The story of Ruby Bridges is a remarkable one. At the age of six she was escorted by armed marshals as she walked up the steps to single-handedly desegregate the institution of public education. As she walked she faced a barrage of hate-filled epithets and prejudice from the angry white mob outside the New Orleans school in 1960. The television movie of Ruby’s journey in racist America enabled me to develop a deeper understanding of diverse cultural groups. Perhaps one of the most significant things I learned from this story is the way that racism, prejudice, and discrimination are often reinforced by institutions like government, business, and education. Such deeply ingrained attitudes toward another culture based on race still plague race relations in the U.S. in contemporary times. What I discovered is that such attitudes and feelings are learned not valid.
The deeply ingrained racism and discrimination in U.S. society in 1960 marginalized African Americans. Those who try to get ahead by breaking down barriers to progress, like Ruby and her mother, suffer greatly. However, African Americans who prefer to keep in their place and leave the status quo undisturbed also suffer. We see this in the film in the character of Ruby’s father, Abon Bridges. Unlike her mother Lucy, Abon sees no reason why Ruby and her mother want to stir up white society. He knows this will only cause more hatred and animosity toward African Americans, one reinforced through institutions and might. Ruby and her mother understand the white schools have superior education resources in comparison with black schools and they believe they deserve equality in America. Ruby’s father thinks the black school offers her the same thing as the white school. Despite Ruby and her mother going against his wishes, the father still suffers discrimination and animosity over their choices. He is let go from his place of
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