Ruby Today
Today, Ruby speaks at conventions, and other important meetings. Such places include, colleges, middle schools, and elementary schools. She has made a great difference in today's society.
In 1995 a book about Ruby was published. When the book came out, Ruby's first grade teacher, Mrs. Henry, contacted her and met up with her on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Ruby was so glad to see Mrs. Henry again. She was also reunited with her old child psychiatrist, Dr. Coles. On the Oprah Winfrey Show, she also found out that there was a painting, inspired by her, called The Problem We All Live With. There was footage of Ruby in the television series Eyes on the Prize, about the Civil Rights Movement.
Finally Ruby reached a point in her life where she felt her life had meaning. Though she did not understand why she had to walk into Frantz Elementary School, she was glad she did.
More
Ruby Bridges is now Ruby Bridges Hall.
She still lives in New Orleans today. For fifteen years, she worked as a
travel agent, and then later became a full time mom to her four sons.
She is currently the chair of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which was
created in 1999. The goal of the foundation is to teach tolerance,
appreciation of differences, and respect. She has stated that she feels
that racism is an adult disease that uses children to spread the
disease. In 1993, she began to take care of her orphaned nieces who
also attended William Frantz Elementary. She started working as a
volunteer at the school. Bill Clinton awarded Ruby with the
Presidential Citizens Medal in 2001. In 2006, a new elementary school
was dedicated to Ruby Bridges in Alameda, California. In 2007, the
Children's Museum of Indianapolis opened their new exhibit that
chronicled the life of Ruby Bridges, Ryan White, and Anne Frank.
