Ruby Bridges

Which happened FIRST?

• The Supreme Court ruled against segregation in schools.

• U.S. Marshals protected Ruby as she went to school.

• Ruby took a difficult test to get into a white school.

• Eleanor Roosevelt wrote a letter to encourage Ruby.

Mrs. Henry was the only teacher who agreed to teach Ruby. What does this say about Mrs. Henry?

• She was afraid of the U.S. Marshals.

• She taught Ruby how to read and write.

• She believed the school should be integrated.

• She thought the school should be segregated.

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that school segregation was ILLEGAL. What does ILLEGAL mean?

• something that is against the law

• something that separates people

• something that teaches people

• something that people dislike

Why did Eleanor Roosevelt write a letter to Ruby?

• to tell Ruby to go to a new school

• to encourage and support Ruby

• to teach Ruby about racism

• to give a job to Ruby’s father

Ruby Bridges stayed calm even when people protested. What does this say about her?

• She was brave and determined to go to school.

• She believed that the protesters supported her.

• She enjoyed reading books and writing letters.

• She did not get nervous when she took tests.

Black students had to take a test to see if they could go to a school for whites. Why do you think school leaders made the test hard?

• They wanted black students to get a better education.

• They did not want black students to go to white schools.

• They wanted to know what black students had learned in school.

• They thought black and white students should learn the same things.

How can you tell that many teachers and students were not happy that Ruby Bridges was integrating the school?

• They did not come to school for months.

• They made Ruby’s family leave their home.

• They protected Ruby from angry protestors.

• They asked the U.S. Marshals for protection.

Today, Ruby Bridges encourages people of different races to get along and teaches about TOLERANCE. What is TOLERANCE?

• the protest of unfair treatment of people

• the separation of people based on their race

• the ability to accept people who are different

• the courage of people who fight for equal rights

At first, Ruby’s father was worried about sending her to a white school. Why do you think he felt this way?

• He did not think Ruby was ready to start first grade.

• He wanted to find a school that was closer to home.

• He knew that many people would be angry about integrating the school.

• He thought Ruby could go to a better school that was for black students.

What is one reason why Ruby Bridges is a role model?

• She won the Supreme Court case that ended segregation in schools.

• She bravely stood up for equal rights when she integrated a school.

• She worked with Eleanor Roosevelt to end segregation.

• She became the first African-American U.S. Marshal.