11/16/2025
On November 14, 1960, sixty-five years ago today, a 6-year-old girl walked into a school and changed history.
Ruby Bridges stepped toward William Frantz Elementary School, flanked by four federal marshals, while a raging crowd spat hate at a child who only wanted to learn.
Bridges’ first day came after years of legal battles to force New Orleans schools to honor Brown v. Board. Even then, officials engineered barriers to limit desegregation. Yet Ruby walked forward anyway, carrying integration on her shoulders, still small enough to swing from a playground bar.
It wasn’t centuries ago, it was within our parents’ lifetimes, a reminder that the fight for justice is not distant, not abstract, not done.
Today, as DEI programs are being dismantled on campuses across the country, we’re reminded that progress is not guaranteed, it must be protected.
We honor Ms. Bridges for her courage, her clarity, and the door she held open for all of us. Read more at ESSENCE.com.
