Ruby Bridges & Brown v. Board of Education

The Explicit and Implicit Power of Education in America

This learning event will center around the landmark Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, KS and school desegregation. Together, we will focus on the individual experiences of children who were the first to integrate schools, including Ruby Bridges who was escorted to her first day of first grade by federal marshals. Our event will feature a discussion about the legal history leading up to the Supreme Court decision, firsthand accounts of desegregation as well as the legacy of Brown v. Board of education almost 70 years later. 

Prepare for a rich conversation by reviewing the resources listed below:

• Interview with Ruby Bridges on podcast A Slight Change of Plans with Dr. Maya Shankar
• Documentary Separate But Not Equal: The Stories Behind Brown v. Board of Education by The Close Up Foundation (directed by Joe Geraghty):
• Article in Lake Highlands Advocate about desegregation of Hamilton Park, Dallas’ first planned Black subdivision
• Podcast series Teaching Texas by Wondery (season 2 at link)
• An excerpt from THE CALL OF SERVICE, A WITNESS TO IDEALISM

Dialogue Facilitators 

• Rebecca Baker
• Dionne Davis

Discussion questions:

• Describe your experience starting school as a first grader. How did you travel to school? Who accompanied you? Did you feel welcomed? What was the level of diversity at your school?
• How did Ruby’s parents prepare her to attend an all-white school? How does this compare to Tessie’s experience?
• What were some of the effects of legislative segregation on black children, youth and community then and now?
• After reviewing the resources (and today’s conversation), what learning/action did (or will) you take forward into your life?