CLEVELAND — History came alive for hundreds of students in Cleveland as they heard firsthand from Ruby Bridges, a woman whose story helped shape the American experience.
Bridges, one of the first Black children to integrate New Orleans' all-white public school system in 1960 at just 6 years old, spoke at an event hosted by the Cleveland Public Library Monday at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown. Her presence provided students a powerful connection to the Civil Rights Movement, reminding them of the sacrifices that paved the way for progress.
"It was very confusing, it was lonely, it was a very devastating year for me," Bridges told the ballroom full of students as she described how all the other students at the all-white William Frantz Elementary School were kept from her, leaving Bridges to become best friends with her teacher Barbara Henry. "Not until the end of the year nearly, at the closing of school, did I hear kids whenever I would go into the coat closet to hang up my coat. I never saw them, but I could hear them."
Bridges shared how Henry fiercely advocated on her behalf, confronting the school's principal and even threatening to report the situation to the superintendent if Bridges continued to be isolated from the other students. Her determination paid off, and Henry was eventually allowed to take Bridges to join the other children.
"I remember that day. We walked into another room … and there they were — four or five kids were sitting on the floor playing," Bridges recalled to U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown, who served as Bridges' interviewer for the gathering. "And I went to sit down and play with them … and that's when a little boy looked at me and said, 'I can't play with you. My mom said not to play with you because you're a n----r.'"
Iconic moments, lasting lessons
For 13-year-old Zakhia Dodd, hearing from Bridges firsthand made history feel tangible.
"It's kind of surreal, because when I think about the Civil Rights Movement, I think about years and years ago," Dodd reflected. "But then I see her and realize she's not that old — that wasn't that long ago."
Inspiration for the future
Bridges' message resonated deeply with students like 11-year-old Edith Foley from Cleveland's Campus International School. Foley shared how Bridges' courage continues to influence her own life and dreams.
"I know without her, I wouldn't be in the school I am today," Foley said. "I look around at my friends, and there's all different races, all different backgrounds."
Seeing Bridges in person helps Foley envision what's possible for the future.
"I see a picture of me holding hands with a lot of different people, different races, different backgrounds … and there's no separation, there's no division."
For 14-year-old Jude Sagers, Bridges' story offered a stark reminder of the past, while underscoring the progress that has been made.
"It's kind of insane to see how much more extreme it was for her to deal with more at a younger age," Sagers told 3News. "Racism hasn't been solved, but it's much easier for people."
A message for generations
Bridges — now a civil rights icon, activist, and author — also discussed her latest book "Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts." The book is a compilation of letters from concerned young students about today's issues, including bullying, climate change, gun violence, and racism, according to the book's publisher Scholastic Incorporated.