachers at the school, which are all 241 00:16:08,476 --> 00:16:11,716 Speaker 1: the teachers at school, refused to teach you. Right, So 242 00:16:11,756 --> 00:16:15,196 Speaker 1: there's a teacher from Boston, Missus Henry, who ends up 243 00:16:15,236 --> 00:16:19,396 Speaker 1: being your teacher for the year. Well, teachers actually quit 244 00:16:19,436 --> 00:16:24,516 Speaker 1: their jobs across the city, thinking that maybe their school 245 00:16:24,556 --> 00:16:26,956 Speaker 1: was going to be integrated. You know, our guest teachers 246 00:16:26,996 --> 00:16:30,556 Speaker 1: who could afford to quit their jobs or maybe switched 247 00:16:30,596 --> 00:16:32,916 Speaker 1: to other schools. They did that. The few teachers that 248 00:16:33,036 --> 00:16:35,836 Speaker 1: remained in the school really did not want to have 249 00:16:35,916 --> 00:16:39,516 Speaker 1: anything to do with me. Missus Henry had come from 250 00:16:39,516 --> 00:16:42,836 Speaker 1: Boston because her husband was also in the military and 251 00:16:42,876 --> 00:16:46,116 Speaker 1: he was stationed right outside of New Orleans. So she 252 00:16:46,316 --> 00:16:50,356 Speaker 1: was looking for a teacher's position had no idea that 253 00:16:50,476 --> 00:16:55,316 Speaker 1: we were about to go into this integration process, not 254 00:16:55,476 --> 00:16:58,196 Speaker 1: that it mattered anything to her because she was accustomed 255 00:16:58,236 --> 00:17:03,676 Speaker 1: to teaching on military basis, where you know, they were 256 00:17:04,236 --> 00:17:10,316 Speaker 1: kids of different nationalities and backgrounds. So she said that 257 00:17:10,396 --> 00:17:13,316 Speaker 1: it really didn't matter to her what I looked like. 258 00:17:14,596 --> 00:17:17,196 Speaker 1: I've heard her say that. She asked if it was 259 00:17:17,236 --> 00:17:19,956 Speaker 1: going to be an integrated school, and she said they 260 00:17:19,996 --> 00:17:23,876 Speaker 1: said yes. They didn't tell her when you get here, yes, 261 00:17:23,996 --> 00:17:27,956 Speaker 1: today it will be. So I met her on the 262 00:17:27,996 --> 00:17:31,036 Speaker 1: second day, and I remember when I went into the 263 00:17:31,076 --> 00:17:34,876 Speaker 1: building and it was so very quiet, because you know, 264 00:17:34,916 --> 00:17:37,996 Speaker 1: everybody was gone. Yeah, you could hear pin drop when 265 00:17:37,996 --> 00:17:42,116 Speaker 1: I walked up the stairs, and our footsteps echoed in 266 00:17:42,156 --> 00:17:45,676 Speaker 1: the hallways. And when I got to the top of 267 00:17:45,716 --> 00:17:48,956 Speaker 1: the stairs, the principal said, your classes down the hall 268 00:17:49,676 --> 00:17:52,196 Speaker 1: and those federal marshalls. They turned me around and they 269 00:17:52,196 --> 00:17:56,316 Speaker 1: walked me down the hall and to the classroom. When 270 00:17:56,356 --> 00:17:59,436 Speaker 1: I got there, the door opened and this woman stepped 271 00:17:59,436 --> 00:18:03,116 Speaker 1: out and she said, Hi, my name is missus Henry. 272 00:18:03,156 --> 00:18:06,516 Speaker 1: I'm your teacher. And I remember looking at her and 273 00:18:06,596 --> 00:18:11,436 Speaker 1: thinking she's white, because I had never seen a white 274 00:18:11,436 --> 00:18:16,636 Speaker 1: teacher before. I had recently come from an all black 275 00:18:16,636 --> 00:18:21,436 Speaker 1: school where everybody looked like me until this very day 276 00:18:21,476 --> 00:18:25,356 Speaker 1: that the law was being implemented, and not to mention. 277 00:18:25,476 --> 00:18:27,316 Speaker 1: When I looked at her, you know, she looked exactly 278 00:18:27,316 --> 00:18:33,196 Speaker 1: like the crowd outside. So I didn't I didn't really 279 00:18:33,356 --> 00:18:39,156 Speaker 1: know how to receive her, you know, I didn't know 280 00:18:39,636 --> 00:18:42,996 Speaker 1: what she was going to be like. Everyone outside seemed 281 00:18:43,036 --> 00:18:47,396 Speaker 1: really angry. But I remember her saying, you know, come 282 00:18:47,436 --> 00:18:51,396 Speaker 1: in and take a seat. And as I stood there, 283 00:18:51,436 --> 00:18:53,836 Speaker 1: I looked inside of the classroom and there were nothing 284 00:18:53,836 --> 00:18:58,596 Speaker 1: but empty desk. So immediately I remember thinking, well, my 285 00:18:58,676 --> 00:19:02,996 Speaker 1: mom has brought me to school too early, because nobody 286 00:19:03,676 --> 00:19:07,876 Speaker 1: was in the building, let alone in that empty classroom. 287 00:19:07,956 --> 00:19:09,756 Speaker 1: But you know, I went in and I took a seat. 288 00:19:10,676 --> 00:19:12,876 Speaker 1: My mother sat in the back of the class, and 289 00:19:13,036 --> 00:19:19,036 Speaker 1: missus Henry began to teach me. And right away I 290 00:19:19,156 --> 00:19:26,876 Speaker 1: liked her. She made me feel safe. I knew that 291 00:19:26,956 --> 00:19:34,716 Speaker 1: she liked me just the way she behaved, and she 292 00:19:35,916 --> 00:19:40,356 Speaker 1: made school fun for me. I remember leaving being excited 293 00:19:40,396 --> 00:19:44,036 Speaker 1: about my first day with her, and as time went on, 294 00:19:44,396 --> 00:19:49,396 Speaker 1: you know, I began to see her as just another mom, 295 00:19:49,436 --> 00:19:53,236 Speaker 1: you know, my school mother, because it was always just 296 00:19:53,356 --> 00:19:56,676 Speaker 1: her and I and I knew that if once I 297 00:19:56,716 --> 00:19:58,796 Speaker 1: passed the crowd and got inside of the building, I 298 00:19:58,916 --> 00:20:00,236 Speaker 1: knew it was going to have a great day. It 299 00:20:00,356 --> 00:20:05,396 Speaker 1: was because of her. You know, she showed me her heart, 300 00:20:06,716 --> 00:20:12,076 Speaker 1: and I knew that she was different. Even though she 301 00:20:12,236 --> 00:20:20,156 Speaker 1: looked like the people outside, she was different. And you know, 302 00:20:20,236 --> 00:20:22,516 Speaker 1: the beauty of it all is that I made a 303 00:20:22,516 --> 00:20:24,556 Speaker 1: friend at six years old that I am still friends 304 00:20:24,556 --> 00:20:28,316 Speaker 1: with today. You know, she's still alive and she's still 305 00:20:28,356 --> 00:20:33,956 Speaker 1: my best friend. I read that missus Henry would start 306 00:20:33,996 --> 00:20:37,036 Speaker 1: each day with a hug, that she would sit side 307 00:20:37,036 --> 00:20:39,996 Speaker 1: by side with you in your cozy corner of the room, 308 00:20:40,196 --> 00:20:44,516 Speaker 1: and because federal marshals wouldn't let you go outside for recess, 309 00:20:44,516 --> 00:20:46,636 Speaker 1: she would get really creative in the classroom. Right, She'd 310 00:20:46,636 --> 00:20:49,156 Speaker 1: move furniture around, and just the two of you would 311 00:20:49,156 --> 00:20:52,116 Speaker 1: do jumping Jackson place because you couldn't do physical ed. 312 00:20:53,756 --> 00:20:57,156 Speaker 1: It was just so moving to hear about the way 313 00:20:57,156 --> 00:21:03,556 Speaker 1: that she embraced it's very complex role. Yes, we had 314 00:21:03,556 --> 00:21:09,756 Speaker 1: our own little world in that room that was hours 315 00:21:09,836 --> 00:21:13,356 Speaker 1: safe haven. I mean you could hear them from the windows, 316 00:21:13,796 --> 00:21:17,636 Speaker 1: screaming and chanting and shouting and there were days when 317 00:21:17,676 --> 00:21:19,396 Speaker 1: she would turn up and said, oh, we're gonna have 318 00:21:19,516 --> 00:21:21,956 Speaker 1: music today, and she turned this little music box up. 319 00:21:22,876 --> 00:21:26,276 Speaker 1: But yes, everything we did we did in that classroom. 320 00:21:26,316 --> 00:21:31,596 Speaker 1: I remember the very first fieldship that I had was 321 00:21:32,116 --> 00:21:36,156 Speaker 1: actually seeing my school building because they would bring me 322 00:21:36,156 --> 00:21:38,516 Speaker 1: out one flight of stairs every morning and down that 323 00:21:38,556 --> 00:21:41,796 Speaker 1: same flight every afternoon, so I never had a chance 324 00:21:41,796 --> 00:21:47,316 Speaker 1: to see the entire school. And to you know, one 325 00:21:47,396 --> 00:21:50,956 Speaker 1: day that happened and she and the federal marshals just 326 00:21:51,036 --> 00:21:54,796 Speaker 1: walked me around the whole school, and that was the 327 00:21:54,876 --> 00:21:58,116 Speaker 1: day that I was able to go to the cafeteria. 328 00:21:58,196 --> 00:22:01,476 Speaker 1: I was excited about that. I could still smell the 329 00:22:01,516 --> 00:22:04,596 Speaker 1: food cooking because they were still cooking for the other 330 00:22:04,676 --> 00:22:07,756 Speaker 1: teachers or maybe for any other students that would show up. 331 00:22:08,316 --> 00:22:10,316 Speaker 1: So I would smell all the food and it would 332 00:22:10,356 --> 00:22:13,836 Speaker 1: remind me of what school was like at my old school, 333 00:22:15,036 --> 00:22:17,436 Speaker 1: where you know, when the bell rang, we all ran 334 00:22:17,556 --> 00:22:22,116 Speaker 1: to the cafeteria and had lunch together. And this school 335 00:22:22,156 --> 00:22:26,676 Speaker 1: was different because that didn't happen. It was very different. 336 00:22:26,796 --> 00:22:30,156 Speaker 1: And I was constantly trying to put the pieces together 337 00:22:31,356 --> 00:22:36,036 Speaker 1: to figure out why this environment was so different. And 338 00:22:36,116 --> 00:22:40,156 Speaker 1: did you ever ask missus Henry directly, Hey, what's going 339 00:22:40,196 --> 00:22:44,836 Speaker 1: on here? Why am I the only kid in your class? No? 340 00:22:45,876 --> 00:22:48,676 Speaker 1: And again I think that that goes back to the 341 00:22:48,716 --> 00:22:52,116 Speaker 1: way I was raised. I do remember saying to her 342 00:22:52,156 --> 00:22:55,556 Speaker 1: and Missus Henry, I hear kids. Because later in the year, 343 00:22:56,356 --> 00:22:58,996 Speaker 1: there were some white parents who tried to cross that 344 00:22:59,076 --> 00:23:04,076 Speaker 1: same picket line to bring their kids to school. The 345 00:23:04,116 --> 00:23:06,196 Speaker 1: principal would take the kids and she would hide them 346 00:23:07,436 --> 00:23:10,236 Speaker 1: so I would never see them and they would never 347 00:23:10,276 --> 00:23:12,716 Speaker 1: see me. But every time I went into this coat 348 00:23:12,716 --> 00:23:14,756 Speaker 1: closet to hang up my coat, I could hear them, 349 00:23:15,676 --> 00:23:19,316 Speaker 1: and I would mention that to missus Henry. I would say, 350 00:23:19,316 --> 00:23:22,956 Speaker 1: Missus Henry, I hear kids, and Missus Henry would just 351 00:23:22,996 --> 00:23:27,276 Speaker 1: ignore me. She wouldn't say anything. I later realized that 352 00:23:27,316 --> 00:23:31,516 Speaker 1: Missus Henry wasn't just ignoring me. She was going to 353 00:23:31,556 --> 00:23:35,916 Speaker 1: the principle and advocating for me, saying that the laws 354 00:23:35,996 --> 00:23:39,556 Speaker 1: changed and kids can be together now, but you are 355 00:23:39,756 --> 00:23:42,836 Speaker 1: hiding them from Ruby. If you don't allow them to 356 00:23:42,876 --> 00:23:45,076 Speaker 1: come together with Ruby, I'm gonna report you to the 357 00:23:45,116 --> 00:23:51,756 Speaker 1: superintendent because the laws changed, And so they made a 358 00:23:51,836 --> 00:23:56,036 Speaker 1: decision that she could take me to where the kids were, 359 00:23:56,996 --> 00:24:01,556 Speaker 1: but still the kids could not come into my classroom, 360 00:24:02,996 --> 00:24:07,036 Speaker 1: and you know, we were taken outside, which I was 361 00:24:07,076 --> 00:24:09,916 Speaker 1: really excited about. And that only happened once or twice 362 00:24:09,956 --> 00:24:13,836 Speaker 1: that year. What were your interactions like with those other 363 00:24:13,916 --> 00:24:18,276 Speaker 1: kids in the short moments you had together. I remember 364 00:24:18,316 --> 00:24:21,316 Speaker 1: that the first day that happened. I remember being so 365 00:24:21,356 --> 00:24:26,356 Speaker 1: excited because I spent like months searching, you know, and 366 00:24:26,396 --> 00:24:29,836 Speaker 1: trying to figure all of this out, and wishing every 367 00:24:29,956 --> 00:24:34,556 Speaker 1: day that kids would show up. And finally when missus 368 00:24:34,556 --> 00:24:36,396 Speaker 1: Henry was allowed to take me to where they were, 369 00:24:36,476 --> 00:24:40,596 Speaker 1: I was like, wow, I knew I heard kids, you know, 370 00:24:40,956 --> 00:24:43,876 Speaker 1: and just excited. I didn't care what they looked like. 371 00:24:43,956 --> 00:24:46,676 Speaker 1: I mean, any six year old would be excited to 372 00:24:46,796 --> 00:24:50,556 Speaker 1: now have an opportunity to make friends. But honestly, that 373 00:24:50,676 --> 00:24:54,996 Speaker 1: was the day that everything came together for me because 374 00:24:55,036 --> 00:24:57,196 Speaker 1: a little boy looked at me and he said, I 375 00:24:57,236 --> 00:25:00,356 Speaker 1: can't play with you. My mom said not to play 376 00:25:00,356 --> 00:25:04,716 Speaker 1: with you because you're a nigger. And I remember that 377 00:25:04,796 --> 00:25:09,996 Speaker 1: to this very day because I remember looking at him 378 00:25:10,116 --> 00:25:16,276 Speaker 1: and feeling like this weight lifted off my shoulders. And 379 00:25:16,356 --> 00:25:21,356 Speaker 1: when I say wait, it was like months. I'm trying 380 00:25:21,396 --> 00:25:27,756 Speaker 1: to piece it together. I'm trying to figure out why 381 00:25:27,876 --> 00:25:34,196 Speaker 1: the school is empty, Why there's no kids that show 382 00:25:34,276 --> 00:25:38,756 Speaker 1: up day after day? Why can't I have lunch in 383 00:25:38,796 --> 00:25:43,916 Speaker 1: the cafeteria. So in my mind the whole time, I'm 384 00:25:43,956 --> 00:25:49,036 Speaker 1: trying to figure it out what's going on. And the 385 00:25:49,116 --> 00:25:53,836 Speaker 1: little boy looked at me and he told me when 386 00:25:53,836 --> 00:25:56,956 Speaker 1: he said, I can't play with you, my mom said 387 00:25:57,036 --> 00:26:05,556 Speaker 1: not to because you're a nigger. I then realized, so 388 00:26:05,716 --> 00:26:13,756 Speaker 1: that's why there's no kids here. It's about me. It's 389 00:26:13,836 --> 00:26:22,396 Speaker 1: not my girl, and this isn't college. It's about me. 390 00:26:26,116 --> 00:26:28,316 Speaker 1: We'll be back in a moment with a slight change 391 00:26:28,316 --> 00:26:43,956 Speaker 1: of plans. Ruby Bridges was never told why she spent 392 00:26:44,076 --> 00:26:47,636 Speaker 1: every day at William France Elementary School with just her teacher, 393 00:26:47,716 --> 00:26:51,836 Speaker 1: Missus Henry, and no other kids, but Ruby eventually figured 394 00:26:51,876 --> 00:26:53,836 Speaker 1: it out when she was allowed to interact with a 395 00:26:53,836 --> 00:26:56,556 Speaker 1: few of the white kids at the school. Ruby was 396 00:26:56,596 --> 00:26:59,196 Speaker 1: called a racial slur by one of the kids, and 397 00:26:59,276 --> 00:27:01,276 Speaker 1: the truth of what was really going on in her 398 00:27:01,276 --> 00:27:07,596 Speaker 1: school became clear to her. My first encounter with racism 399 00:27:07,916 --> 00:27:12,036 Speaker 1: was with this little five or six year old boy. 400 00:27:14,276 --> 00:27:20,796 Speaker 1: And even though he called me that name, I mean I, 401 00:27:21,756 --> 00:27:24,876 Speaker 1: first of all, that wasn't my name. And second, I 402 00:27:24,996 --> 00:27:29,676 Speaker 1: was accustomed to hearing that word whenever we would go 403 00:27:29,716 --> 00:27:37,236 Speaker 1: back to Mississippi, where my grandparents were, and so I 404 00:27:37,356 --> 00:27:39,556 Speaker 1: knew that it was about the color of my skin. 405 00:27:42,796 --> 00:27:45,916 Speaker 1: And I wasn't angry with him because I didn't feel 406 00:27:45,996 --> 00:27:50,676 Speaker 1: like and I don't know, for some reason, I didn't 407 00:27:50,676 --> 00:27:55,196 Speaker 1: feel like he didn't want to play with me. Maybe 408 00:27:55,196 --> 00:27:58,156 Speaker 1: it was the way he looked at me, maybe it 409 00:27:58,196 --> 00:28:01,436 Speaker 1: was the way he said it. I don't know, but 410 00:28:01,916 --> 00:28:05,116 Speaker 1: I wasn't angry with him because I felt like he 411 00:28:05,236 --> 00:28:08,236 Speaker 1: was explaining to me why he couldn't play with me. 412 00:28:09,356 --> 00:28:11,836 Speaker 1: Like if my mom has said Ruby, don't play with him. 413 00:28:13,036 --> 00:28:23,356 Speaker 1: He's Asian, he's Indian, he's white, he's mixed race, he's Jewish, 414 00:28:23,476 --> 00:28:27,236 Speaker 1: I would not have played with him. And maybe if 415 00:28:27,276 --> 00:28:33,316 Speaker 1: you asked me, I would have actually been brutally honest 416 00:28:33,316 --> 00:28:38,636 Speaker 1: and say because my mom told me not to. You 417 00:28:38,756 --> 00:28:44,316 Speaker 1: have this conversation with your white classmate, and you're given 418 00:28:44,756 --> 00:28:48,516 Speaker 1: clarity around why your situation at school is the way 419 00:28:48,516 --> 00:28:52,876 Speaker 1: it is. As you describe that, there's a freeing quality 420 00:28:52,916 --> 00:28:56,076 Speaker 1: to it because suddenly Ruby's six year old brain can 421 00:28:56,116 --> 00:29:02,796 Speaker 1: make sense of it. But at the same time, it's 422 00:29:02,836 --> 00:29:06,396 Speaker 1: also a horrifying realization that this is what is happening. 423 00:29:07,156 --> 00:29:12,276 Speaker 1: And I'm wondering how you responded to that part. You're right. 424 00:29:13,196 --> 00:29:19,156 Speaker 1: It was bitter and sweet that moment. You're right, it 425 00:29:19,316 --> 00:29:26,516 Speaker 1: was an aha moment like now I know, and then 426 00:29:26,676 --> 00:29:33,276 Speaker 1: sad because he just told me that I wasn't good enough. Yeah, 427 00:29:35,636 --> 00:29:39,436 Speaker 1: as if there was something wrong with me. Do you 428 00:29:39,436 --> 00:29:43,516 Speaker 1: remember telling your parents that night about this conversation. No, 429 00:29:44,276 --> 00:29:49,716 Speaker 1: you just kept it to yourself. Yeah. It's a lot 430 00:29:49,756 --> 00:29:59,276 Speaker 1: to carry, yes, yes, that is a lot to put 431 00:29:59,316 --> 00:30:03,956 Speaker 1: onto a six year old. You know, it's all the 432 00:30:04,156 --> 00:30:13,556 Speaker 1: mind of a child, and how I coped with it. 433 00:30:13,556 --> 00:30:20,276 Speaker 1: It's an innocence, and I think, I mean not to 434 00:30:20,316 --> 00:30:22,476 Speaker 1: downplay it, but I think so many people feel like 435 00:30:22,516 --> 00:30:26,596 Speaker 1: it's so profound, it's so whatever, But it's it's just 436 00:30:26,716 --> 00:30:31,556 Speaker 1: the innocence of a child. Yeah, I mean, I think 437 00:30:33,436 --> 00:30:35,836 Speaker 1: I think one of the reasons it is so profound 438 00:30:36,196 --> 00:30:40,516 Speaker 1: is because a situation like that almost demands the innocence 439 00:30:40,556 --> 00:30:42,956 Speaker 1: of a child to make it bearable, to make it 440 00:30:43,076 --> 00:30:46,676 Speaker 1: something a human being can survive. And you know what, 441 00:30:46,756 --> 00:30:52,436 Speaker 1: You're right, You're absolutely right. And that's why I think 442 00:30:53,516 --> 00:30:56,996 Speaker 1: whether my parents understood it, what they were doing, or 443 00:30:56,996 --> 00:31:01,756 Speaker 1: whether it was just a sign of the times that 444 00:31:01,796 --> 00:31:05,596 Speaker 1: I grew up in where you didn't ask questions and 445 00:31:05,716 --> 00:31:09,756 Speaker 1: that's the way my parents were raised. So they didn't 446 00:31:11,116 --> 00:31:14,516 Speaker 1: try to switch things up and say, oh, now we're 447 00:31:14,556 --> 00:31:17,556 Speaker 1: going to explain everything to a child. They were not 448 00:31:17,676 --> 00:31:19,676 Speaker 1: raised that way and that was not the way they 449 00:31:19,756 --> 00:31:26,596 Speaker 1: raised us. So they just did things the way they 450 00:31:26,636 --> 00:31:29,596 Speaker 1: normally did and felt like there's no need to tell 451 00:31:29,596 --> 00:31:39,636 Speaker 1: her anything. And yet that was what saved me, that 452 00:31:39,716 --> 00:31:48,676 Speaker 1: allowed me to have this coping mechanism. But you know, afterwards, 453 00:31:48,956 --> 00:31:54,436 Speaker 1: the very next year, the protesters were gone. Schools were 454 00:31:54,516 --> 00:31:57,556 Speaker 1: then integrated across the city. The kids came back to 455 00:31:57,676 --> 00:32:01,596 Speaker 1: the school for second grade. For me, it was like 456 00:32:01,676 --> 00:32:05,636 Speaker 1: my life changed all over again, because I remember, after 457 00:32:05,676 --> 00:32:09,036 Speaker 1: some a vacation running back to that classroom so excited 458 00:32:09,116 --> 00:32:12,836 Speaker 1: about seeing Missus Henry. Was a new year, And the 459 00:32:12,876 --> 00:32:15,156 Speaker 1: minute I got to the classroom, it was almost like 460 00:32:16,836 --> 00:32:21,836 Speaker 1: somebody clapped their hands and the carriage was gone and 461 00:32:21,876 --> 00:32:26,556 Speaker 1: it turned into a pumpkin, and Missus Henry wasn't standing there. 462 00:32:27,796 --> 00:32:31,596 Speaker 1: The classroom did not even look like the same classroom anymore. 463 00:32:32,996 --> 00:32:35,316 Speaker 1: It was a new teacher. She had put up new 464 00:32:35,356 --> 00:32:38,036 Speaker 1: things in the class. It really was not my class. 465 00:32:39,316 --> 00:32:43,476 Speaker 1: There were lots of kids my second grade class. There 466 00:32:43,516 --> 00:32:48,476 Speaker 1: were maybe twenty twenty five kids, a few other black kids. 467 00:32:50,556 --> 00:32:55,356 Speaker 1: No one knew who I was. I was then being 468 00:32:55,396 --> 00:32:57,316 Speaker 1: taught by a teacher who had refused to teach me 469 00:32:57,356 --> 00:33:02,436 Speaker 1: the year before, So whenever I would it was my 470 00:33:02,516 --> 00:33:04,596 Speaker 1: turn to read, she would say, that's not how you 471 00:33:04,836 --> 00:33:09,396 Speaker 1: pronounced that. Take a seat. And it was because I 472 00:33:09,476 --> 00:33:13,436 Speaker 1: only knew how to pronounce words the way missus Henry 473 00:33:13,636 --> 00:33:17,396 Speaker 1: had taught me. She had come from Boston. She had 474 00:33:17,436 --> 00:33:20,396 Speaker 1: a very strong Boston accent, so I was left with 475 00:33:20,476 --> 00:33:24,556 Speaker 1: her Boston accent. So I remember not really wanting to 476 00:33:24,596 --> 00:33:32,916 Speaker 1: speak in second grade. It it was over and again 477 00:33:33,036 --> 00:33:38,956 Speaker 1: nobody told me anything. And you know, there were times 478 00:33:39,036 --> 00:33:44,196 Speaker 1: when I even wondered did I dream all of this? 479 00:33:46,236 --> 00:33:49,876 Speaker 1: Was it real? I knew it was real, but it 480 00:33:49,996 --> 00:33:53,276 Speaker 1: was like no one else really talked about it. It 481 00:33:53,316 --> 00:33:59,076 Speaker 1: was over and pretty much I think the city didn't 482 00:33:59,076 --> 00:34:00,996 Speaker 1: really want to talk about it or deal with it 483 00:34:01,036 --> 00:34:05,636 Speaker 1: because it was sort of a black mark on them. 484 00:34:05,876 --> 00:34:10,516 Speaker 1: No pun intended, but you know, the whole country watched 485 00:34:10,516 --> 00:34:15,796 Speaker 1: how adults behaved in front of a six year old, 486 00:34:15,996 --> 00:34:22,276 Speaker 1: So nobody really wanted to relive that. It wasn't like 487 00:34:23,476 --> 00:34:27,556 Speaker 1: my parents really wanted to talk about it. It was 488 00:34:27,596 --> 00:34:31,996 Speaker 1: too hard for them, and it really kind of had 489 00:34:32,036 --> 00:34:36,556 Speaker 1: them at odds with each other for a while. And 490 00:34:36,876 --> 00:34:39,596 Speaker 1: even though I had all these questions and nobody seemed 491 00:34:39,596 --> 00:34:41,076 Speaker 1: to really want to talk about it, it it wasn't like 492 00:34:41,116 --> 00:34:45,196 Speaker 1: I could run back to school, even in third grade, 493 00:34:45,196 --> 00:34:49,116 Speaker 1: fourth grade, fifth grade, six seventh. That wasn't like I 494 00:34:49,156 --> 00:34:53,036 Speaker 1: could open up my history book and learn about that 495 00:34:53,116 --> 00:34:58,756 Speaker 1: incident and learn about me. So how was I going 496 00:34:58,796 --> 00:35:05,036 Speaker 1: to find out about myself and this incident? And when 497 00:35:05,076 --> 00:35:09,636 Speaker 1: did you find out? I was about seventeen when a 498 00:35:09,716 --> 00:35:13,556 Speaker 1: reporter came to do an interview with me, and he 499 00:35:13,636 --> 00:35:20,396 Speaker 1: showed me the Norman Rockwell painting And for listeners, Ruby, 500 00:35:20,396 --> 00:35:24,676 Speaker 1: you're referring to the Norman Rockwall painting called The Problem 501 00:35:24,756 --> 00:35:28,236 Speaker 1: We All Live With, which immortalized your first day of 502 00:35:28,276 --> 00:35:31,676 Speaker 1: school and shows you as a little girl walking to 503 00:35:31,756 --> 00:35:37,356 Speaker 1: school with federal marshals surrounding you. Absolutely, he showed me 504 00:35:37,436 --> 00:35:42,436 Speaker 1: the Norman Rockwell painting and said, do you know that 505 00:35:42,476 --> 00:35:48,716 Speaker 1: this is you? This is you? It depicts your walk 506 00:35:50,876 --> 00:35:54,036 Speaker 1: and up until that moment, I didn't think anybody remembered 507 00:35:54,156 --> 00:36:01,076 Speaker 1: or cared, or that it even mattered. I thought that 508 00:36:01,916 --> 00:36:05,276 Speaker 1: this was an incident that just happened in my community, 509 00:36:06,716 --> 00:36:11,996 Speaker 1: on my street. That's what I thought. I wasn't aware 510 00:36:12,716 --> 00:36:15,356 Speaker 1: that it was so important, that it changed the face 511 00:36:15,396 --> 00:36:20,756 Speaker 1: of education, and that people around the country were familiar 512 00:36:20,796 --> 00:36:27,316 Speaker 1: with it enough for this very famous artist to paint 513 00:36:27,396 --> 00:36:33,396 Speaker 1: this amazing painting about I did not realize that my walk, 514 00:36:33,676 --> 00:36:37,236 Speaker 1: my story, was a part of a much bigger family, 515 00:36:38,156 --> 00:36:42,396 Speaker 1: the civil rights family, the civil rights movement. I did 516 00:36:42,436 --> 00:36:48,476 Speaker 1: not realize that until that moment. Wow, just over ten 517 00:36:48,556 --> 00:36:52,476 Speaker 1: years ago, you ended up celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of 518 00:36:52,516 --> 00:36:55,876 Speaker 1: your first day at William France by visiting the Obama 519 00:36:55,876 --> 00:36:58,996 Speaker 1: White House and sharing in this beautiful moment with President 520 00:36:58,996 --> 00:37:02,596 Speaker 1: Obama when you both looked at the Norman Rockwell painting together. 521 00:37:03,276 --> 00:37:06,196 Speaker 1: Do you mind sharing how that day came to be? So? 522 00:37:06,236 --> 00:37:09,276 Speaker 1: I was thinking it wouldn't be cool to have of 523 00:37:09,316 --> 00:37:12,956 Speaker 1: that painting hung at the White House. I started in 524 00:37:13,036 --> 00:37:17,796 Speaker 1: listening people to write letters the Norman Rockwell Museum. You know, 525 00:37:17,836 --> 00:37:19,956 Speaker 1: I sit on their board. They were really excited about 526 00:37:19,956 --> 00:37:24,796 Speaker 1: the idea. Missus Henry Ronan letter the governor of Massachusetts, 527 00:37:24,796 --> 00:37:29,076 Speaker 1: just different people, and we wrote and said, you know, 528 00:37:29,236 --> 00:37:34,236 Speaker 1: would you be willing to do this? And if any 529 00:37:34,276 --> 00:37:36,796 Speaker 1: president was going to say yes, we knew it was 530 00:37:36,836 --> 00:37:40,956 Speaker 1: going to be him, and he agreed, and so all 531 00:37:40,996 --> 00:37:45,356 Speaker 1: of us were so thrilled. And then I did get 532 00:37:45,396 --> 00:37:50,796 Speaker 1: an invitation to come and view it with him, and 533 00:37:50,956 --> 00:37:55,196 Speaker 1: that was like the icing on a cake. So we 534 00:37:55,236 --> 00:37:58,196 Speaker 1: went and it was a closed meeting, only about a 535 00:37:58,196 --> 00:38:04,836 Speaker 1: dozen people. So the door opens and he starts to 536 00:38:04,956 --> 00:38:09,956 Speaker 1: head to warn me, and everything changed, you know the 537 00:38:09,996 --> 00:38:12,716 Speaker 1: fact that I felt like I was so poised and 538 00:38:12,796 --> 00:38:17,436 Speaker 1: so cool about it. Everything changed because my first thought was, 539 00:38:19,516 --> 00:38:23,396 Speaker 1: you know, it's like, but missus Henry, he's black. There's 540 00:38:23,396 --> 00:38:29,276 Speaker 1: a black man walking toward me and he is the 541 00:38:29,316 --> 00:38:34,876 Speaker 1: President of the United States. That was just a whole 542 00:38:35,396 --> 00:38:44,916 Speaker 1: other group of feelings. And so he walked over to me, 543 00:38:45,876 --> 00:38:52,996 Speaker 1: and just as my escort explained what was going to unfold, 544 00:38:53,636 --> 00:38:58,676 Speaker 1: he turned and said, President Obama, this is Ruby Bridges. 545 00:38:58,916 --> 00:39:02,836 Speaker 1: And so I extended my hand and I said, mister President, 546 00:39:02,916 --> 00:39:06,116 Speaker 1: it is such an honor to meet you. And when 547 00:39:06,116 --> 00:39:08,076 Speaker 1: I did that, he put both hands on his hips 548 00:39:08,436 --> 00:39:10,276 Speaker 1: and he looked at me. He said, are you kidding me? 549 00:39:11,436 --> 00:39:17,476 Speaker 1: I'm getting a hug, and he's like threw his arms 550 00:39:17,516 --> 00:39:22,316 Speaker 1: around me, and he leaned over on my shoulder and 551 00:39:22,436 --> 00:39:25,196 Speaker 1: he whispered in my ear and he said, I cannot 552 00:39:25,236 --> 00:39:29,116 Speaker 1: begin to tell you what an honor it is to 553 00:39:29,156 --> 00:39:35,716 Speaker 1: welcome you into this White House. And when he was 554 00:39:35,836 --> 00:39:39,876 Speaker 1: whispering that in my ear, my head was on his shoulder, 555 00:39:40,356 --> 00:39:43,636 Speaker 1: and I looked around the room, and those twelve people 556 00:39:43,676 --> 00:39:47,876 Speaker 1: that were in the room, they all started to tear 557 00:39:47,956 --> 00:39:53,756 Speaker 1: up and they were crying. And then when we went 558 00:39:53,796 --> 00:39:59,476 Speaker 1: into his office and he started showing me around, and 559 00:39:59,516 --> 00:40:01,996 Speaker 1: then finally there we were standing in front of the painting. 560 00:40:02,076 --> 00:40:06,516 Speaker 1: He said, you know, it's fair to say that if 561 00:40:06,516 --> 00:40:09,796 Speaker 1: it had not been for you, all probably wouldn't be 562 00:40:09,796 --> 00:40:13,396 Speaker 1: standing here to day. And that's when it hit me 563 00:40:14,836 --> 00:40:21,436 Speaker 1: that this moment wasn't really about me and him. It 564 00:40:21,516 --> 00:40:28,756 Speaker 1: was about the time between us, all of the sacrifices 565 00:40:29,796 --> 00:40:40,356 Speaker 1: and lives lost, all those people that died, the struggle, 566 00:40:40,436 --> 00:40:46,436 Speaker 1: the whole movement, both black and white. That's what it was. 567 00:40:54,756 --> 00:40:58,356 Speaker 1: Ruby's journey is far from over. She actively travels the 568 00:40:58,396 --> 00:41:02,236 Speaker 1: world sharing her story. She helps run the Ruby Bridges Foundation, 569 00:41:02,436 --> 00:41:05,996 Speaker 1: which organizes a yearly walk to School day to commemorate 570 00:41:06,036 --> 00:41:08,916 Speaker 1: her first steps and the movement to end racism in 571 00:41:08,956 --> 00:41:12,636 Speaker 1: our communities. Ruby is also the author of several books. 572 00:41:12,996 --> 00:41:38,196 Speaker 1: Her latest is a children's book called I Am Ruby Bridges. Hey, 573 00:41:38,196 --> 00:41:41,116 Speaker 1: thanks so much for listening. Join me next week when 574 00:41:41,116 --> 00:41:44,196 Speaker 1: we hear from author Dan Pink on the science of regret. 575 00:41:44,996 --> 00:41:48,236 Speaker 1: Dan argues that we should transform our relationship to this 576 00:41:48,356 --> 00:41:52,956 Speaker 1: often misunderstood emotion. The thing about regret is that regret 577 00:41:53,676 --> 00:41:57,396 Speaker 1: can clarify what we value and instruct us on how 578 00:41:57,436 --> 00:42:01,276 Speaker 1: to do better. And people like that. But it comes 579 00:42:01,316 --> 00:42:04,476 Speaker 1: with discomfort. It comes with some amount of pain, and 580 00:42:04,516 --> 00:42:08,356 Speaker 1: people don't like that. But that's not the deal. It's 581 00:42:08,396 --> 00:42:11,516 Speaker 1: a package deal. You got to have both. And arguably 582 00:42:11,556 --> 00:42:14,956 Speaker 1: I think that pain and discomfort is the source of 583 00:42:14,996 --> 00:42:29,196 Speaker 1: the clarification and the instruction. A Slight Change of Plans 584 00:42:29,316 --> 00:42:32,596 Speaker 1: is created written an executive produce by me Maya Schunker. 585 00:42:33,156 --> 00:42:36,636 Speaker 1: The Slight Change Family includes our senior producer Tyler Greene, 586 00:42:36,996 --> 00:42:41,716 Speaker 1: our producer and fact checker Emily Rosteck, our editors Kate Parkinson, 587 00:42:41,756 --> 00:42:45,516 Speaker 1: Morgan and Jen Guera, and our sound engineers Ben holliday 588 00:42:45,596 --> 00:42:49,956 Speaker 1: In Andrew Vastola, Louis Skara wrote our delightful theme song 589 00:42:50,116 --> 00:42:53,596 Speaker 1: and Ginger Smith helped arrange the vocals. A Slight Change 590 00:42:53,596 --> 00:42:56,676 Speaker 1: of Plans is a production of Pushkin Industries, so big 591 00:42:56,716 --> 00:43:00,276 Speaker 1: thanks to everyone there, and of course a very special 592 00:43:00,316 --> 00:43:03,436 Speaker 1: thanks to Jimmy Lee. You can follow A Slight Change 593 00:43:03,436 --> 00:43:07,076 Speaker 1: of Plans on Instagram at doctor Maya Schunker See you 594 00:43:07,116 --> 00:43:36,116 Speaker 1: next week. My three nieces came over this weekend and 595 00:43:36,476 --> 00:43:39,076 Speaker 1: I had the PDF of your I Am Ruby Bridges 596 00:43:39,156 --> 00:43:42,276 Speaker 1: book and I was like, y'all are in for a treat. 597 00:43:42,596 --> 00:43:46,196 Speaker 1: Guess who I'm interviewing on Monday. And my niece vest 598 00:43:46,236 --> 00:43:49,876 Speaker 1: were just freaked out. She was like, oh, Ruby Bridges, 599 00:43:50,316 --> 00:43:53,036 Speaker 1: You're going to meet her. So anyway, I just wanted 600 00:43:53,036 --> 00:43:54,676 Speaker 1: you to know it led to a lot of joy 601 00:43:54,796 --> 00:43:57,596 Speaker 1: in the Schunker family. Well, thank you so much for 602 00:43:57,636 --> 00:44:00,676 Speaker 1: having me, and that just lifts my spirits today, so 603 00:44:01,476 --> 00:44:02,596 Speaker 1: I really appreciate it.