Ruby Bridges and her U.S. Marshal escorts
At age 6, a brave little girl, Ruby Nell Bridges, made history after enrolling in a formerly segregated school in New Orleans, LA. Prior to enrollment, Ruby was among other black children whose intellectual competency had been tested to determine if they could compete academically with white children. Ruby passed the test, as did others, but some of the other children's parents did not allow them to "desegregate" white schools. Ruby's parents did.
Upon learning the William Frantz Elementary School was one of the two New Orleans schools to be desegregated, many dismayed white parents removed their children from the school. During the first year at the school, Ruby was the only student in her first-grade class which was taught by transplanted Bostonian, Barbara Henry, as other white teachers refused to have Ruby as a student because of her skin color. Because of the one-on-one teaching she received and the U.S. Marshal escorts to school, initially, young Ruby felt special. Little did she know that adults, incensed over her presence, were the cause of her special treatment. She learned this later.
Born September 8, 1954, Ruby had no idea she was making history the day when she enrolled in first grade. In honor of Ruby Nell Bridges Hall, I am resharing dolls that were made in her honor or were inspired by her act of courage.
Additional Reading
BDHT: The Problem We All Live With
My Destiny
Ruby Bridges by Karen O.
Barbara Henry In Her Own Words
36-inch Ruby Bridges in felt by Karen Oyekanmi
Upon learning the William Frantz Elementary School was one of the two New Orleans schools to be desegregated, many dismayed white parents removed their children from the school. During the first year at the school, Ruby was the only student in her first-grade class which was taught by transplanted Bostonian, Barbara Henry, as other white teachers refused to have Ruby as a student because of her skin color. Because of the one-on-one teaching she received and the U.S. Marshal escorts to school, initially, young Ruby felt special. Little did she know that adults, incensed over her presence, were the cause of her special treatment. She learned this later.
Born September 8, 1954, Ruby had no idea she was making history the day when she enrolled in first grade. In honor of Ruby Nell Bridges Hall, I am resharing dolls that were made in her honor or were inspired by her act of courage.
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| Wilma by Mary Moline (1981) is a 10-1/2-inch all-porcelain doll that represents Ruby Bridges as she was captured in the 1963 oil-on-canvas painting, "The Problem We All Live With" by Norman Rockwell. |
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| Destiny is a 12-inch felt doll made by Rachel McCullogh Sherrod of Starkey's Daughter Cloth Dolls. |
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| Ruby B. by Karen Oyekanmi is a 13-1/2-inch all-porcelain doll. Ready for school, she carries a leatherette bag of books. |
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| Ruby Bridges tribute dolls, L-R, Wilma, Destiny, and Ruby B. |
Additional Reading
BDHT: The Problem We All Live With
My Destiny
Ruby Bridges by Karen O.
Barbara Henry In Her Own Words
36-inch Ruby Bridges in felt by Karen Oyekanmi
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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Thank you for reading. To contact me, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.
Check out what I am selling here.
Check out my eBay listings here.
Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!
There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
Thank you for reading. To contact me, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.
Check out what I am selling here.
Check out my eBay listings here.
Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!
