On the morning of her first day at William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Ruby Bridges’ mother told her: "Now I want you to behave yourself today, Ruby, and don’t be afraid." And Ruby and her mother went to the school, where so many people were outside, shouting and throwing things that the little girl thought it must be Mardi Gras.
She seemed to be remembering her mother’s words as she entered the school without showing any fear at all, despite the fact that it was 1960, there were U.S. Marshals walking beside her, and she was the first black child to enter an all-white school in the history of the American South.
It was in 1960 that a federal court ordered the desegregation of schools in the south, and although Ruby Bridges’ father thought she could get a perfectly good education at an all-black elementary school, Ruby Bridges’ mother insisted that her daughter pave the way for other black children in the newly-integrated school system.
Charles Burks, one of the U.S. Marshals who escorted Ruby Bridges and her mother into the school building, remembers the little girl who became a hero. "She showed a lot of courage. She never cried. She didn’t whimper. She just marched along like a little soldier. And we’re all very proud of her." The first year, all the parents of Frantz Elementary pulled their children out of school to protest the integration.
As a result, Ruby Bridges spent her first year in a class of one. The teacher, a woman from Boston, was one of the few white instructors who was willing to teach a black child. She and Ruby Bridges showed up for school every single day that year, and they held class as if there were no angry mob outside, no conflict over a little girl attending first grade.
Ruby Bridges family suffered from the bigotry of the times. Her father lost his job as a result of the controversy, and her grandparents lost their place as tenant farmers.
But also the Ruby Bridges gathered together, and friends would come in the morning to help Ruby get ready for school, or to walk with her to her classroom. By now nobody can deny the heroism of Ruby Bridges, whose bravery inspired the 1966 painting by Norman Rockwell entitled "The Problem We All Live With." It also inspired the children’s book The Ruby Bridges Story by Robert Coles.
And she has demonstrated the value of education to countless others: Ruby Bridges, who was born on September 8, 1954., has devoted herself to the education of the young. She raised her own four sons, her brother’s four daughters, and started the Ruby Bridges Foundation "in the hopes of bringing parents back into the schools and taking a more active role in their childrens’ education."
For more information please visit: www.rubybridges.com or contact Ruby Bridges for Speaking Engagements at the address and email below.
By postal mail at:
Ruby Bridges, P.O. Box 870248
New Orleans, LA 70187
By e-mail at: info@rubybridges.com
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I have another hero today Ruby Bridges. Today millions of students from accross the world have gathered in America to study. If it was not for your bravely and our God, Lord Jesus Christ , Holy Spirit, and Godly love from those around you, we would not have gotten to America . Today we are hearing in the Churches of a great move of God that is about to sweap America, where millions of people will be saved and return and evangelise the world for Christ…this is the prophesy one of Pastors uttered some times ago…Rev Martin Luther professied of a day Caucasian and African America will unite in brotherly love, even go to jail together…..I just say your picture on My Soul looks back and wonder by Juan Williams and I cried, because I have been looking for stories of young boys and girls that changed America for good. Thank you very much African Americans and Caucasians that fought for love and justice….we are one in Christ, He shed His blood..so that we remove us from the darkness of sin…and hatred is dark sin too…Jesus Christ thank you you are our PEACE AND OUR BOND (GLUE) OF UNITY…
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Black Patriots of the American Revolution
Because of the Progressive agenda, Americans have lost much of their knowledge of basic historical facts, particularly those relating to the American Revolution. It is not surprising that today’s Americans know little about the thousands of African Americans who fought during the Revolution, or that they participated in every major battle of the war. Progressive politicians purposely removed this part of our history to divide the races over the past 100 years. Perhaps if we had all grown up studying the true history of our country, the tide of race relations would have changed for the better.Today’s Americans of all colors owe a debt of gratitude to our black patriot heroes. Here are just a few.
Wentworth Cheswell rode in a different direction from Paul Revere to make the all-night ride to warn citizens of imminent British invasion. Cheswell actually brought the militia from the north.
James Armistead (Lafayette) (1760-1832) was one of the most important American spies during the Revolution.
Jordan Freeman (? – 1781); Lambo (Lambert) Latham (? – 1781)
In 1781, both black and white soldiers fought side by side at the Battle of Groton Heights, Connecticut. When the flagpole of the fort had earlier been shot down by the British during the battle, Lambert grabbed the American flag and held it high until he was captured. Latham had stood silently with the other American prisoners, but when he witnessed the coldblooded murder of his commander, he retaliated and killed the British officer.
When the region came under attack from the British, Freeman chose to stay and fight for America side by side with the man who had once been his owner.
Peter Salem (1750-1816) was a member of the famous Massachusetts Minutemen and was involved in a number of important battles, including the battles of Bunker Hill, Concord, and Saratoga (the first American victory of the Revolution). However, it was in the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, that he gained notoriety.
Prince Whipple (c. 1756 – c. 1797) had been part of a wealthy (perhaps even a royal) African family. When he was ten, he was sent by his family to America for an education; but while on the voyage, he was shanghaied by the ship’s treacherous captain and sold into slavery in Baltimore.
Prince Whipple did enter the service of America as a soldier during the Revolution and is often identified in a number of early paintings of the War, including that of General Washington after crossing the Delaware. In fact, many identify Prince Whipple as the man on the oar in the front of the boat in the famous crossing of the Delaware picture painted in 1851. Although Whipple did not actually cross the Delaware with Washington in the manner depicted, he was representative of the thousands of black patriots who did fight for American independence – and of the many African Americans who did cross the Delaware with Washington.
Prince Whipple fought in the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 and the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778. He directly attended General Washington and the general staff throughout the Revolution, serving as a soldier and aide at the highest levels.
Lemuel Haynes (1753-1833) was abandoned by his parents when he was five months old. He was taken in and apprenticed by the David Rose family. In 1774 when he turned 21 and had finished his tradesman apprenticeship, he enlisted as a Minuteman in the local Connecticut militia. While he was not part of the Battle of Lexington, he did write a lengthy ballad-sermon about that famous battle. However, a week following that battle, Haynes and the Connecticut troops were part of the siege of Boston. Haynes was also part of the military expedition against Fort Ticonderoga, made legendary by Ethan Allen and the famous Green Mountain Boys.
Black Commandos
In December 1776, the second in- command of the American Army, General Charles Lee, was taken prisoner by the British. In order for the Americans to effect his release through a prisoner exchange, a British general of the same rank was needed. A bold plan was therefore undertaken by Lt. Col. William Barton. He would slip past British forces at Newport, Rhode Island, enter the heart of the British camp, capture British General Richard Prescott in his quarters, and return him to the American side before the British learned of the raid.
Col. Barton hand-selected about forty elite soldiers both black and white. He gathered the group, explained to them his plan, warned them of the risk, and asked for volunteers. All chose to be part of the daring operation.
Waiting until the middle of the night, the group loaded into small boats, and with muffled oars, rowed silently past General Prescott’s warships and guard boats anchored in the harbor. Landing near the general’s headquarters, the Americans quickly overpowered the guards and surrounded the house of the sleeping general. They entered his house and, standing outside his locked door, they had only to break down the door and quickly grab Prescott before he realized what had occurred.
At that moment, one of the black commandos, Prince Sisson – a powerful man – stepped forward and charged the door, using his own head as a battering ram; on the second try, the locked door gave way and Prince entered the quarters and seized the surprised general. They safely returned with Prescott to the American lines where he was subsequently exchanged for the second-in-command of the American Army, General Charles Lee. The daring act of Sisson is still celebrated to this day.
Rhode Island Fighters was a regiment of 125 black patriots – both slave and free – commanded by Colonel Christopher Greene. That regiment, created during the infamous winter at Valley Forge, became noted for its bravery and courage, receiving its first baptism by fire during the Battle of Newport in 1778.
Numerous other black patriots distinguished themselves during the American Revolution, including James Forten, Peter Poor, Cuff Smith, Cesar and Festus Prince, and thousands of others. It is appropriate that during African American history month, we should remember these great black patriots who contributed so much to the establishment of America as the foremost nation of the world.
(Source: David Barton and Wallbuilders.com)
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