Racism & Civil Rights
Ruby Bridges was only in grade one when she was the first African-American to attend an all white elementary school. Ruby’s parents were conflicting back and forth about her attending an all white school. Her father, on one hand, did not want her to go simply because he feared that people would become angry and hurt the family but then her mother wanted Ruby to receive a good education with a well paying job. All in all, she wanted her daughter to have a better life. With that, Ruby’s mother enrolled her into William Frantz School. Because there were many parents and students upset with this, Ruby needed U.S. marshals taking her to and from school for protection. In the end she graduated, becoming a travel agent and made it easier for other blacks to go to white schools to receive a better education. This also helped take steps forward to improving the relationship between blacks and whites. Ruby ended up volunteering at William Frantz School and helping troubled black children. She then later developed the Ruby Bridges Foundation which helped strengthen the school. Ruby Bridges, at the age of six years old, helped play an important role in the Civil Rights Movement- getting closer to gaining respect, dignity, and social equality for blacks.
Assignment #1- Critical Consciousness
” The ability to perceive social, political, and economic oppression and to take action against the oppressive elements of society” is what defines Critical Consciousness. It was created and developped by Paulo Freire who is the author of Pedagogy of the Oppressed and Education for Critical Consciousness. He started this to teach people in third world countries to be aware of the problems surrounding the world. I think it’s a must that everyone practice critical consciousness because of the fact many people are simply not informed enough about the problems that are surrounding our society. We are too “wrapped up” with our lives to realize that some of the things we do are effecting others around the world. Nowadays people are careless and only think for themselves. We must outnumber the oppressed, they are the ones who are unaware that they are the ones creating the conditions!
