Ruby Bridges

In New Orleans, the ending of segregation was initiated by a US District Court Judge, in the public schools of the town. Though it was appealed many times, Judge J. Skelly Wright created a desegregation plan that demanded the integration of schools. The plan was done on a grade year basis, meaning as the years went on, and more grades would be integrated. The plan started on first grade. A test was given to black kindergartners by the School Board of New Orleans to discover the best candidates for the integration. Ruby Bridges was one of the six children chosen, but only four children including Bridges, agreed to attend the white elementary school. Bridges desegregated the William Frants Public School, which angered many of the white parents. As revenge, the white parents took their kids out of the elementary school. Ruby Bridges' father was also fired as a result. Bridges continued to attend the elementary school alone, and had support from her teacher, and a child psychologist. On her walk to school on the first day, Bridges was escorted by US Marshals.