I got a text from my daughter-in-law the other day that had me both laughing and bursting with pride about a keen observation from my 7-year-old granddaughter.
No, it had nothing to do with the halftime show at Super Bowl LIX. As they used to say in my old neighborhood, “That’s a whole ‘nother story.” Besides, folks in my old neighborhood — “They not like us.” (Forgive me.)
The observation that caught my attention was my granddaughter Talia saying to her mom, “Did you know Pop (her name for me) is the same age as Ruby Bridges?”
Two things here. She was spot on that her Pop and Bridges are both 70 years young. Cool.
But the bigger thing is that Ms. Bridges (now Hall) is an icon of Black and America’s history, and she is from New Orleans. My granddaughter lives several states away.
Ed Pratt
Now why was I so happy and proud?
Bridges is the subject of a book my granddaughter chose for Black History Month at her elementary school. And she told me about the video on Bridges’ experience that was shown in her class.
All this comes at a time when the mere mention of Black history is under fire in some quarters. Some schools don’t recognize the month. Some new history books are telling inaccurate stories about Black Americans, softening the horrors and dismissing or even lying about certain chapters of Black history.
I told my granddaughter that Bridges started school in 1960, the same year I did.
The big difference was that I entered an all-Black school in Baton Rouge while Bridges integrated an all-White school in New Orleans, William Frantz Elementary. You have seen the iconic photo of the wonderfully dressed little Black girl with the white bow in her hair being protected by U.S. Marshals — think about that — as she made her way down the steps of the school.
Sadly, all the White parents removed their children from Bridges’ classroom. But she was bravely taught by one teacher for the rest of the school year in an otherwise empty room.
My granddaughter attends an integrated school — a gumbo of ethnicities among the students, faculty and staff.
The reporter in me wanted to know more, so I asked.
How did she feel about Bridges not having any classmates?
“It wasn’t fair because what if she wanted some friends?” Talia asked. “I like having friends. It was sad that the parents would not have their kids with her.”
“I think it would be very lonely” in the classroom, she said. “I would never do that to another person.”
What did you think of the teacher that stayed with her?
“She was nice not to be mean to her ... She was good and nice to talk to her and teach her,” she said.
Why do you think the tall men were with her in the picture going out of the school down the steps?
“They didn’t want anybody to hit her ... It would be hard to go to school like that,” she said.
As important as the Bridges story is, I wonder how many people, both Black and White, know about it right now. I bet if I looked for a show of hands at some schools, I probably would be shocked by the low number of affirmative responses of both White students and students of color.
While focused on Ruby Bridges, I hope that during Black History Month children of all races learn about Black contributions to America as inventors, writers, athletes, politicians, educators, civil rights leaders and so much more.
And to parents of all races: It’s OK to treat your children to books, videos and movies about the incredible history of the survival of a race of people from Africa in this country, and the struggles from slave chains to the presidency of the United States.
Feel free to show it all. It’s about knowing the true story of this country’s history. It doesn’t negate the experience of other ethnicities and it recognizes the humanity in us all.
My granddaughter said she would like to meet Ruby Bridges even though “it might make me cry.”
Nothing to add here. Happy Black History Month.