Ruby Nell Bridges Hall is an American activist known for being the first black child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South. She attended William Frantz Elementary School. Born on September 8, 1954, in Tylertown, Mississippi, Ruby Bridges was 6 when all of this happened. She had to be escorted to class by her mother and U.S. marshals due to violent mobs. When Ruby was in kindergarten, she was one of many African-American students in New Orleans who were chosen to take a test determining whether or not she could attend a white school. It is said that the test was written to be especially difficult so that students would have a hard time passing. They did not want the African-American kids to pass the test so that they can stay segregated for a longer time. Her father believed that if she passed the test, it would bring so much trouble for her and her family but her mom convinced him that she would have a better life and education. When Ruby was able to attend the all-white school, she began to get bullied by everyone. Nobody wanted her in that school. Many parents took their children out of school for the fact that she was there. Many called her mean names and told her that she should die. She got treated horribly because of segregation but that did not stop six year old Ruby Bridges from being herself. She kept her head up high and did not let anything get to her. She smiled and continued to live her life and tried to keep getting rights.
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