Chapter 1 (Pages 19-35)

 

This drawing shows the unwelcoming crowds and racist sayings that Ruby had to face as she walked into WFPS on November 14, 1960. Although Ruby was carefully selected by the Old Parish School Board members to be integrated into WFPS, it was clear that she was not wanted by many and very few people supported this decision.

The debate on how to desegregate schools was at an all time high during this time. The Old Parish School Board members mailed home a ballot to parents asking if they wanted to keep schools open with a limited desegregation plan or to shut down school entirely rather than begin to desegregate. Over 80% of white parents said that they would rather shut down schools than begin to desegregate them. This was shocking to read as parents would rather take away their child's education than to start desegregating schools. On the other hand 94% of black parents said to keep schools open and begin the desegregation plan, but the school board decided to not take into consideration black parents votes and only focus on the white parents. It can be assumed that with an overwhelming disapproval from white parents vote on desegregation and the lack of consideration for black parents votes, that when Ruby Bridges walked into school she would be met with some challenges.

I chose this drawing to represent the second half of chapter one, as I think it allows readers to get a better understanding and a visual of what Ruby Bridges saw on November 14, 1960. As Ruby approached WFPS there were approximately 1,000 people outside of WFPS protesting. Ruby was escorted inside by four U.S. Marshalls along with her mother to ensure nothing would happen to her. As she is walking into school people are booing, holding signs with racist sayings, and people chanting racist things. Parents were so upset by this that people were picking their children up from school early and would rather they had no education at all then go to school with Ruby. Teachers, including Ruby's, refused to go to work because they didn't want to teach a "black student". Overall, I think this drawing gives readers a better visual of what first grader Ruby Bridges had to walk past on her first day at William Frank Public School and the horrors it detailed.











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