Revised Thesis Statement and Introduction

Thesis Statement:

Nothing can be more moving than watching a small black child climbing the steps to her elementary school that historically and legally did not welcome her presence. It is my contention that Ruby Bridges help to break the barer of segregation by becoming the first black child in an all white school and she served as a inspiration because now schools are integrated.

Introduction:

In 1960, Ruby Bridges parents responded to a call from the NAACP and volunteered her to participate in the integration of the New Orleans School System. Even though there was a large crowd of people surround the outside of the school, throwing and shouting things Ruby Bridges managed to go into the school. As soon as Ruby entered the school white parents were walking in and taking there children out.

Fourth Annotation

Civil Rights Leaders, "Resistance to the Movement." Ruby Bridges. 28 Oct 2008 .

Ruby Bridges played an important part in the Civil Rights Movement. Ruby was born September 8, 1954 in Tylertown, Mississippi. A year later, her family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. At that time, people wanted to keep blacks and whites separate because whites didn’t think that blacks were as good as them. For example, blacks and whites had separate drinking fountains, blacks had to sit in the back of buses, and blacks and whites each had their own separate schools.

This website was helpful to my research because it explained how Ruby Bridges was important to history. It also gave a time line of her important events. This was a secondary source.

Thesis Statement

Even though there was a large crowd of people outside of the school. They were throwing things and shouting. As soon as Bridges got into the school, white parents went in and brought their own children out; all but one of the white teachers also refused to teach while a black child was enrolled., In 1960, when she was 6 years old, her parents responded to a call from the NAACP and volunteered her to participate in the integration of the New Orleans School system. because Ruby Bridges played an important part in the Civil Rights Movement.

Third Annotation

Ruby Bridges. Dir. Euzhan Palcy. Perf. Chaz Monet, Penelope Ann Miller, Kevin Pollak, Michael Beach, Lela Rochon . DVD. Yahoo Movies, 1999.


Based on actual events that occurred in Louisiana during 1960. Ruby (newcomer Monet) is a first grader who, after scoring one of the highest grades on her school board exam, is chosen as one of the first black students to integrate an all-white school. As racial tension escalates, Ruby is escorted to school by federal marshals, who attempt to protect her from the angry protesters. With guidance and support from her mother (Rochon), father (Beach), teacher (Miller) and a child psychologist (Pollak), Ruby finds the determination to overcome all obstacles. An uplifting story of one girl's courage.


Ruby is an inspiring and cute little girl. The film revisits a shameful past and shows what a powerful force moral fortitude can be, even in a child. The film was nominated for several awards, including an NAACP Image award. The writer, Toni Ann Johnson, won the 1998 Humanities Prize for her teleplay. The film also won The Christopher Award. The movie was a secondary source.

Second Annotation

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), "My History." African American World History . 1995 - 2008. 20 Oct 2008 .


The PBS website on Ruby Bridges was about many different things. One thing that I focused on was how school was at the end of first grade. Near at the end of the year, Mrs. Henry, her teacher, and Ruby finally had company. A few white children began coming back to school, and she got an opportunity to visit with them once or twice. Even though these children were white, she still knew nothing about racism or integration. Ruby had picked up bits and pieces over the months from being around adults and hearing them talk, but nothing was clear to her. The light dawned one day when a little boy refused to play with me.

"I can't play with you," the boy said. "My mama said not to because you're a nigger."

Ruby, then finally realized that everything had happened because she was black. She remembers feeling a little stunned. It was all about the color of her skin. She wasn't angry at the boy, because she understood. His mother had told him not to play with her, and he was obeying her. She would have done the same thing. If her mama said not to do something, she didn't do it.



This website was helpful to my research because it gave quotes on how the children felt about her. It also helped me to understand how she felt because the other children were unable to play with her. This website was a secondary source. The audience is everyone.

First Annotation

Bridges, Ruby. Through My Eyes. Scholastic, 1999.




Ruby Bridges was born in Mississippi in 1954. At the age of six, she was among the first black child to go to a previously all-white school in New Orleans. She attended William Frantz Public School and was accompanied by her mother and armed U.S Federal Marshals. The Marshals were necessary because angry mobs formed outside Ruby's school, shouting protests like "Two, four, six, eight. We don't want to integrate!" Many white people were outraged at the school's integration, and most white families pulled their children out of the school. Even the State legislature called for white families to boycott mixed schools. For a year, Ruby was separated from the other children and was the only child in her class. With the help of a loving teacher, Ruby made it through a difficult year and paved the way for many African American children who followed in her footsteps in integrated schools. Today, Ruby Bridges still fights for equal education for all children through her lectures and the Ruby Bridges Foundation.




The book Through My Eyes was helpful to my research because it gave me the biography of Ruby Bridges. The book is a primary source. I know this because primary sources are original documents or evidence from a given historical period take many forms; photographs, drawings, letters, diaries, documents, books,and films. I think that the intended audience is everyone.

Topic Selection

I chose Ruby Bridges for my NHD Project because she's someone that you don't hear people talking about on an everyday basis.



This person is important to history because she played an important part in the Civil Rights Movement.