Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure. On November 14th we celebrate the 64th anniversary of a historical event that changed our nation. A five year old girl, simply going to school, paved the way for many generations to come.
Because of their courage and bravery, they are the reason why many young students of color gained the right to be in the same learning environments with white students. Massachusetts was the first state to separate children in school systems legally. The Massachusetts Supreme Court in ruled the case of Roberts v. City of Boston, making segregation in schools constitutional state wide. Segregation had risen in after the Reconstruction Era. Louisiana was the first to pass the first Jim Crow law in making separation of race a state law.
The Supreme Court case of Plessy v. Ferguson made these laws constitutional. Affecting many generations of children by filling them with ideas that they are less than a child than one the same age as them that has white skin. In New Orleans segregation in schools was prevalent as early as It created an environment full of fear for colored students.
Yet, an innocent, timid, sweet little girl made history without knowing the impact it would have on the nation. And now she will forever be in our history books. An all white school, before Bridges nervously stepped foot in the intimidating hallways. Bridges was one of six African American first graders to be approved to transfer schools, to start the desegregation in education in New Orleans.
Four of the six brave six-year old girls made a historical change and the eyes of the world were on all of these girls. After Bridges started to attend the school she had to face protestors. Hundreds of people protested the fact that they did not want their children to share a classroom with a colored student. She was not alone though.
