She's 71 now. Remember that the civil rights movement is not ancient history, this happened in 1960, we're in 2026, this was just 66 yrs ago. Ruby Bridges was 6 yrs old when she became the first Black child to attend the formerly all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960.
Her attendance caused major protests and national attention during the era of school desegregation following the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Federal marshals escorted her to school for safety because crowds gathered outside in opposition. At 6 yrs old, this little girl had to endure grown adults waiting outside the school to spit, scream, and threaten her day after day...for months. Some of them are still alive today...