Then and Now
A Black girl escorted to school - 1960
On November 14, 1960, nearly 49 years ago, 6 year old Ruby Bridges faced hostile crowds, and had to be escorted by U.S. Marshalls , because she was the first black child to attend previously all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ruby was 6 years old. (Norman Rockwell created the painting above depicting that event.)
That morning, she had only been told by her mother that she was going to be attending a new school that day and 'had better behave.' Little did little Ruby know that she would be bombarded with jeers and even death threats; and that she would end up being the sole child in her first grade class because all the other children were kept home by their parents. All because Ruby was Black.
NOW:
A Black girl escorted to school - 2009
On January 5, 2009, nearly 49 years after Ruby attended her school, 7 year old Sasha Obama, faced cheering schoolmates as she is escorted by her Mother and U. S. Secret Service Agents to Sidwell Friends Elementary School in Washington , DC . Her Mother, the current First Lady of the United States of America, had Secret Service escort because Sasha's daddy is now the 44th President of the United States.
Can this be one of the reasons why people under forty have a different view of the world.....????
That is the coolest duo of pics! Thanks, rec'd.
Obviously the race issue is not completely a thing of our past, but we HAVE made progress. I know, 49 years is a LONG time, but really, in 1960, who would have thought the photo of 2009 would be possible so soon?
October 20, 2009 11:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
The years between probably didn't seem to pass so quickly for many. However, they are two cool pics.
The DeeCee public schools sound pretty harsh; lots of minority kids want more voucher programs for choice. It's hard to want to deny them that, even though I am a public school advocate. Why aren't our schools palaces, and safe havens for all students?
October 20, 2009 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Holy cow, Wendy. You sure know how to ask a question.
Although I've been an advocate for public schools all my life, I find myself helping to home school my grandchildren (and no, it's not because I'm afraid they'll learn there's evidence to suggest the earth is more than 6,000 years old if they go to public schools).
It seems the health care mess is easier to get a handle on than the plight of our schools.
October 20, 2009 5:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I live in Colorado, Planet; we rank something like 47th in spending for schools. I can't say I've been impressed with Arnie Duncan so far, have you heard him? Though I do think the onus should be on the states, in some ways. Look waht NO Child accomplished; it's been a disaster around here. When I read the stats about graduation percentages (very low) I almost cried.
Obama's idea (maybe Arnie's) of more hours in school sounds hideous. Our kids used to so many hours of homework, longer days would have killed them. Plus, my guess is that more hours of the kind of education they are providing isn't the answer.
It seems there is a considerable part of the electorate who are vocal about education equaling elitist. It used to be a good thing to be educated; 'My son, the _______ (whatever). Not so much for 'My daughter, the _______', but then.... ;-}
October 20, 2009 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Raised and schooled in Iowa, I joined the Navy and after boot camp, was ordered to attend electronics school at Virginia Beach, Va.. Shortly after arriving, I went on my first date with a coed from North Carolina...We went to a drive-in movie. During the movie, I excused myself in order to use the toilet facilities. When I got to the mens room door, I was startled to see two doors with a sign that indicated "Whites Only! on one of them. There were two water fountains with a "Whites Only" sign over one of the fountains. This was my first exposure to the South. During all of my schooling, never had I been told that such segregation was a reality! In high school, to the best of my knowledge, there was one black family living in a town twenty miles from me. The father was a postmaster. Somewhere amongst the rolling fields was a small overgrown cemetery. Locals called it the "Black Berry Patch." My father explained that it was where they buried the blacks in the old days.
Today, I realize that not once was segregation discussed during all of the hours I sat in Civics, Social Studies or History classes. Racism was alive and well all around me. Not one of my teachers ever mentioned segregation.
In conclusion, I'm now aware that there was racism where the tall corn grew...Just far more subtle.
October 20, 2009 6:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
We have come a long way but we have a long way yet to go....
America has been historically pro-education while at the same time being anti-intellectual....
While on active duty as an exec officer in the US Air Force (1971), I met a female officer who was born and raised in a rural community in Michigan. her first personal encounter and relationship of any kind with a person of color was me.....:-)
October 21, 2009 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink