AppleTony
Erik Uden => Tell your kids about Ruby Bridges, the first black child at an all-white public elementary school in Louisiana.
She turned 68 last year.
She’s only 68.
68.
Agora@Erik The people who menaced her that she needed Marshalls to protect her are still alive today. This is why the backlash is so intense against her book and movie.
@Erik Marshals*
Kevin Hardiman@Erik we’re not nearly as far removed as we’d like to think we are.
donkey jess@Erik absolutely. My son learned about her in the first grade and although the school left out what I guess they believed were the harder details, he brought questions about her home which started a very real conversation.
Only through people like your son can America progress into an inclusive and non-revisionist future.
Angela Miller@Erik
Paul McCartney was inspired by her when he wrote 'Blackbird'. What an experience that must have been. She was tutored in a class on her own at first too...
Paul McCartney was inspired by her when he wrote 'Blackbird'. What an experience that must have been. She was tutored in a class on her own at first too...
#2RR - 2 Ruote di Resistenza
Dear Heart@Erik
Immediately acted on your suggestion by sending an email regarding Ruby Bridges to our family members including a copy of the beautifully rendered Norman Rockwell illustration of US Marshall’s escorting her to school in 1960 New Orleans. Thank you.
Immediately acted on your suggestion by sending an email regarding Ruby Bridges to our family members including a copy of the beautifully rendered Norman Rockwell illustration of US Marshall’s escorting her to school in 1960 New Orleans. Thank you.
JJ Peterson@Erik lol kids today would “ok boomer” her.
Sanne
Howlin’ Hobbitstill lovely with that beautiful smile.
this from someone who was *pushed* up through the proverbial glass ceiling.
we *so* need to stop “Black History Month” and simply teach history.
it’s our history, even the ugly parts. not that history repeats itself, but it often rhymes.
we could maybe learn?
Sky@Erik She's still alive, and they're already banning books about her. *sigh*
Suki@Erik I was probably one of the first white kids at an all black school. My Ma taught there. Don’t remember what state though. Dad’s retired Navy, we moved a lot back then.
KBSez ✅Ruby Bridges is my hero -- the insanity of this critical moment in American history is being not taught is criminal.
Republicans want to erase their wrongdoings. Commit genocide, claim you settled in empty land, that’s how it goes. Admitting historic wrongdoing would require people to question their current actions as well, because if it was true that Ruby Bridges was treated this horribly just so shortly ago, maybe CRT isn’t that bad, maybe the justified anger from people of color is very legitimate, and maybe their economic situation (which also causes increased crime rates) was and IS caused systematically.
No racist rhetoric persists if Ruby Bridges story is told. You’re right, we never learned about this in U.S. history, but only because the people who protested her entering an all-white school now run our governments.
Gaëtan Perrault@Erik just share this piece with my son. 11 years old and just the kind of the history so thanks for the reminder
Virginia MurrYes! Just watched the 1998 Disney movie Ruby Bridges with my 12 year old (I had never heard of the movie until the idiot parent in FL made it an issue).
My kid had already learned about Ruby Bridges via books -- but it was helpful for her to have a visual telling of what happened. We paused the movie multiple time for her questions & discussion. I highly recommend.
This is how history is taught correctly. Love the fact you didn’t just show the movie and let it run expecting your child to understand every historic nuance, but actually put in the effort to make that experience as educational as possible. Good job!!
Ryuno-Ki@Erik
👆 @herstorypod Might even possible to interview if I read the comments here correctly.
(I have no idea who she is. Perhaps someone here might be so kind to explain in what form knowledge about her is spread)
herstorypod@RyunoKi @Erik As a six year old, Ruby Bridges was the first black student at her Elementary School in New Orleans. That was in 1960 and she had to walk past white protesters (a lot of them women) who hurled vile comments and threats towards her.
I wrote about Ruby Bridges a few years ago for Der Spiegel:
@herstorypod
Strong stuff 😨
Another of those subjects that we have never had in school.
English had USA as subject, but that was watching a DVD/VHS most of the time 😿
I am impressed! Reading this article made me learn a lot I didn’t even know yet - thank you for your incredible work!!
SJ Robins@Erik wow, and so little has changed… 60+ years. I wish we were doing better at loving each other.
Strongly agree.
Universal Life MFN@Erik 68. But yes.
Jim Spath@Erik I'm of the same era. There were zero Black students in my public elementary school. None. In #Baltimore City.
Jargoggles@Erik
When conservatives say they don't want schools to teach kids to be ashamed of being white, what they're really saying is they don't want their kids and grandkids being ashamed of them because they learned about all the vile things they said and did.
When conservatives say they don't want schools to teach kids to be ashamed of being white, what they're really saying is they don't want their kids and grandkids being ashamed of them because they learned about all the vile things they said and did.
Old Man Mike
Gary E. Walker@Erik My mom graduated from the College of Charleston, an institution which was whites-only until 1971. SEVENTY-ONE.
Holy shit. Even after that it must’ve been only made non-segregated on paper, people were probably protesting it en mass and you were treated horribly as a person of color.
@Erik I can only imagine. When she went there in the mid-60s they still had daily convocation and would turn their backs on the North to pray.
Maynard G.Krebbs@Erik The last person born into slavery died just two years before I was born. It's not ancient history
benteh@Erik she is closer to my sister in age, than my da
this blows my mind
Aviva Gary@Erik Holy... 👀
Simone
Mariner@Erik
I'm from a Scandinavian country, with of our own issues of course, but this is for us beyond comprehensible.
Very confusing to observe the Free country of USA, then read the history, and especially this.
When looking at documentaries about the civil right issues "over there", it almost feels like a third world country in some way.
I apologize if I insult some of my very dear friends from USA.
This is something we never understood in Europe, despite all our wars.
gen
GlennMG@KhunKai @Erik
No apology needed. In the USA, we have much in our history and present that is horrifying and shows that many positive moral and ethical changes for the common good are needed. Changes for the good of ALL needed for current and future generations such as my grandson.
Langston Hughes was an insightful poet in his 'Let America Be America Again'. Second line, "Let it be the dream it used to be".
May it be for all.
No apology needed. In the USA, we have much in our history and present that is horrifying and shows that many positive moral and ethical changes for the common good are needed. Changes for the good of ALL needed for current and future generations such as my grandson.
Langston Hughes was an insightful poet in his 'Let America Be America Again'. Second line, "Let it be the dream it used to be".
May it be for all.
Rosenstand 🇺🇦❤️@KhunKai @Erik No apologies needed for the truth. I’m from Denmark and moved to USA in 2009. The changes since then are colossal. In many ways we are a third world country. I’ve established family here and honestly that’s the only reason I haven’t left. If my family were ready, I’d be out of here. I’m a history lover and the signs are so obvious now that they can’t be ignored.
Zachary Wild@rosenstand @KhunKai @Erik When Biden came into office, I stupidly thought it would correct itself; it didn't. Right wing fascists were given a voice and a platform and they're being loud.
I still have faith that democracy will prevail, but it's going to be a massive fight.
John Gordon 📷@Erik Our neighborhood elementary school is named after her.
Cosmic Librarian@Erik
I'm 70 and I hope that I live to see a female, of any color, as president of the U.S. in my lifetime.
Progress is spelled s-l-o-w...
I'm 70 and I hope that I live to see a female, of any color, as president of the U.S. in my lifetime.
Progress is spelled s-l-o-w...
Linda Sgoluppi Artist@Erik Such courage,
@Erik only 68? damn. delainey
antifa supersoldier@Erik There's also Autherine Lucy, who became the first Black student at the University of Alabama in 1956. Unfortunately, she passed away last year in March at the ripe age of 92.
Here she is at the official dedication of Autherine Lucy Hall at UA, just days before her death:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw-bc5jC21w
Autherine Lucy Hall Dedication | The University of Alabama
Kristen78@Erik she gave a wonderful lecture via my employer last year on her experiences. That’s what really brought it home to me how young she actually is.
MrsMurilloToYou@Erik I'm 64. I remember the first black girl in my school. She walked up to several kids to play at recess and they walked away. I didn't. She asked me if I would play with her. I said yes. We went through 12 years of school together and I will never forget how they must have made her feel. Yes, things changed over time and she had many friends, but I thought 'how brave of her and her family to do this in a small rural east Texas town.' She made an impact on me that I will never forget.
Steve Moore 
@Erik
I went to an all white elementary school in '62-'68 S. Louisiana, 1000 kids, grades 1-8. In '68 black twin sisters showed up in 7th grade. In a school with 1000 white kids. I thought they were the bravest kids I'd ever met.
I went to an all white elementary school in '62-'68 S. Louisiana, 1000 kids, grades 1-8. In '68 black twin sisters showed up in 7th grade. In a school with 1000 white kids. I thought they were the bravest kids I'd ever met.
Maarten Pelgrim@Erik I'd say start with the children but plz don't forget the adults..
Michael Porter
Vee@Erik ...yeah... in other words...we may be asking for a lot...?