@blknproudmillennial: Today, September 8, we celebrate Ruby Bridges, born on this day in 1954. And here's your reminder: Ruby Bridges is still alive. Let that sink in. On November 14, 1960, six-year-old Ruby walked into William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans and became the first Black child to desegregate the all-white school. She wasn't walking into a history book. She was a first grader. Federal marshals had to escort this little Black girl into school while angry white adults gathered outside to scream, threaten and protest her presence. White parents pulled their children out. For a period, Ruby sat in a classroom with only her teacher because parents refused to allow their children to attend school with a Black child. And today, that little girl turns 72 years old. When we talk about segregation, Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Movement, it's easy to imagine something buried deep in America's distant past. It isn't. There are people alive today who attended segregated schools. There are people alive today who remember watching schools integrate. And Ruby Bridges the little girl in the famous Norman Rockwell painting surrounded by U.S. marshals is still here to tell us what happened to her. She grew up. She became a wife and mother. She became an activist and established the Ruby Bridges Foundation to continue fighting racism through education. So today, we don't just celebrate an icon in a black-and-white photograph. We celebrate a living Black woman. Happy 72nd Birthday, Ruby Nell Bridges Hall. 🎂🖤 May we continue telling your story and may we never allow America to pretend that segregation happened so long ago that its consequences should no longer matter. 1960 was only 66 years ago. Our history isn't ancient. Some of it is still walking among us. ✊🏾🖤 #RubyBridges #HappyBirthday #BlackHistory #BlackHistory365 #CivilRights

Alicia cordero :

Blessings n good health to you Ruby such a courageous little girl back then now a Senior I hope your living a blessed life.. Amen

God’s Daughter ☦️🩵🙏🏻 :

Some now are screaming they should have not integrated!

SoberCal :

Democrats, same then as they are today 😔

alyssab1175 :

Happy birthday ruby! You are a saint in my eyes. Sending love!

τετέλεσται :

White officers escorted her btw

lol :

Such a brave little girl and her family!!❤️

gloriawalks :

and now kids don’t want to go to school

Leon Falcor :

She was brave. However, the integration was a decision from the Supreme Court and largely enforced by the federal government lead by Dwight D Eisenhower which was president at the time. Richard Nixon as vice president.

user9337466597820 :

@🎂🌹🎊🎉🙏♥️Happy Birthday Ruby God BlessYou Hope You Have ABless Day

Bob D House :

brave girl[Red heart][Red heart][Red heart]

lynnflora08 :

They were a blessing keeping her safe and she became friends with the federal officer that protected her my sister met her and him and he lived next door to her in Indiana

sugarplum :

Happy birthday thank you for opening doors for me

miasimonewilliams :

Happy Birthday enjoy your day 💓

neanea6120 :

What a brave little girl !

India O’shay :

Happy Birthday

blkstw0 :

Well at least she had people protecting her

user2590431256014shirl64 :

Justin Espree :

Happy birthday

Rico 👑 :

GOD BLESS 🙏

Lola :

❤️

Christina Mora :

bobwalcoby :

Happy Birthday

Linda Hussey :

Such sad behavior people 🙏

💕💕💕💕Princess Sehai💕💕💕? :

Happy Birthday Ruby Bridges

thankful4daily :

Thank you for sharing! Happy birthday Ruby God bless you ♥️🙏🏻🙏🏻