Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
When: April
Ruby Bridges, the trailblazing civil rights icon and children’s book author, virtually visited Lucas Valley Elementary on March 28, appearing on a giant screen in the school’s auditorium. Hundreds of excited students eagerly listened as she shared her story and answered their questions. The school earned this rare opportunity by winning a national raffle sponsored by AAA, open to elementary schools across the country.
Safe Routes to Schools first connected Marin elementary students with Bridges’ legacy in 2021 by launching the inaugural Ruby Bridges Walk and Roll to School Day at Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy with almost 100% participation. Since then, the November event has grown to include 35 elementary schools across Marin County. The initiative honors Bridges’ courageous walk to school at just six years old, when she faced hostile crowds daily as the first African American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South. Her bravery played a pivotal role in the desegregation of schools in the early 1960s–a legacy that continues to inspire students today.
During the conversation, Bridges reflected on her experiences walking to school under the protection of federal marshals. “I wasn’t scared because my parents didn’t tell me what was happening,” she explained. “When I saw all the people out there, I thought it was a holiday, like Mardi Gras. I didn’t know they were all out there for me.”
Despite the challenges, Bridges fondly recalled her first year at the formerly all-white William Frantz Elementary. “My teacher, Mrs. Henry, made it so fun. I never missed a day,” she said. “She’s still alive, and she’s still my best friend.”
However, she also shared the loneliness of not having classmates. Because of violent threats–including the risk of poisoning–she had to eat lunch at her desk instead of in the cafeteria. Longing to meet other children, she began throwing away her homemade sandwiches, hoping the school would eventually allow her to eat with the other students. “The school thought I was afraid of being poisoned,” she said. “But that wasn’t true. I just wanted to make new friends..
Bridges left the students with a powerful message: “You can make a difference by meeting friends,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what people look like, right?”
At the end of the assembly, school staff gave Bridges a virtual tour of the auditorium, showcasing student artwork inspired by her historic walk and a large, handcrafted sign reading Welcome Ruby Bridges.
“That was a long assembly but a very meaningful one,” Principal Will Anderson told the students. “When you’re older, you’re going to look back and say, ‘Wow, I talked to Ruby Bridges.'”
Up to this day, Ruby Bridges Day continues to emphasize the importance of equitable access to safe, healthy school commutes while teaching valuable lessons in courage and compassion.
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