Who was the first black child to attend an all-white school?

Ruby Nell Bridges Hall (born September 8, 1954) is an American civil rights activist. She was the first African-American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis in 1960.

In early 1960, Bridges was one of six black children in New Orleans to pass the test that determined whether they could go to the all-white school, William Frantz Elementary. Two of the six decided to stay at their old school, Bridges went to a school by herself, and three children were transferred to McDonogh No. 19 and became known as the McDonogh Three. Bridges and her mother were escorted to school by four federal marshals during the first year Bridges attended William Frantz Elementary.

Ruby's father was initially reluctant, but her mother felt strongly that the move was needed not only to give her own daughter a better education, but to "take this step forward ... for all African-American children". Her mother finally convinced her father to let her go to the school.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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56 Comments

Francie Traschen

an incredibly brave little girl facing the ignorance and hatred of the white racists

jaijam

Paul Backus, it's a perfectly valid question. It clearly asks about the FIRST black child. She is very famous for this. She went through hell to try to break the cycle of segregation. She succeeded.

Dawn M Alexander

The question should have included a qualifier regarding southern states. There were integrated schools in northern and midwestern states many years earlier.

George Oliver Prince

Got it but Little Rock beat it by a few years

Armadillo

Mark Ann Dubaz, yes I learned of her from my 5th grade history teacher during black history month. Thank God for that man and his patience with me 💖. He taught TRUTH.

Armadillo

jaijam, sadly yes it is, it's just better concealed.

Armadillo

Nancy Mueller, there was one black child in the same class as me in the 80's. What are your thoughts on that

Nancy Mueller

patrickdocmcwilliams, good!

Nancy Mueller

I’m glad she went to school. She certainly was brave We had a black boy in our all-white school in 1958. I guess Montana doesn’t count. Or is it because we had Indian (American) kids in our school so it wasn’t “all white?”

Linda Morton

Thank you for acknowledging that ❣️

Linda Morton

1957Peter Dunkelberger,

Peter Dunkelberger

Could the author please explain how the event in New Orleans in 1960 preceded the Little Rock integration in 1959?

maidofstardust

She's a hero. All heroes are bridges in history. All villains use walls.

Stephanie Beyers

Ruby is a hero!! And so is her mother. When I was gong to a Catholic school in 1960 in California there was a black girl in my class. She was well respected and accepted. It's only part of the country that was segregated.

patrickdocmcwilliams

My White grandmother attended school with Black children near Topeka, Kansas in the early 1900's, decades before Brown vs Board of Education. She had photos to prove it.

Helen LoBosco

I ditto Francie's statement. Too bad we had gotten that bad. I could go on and on but I won't.

Helen Christopulos LoBosco

Ruby was very brave. It was terrible how Blacks were treated and still at times. Am Greek American and prejudice was minor compared to the People of Color.