Ruby Bridge African American Struggles

The Struggles of African Americans History teaches that White men brought people from Africa to the United States. They made the Africans work as slaves and were the property of their White masters. It took a Civil War between the Northern and the Southern States to end slavery in the United States. After this war, Congress and the States passed three amendments to the Constitution. These amendments make clear that African Americans were U.S. citizens and had equal rights. African Americans were no longer slaves in the United States, but their lives were still controlled by powerful Whites. Black people did the hardest work on farms and in factories for the lowest pay. Many states passed laws that forbidden Black people and White people from…show more content…
At the age of four, Ruby Bridge and her family moved to New Orleans hoping for equal opportunities (Turner). At the age of six, Ruby was one of six African American students to pass a test that determined if she could attend an all White school. On her first day of school, federal marshals escorted Ruby to keep her safe from argumentative parents waiting on school grounds (Bridges). During that school year, Ruby was the only student in her class and rarely associated with the other White students. By being an African American in an all White school system, her story bought changes to the United States school systems. Her bravery helped during the Civil Rights Movement and many students of the African American race was able to finish school in desegregated schools…show more content…
"My Story." Scholastic News-Edition 2 Feb 2010: 1-4. Web
Douglass, Frederick. "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave." Gates, Henry and Nellie McKay. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. New York: Norton & Company, 2004. 399-409. Print
Edward, Karethy. "Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." Journal of Culture Diversity
(2010): 43. Web
Garnet, Henry H. "Call to Rebellion." Gates, Henry L. and Nellie Y McKay. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. New York: Norton & Company, 2004. 347.
Print
King, Martin L. Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1967. Print
"Malcolm X." Biography.com. 5 Jan 2012. Web
"Martin Luther King, Jr." Biography.com. 3 Jan 2012. Web
Turner, Faye M. "Ruby Bridges." Feb 2008. EBSCOhost Discovery Service. 2 Jan 2012.