Abon Bridges was less well known than his daughter but made an important contribution to American civil rights history by supporting Ruby Bridges. Here’s what we know about him:
Background
Abon Bridges was born in 1931. He was Lucille Bridges’ husband and father of Ruby Bridges, the young girl who would become a symbol of courage in the fight for desegregation of American schools.
A Supportive Father
Abon and Lucille had made the difficult decision in 1960 to allow Ruby to attend William Frantz Elementary School desegregation despite reservations about his daughter’s safety. This bravery exposed Ruby to widespread racial animosity, but helped break segregation in education.
Military Service
Some sources report that Abon served in the Korea War and was awarded a Purple Heart. This detail adds to his story of bravery when faced with danger. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1978.
Legacy
Although Abon Bridges did not directly participate in the civil rights movement, he did give a solid endorsement of his daughter’s historical role. His story demonstrates the sacrifices families made in the name of racial equality.
His Daughter, Ruby Bridges
Ruby Bridges, born January 8, 1954 in Tylertown, Mississippi, became a major figure in the American Civil Right Movement at six only six years old. Her story demonstrates the courage required to stand up to racial secession and the lasting impact that courage can have.
After the Brown v. Board o’ Education decision outlawing segregation in public school in 1960, Ruby was among the first African American students enrolled in an all-white elementary in New Orleans. She was among a small group of black students selected to take a test about eligibility for William Frantzen Elementary, blocks from her home.
Ruby had a rough day at Frantz on her first day there. Faced with mobs of angry white protestors chanting racial slurs and threats, she entered the school with federal marshals protecting her. Ruby was excluded for the entire school year. Others were withdrawn from school and she was often left alone with a single teacher – Barbara Henry – in a squalid room.
Despite the setbacks, Ruby persevered. Her unflinching spirit and resistance to hate became a symbol of racial equality. Images of young Ruby walking into the school with hostility ignited a nation-wide discussion about segregation and desegregation in schools.
After her historic role in integration, Ruby attended desegregated schools for her education. She married and had four sons later as a travel agent. She founded The Ruby Bridges Foundation in 1999 to educate about race and tolerance.
No details on her personal net worth are available, but Ruby’s legacy goes far beyond money. She continues to be ardent about equality and inspires generations with her courage and dedication to education for all children. Ruby Bridges’ story is a reminder of racial justice work and of the strength of courage when faced with hardship.
