45 Powerful Ruby Bridges Quotes That Prove the Resilience of the Human Spirit - Celebs and Places (2024)

Ruby Bridges is a monumental figure in the history of the Civil Rights Movement. At the tender age of six, she navigated the harsh and uncharted waters of integration at the once-segregated William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her bravery and fortitude not only broke the racial barriers in the school but also left an indelible mark on the landscape of equality.

Weaving through her life stories, some quotes resonate deeply with the fight for human dignity and the courage to stand for what is right. Here are 45 Ruby Bridges quotes that echo the resilience of the human spirit and inspire us to continue striving for a more just and equitable world.

Inspiring Quotes from Ruby Bridges

• “Don’t follow the path. Go where there is no path and begin the trail. When you start a new trail equipped with courage, strength, and conviction, the only thing that can stop you is you!”

Courage isn’t just about facing fears; it’s about being the architect of change. Ruby implores us not to wait for change to come but to be the catalyst ourselves.

• “I now know what it means to stand up. It’s not just standing up; it’s standing up for something you believe in.”

Standing up is easy. But standing up for what you believe in is an inspiring act that galvanizes movements and changes the world.

• “My parents told me something that my dad always told me, when I was afraid, that God would carry you through, that God don’t give you nothing that you can’t handle.”

Belief, faith, and perseverance are powerful tools to carry through challenges, no matter how daunting they seem.

• “My only prayer is that I grew up and my children will grow up in a different world from the one I was born into.”

Hope for the future is in her every breath. Her one prayer encapsulates the struggle for a better tomorrow for the next generation.

• “I used to have nightmares about going to that school. And I wanted to stay home with my family.”

Even in fear and uncertainty, she conjured the strength to keep going, a testament to her incredible spirit.

• “When I went to the school, I tried to be positive, because I knew being mad or being negative—I mean, they knew how scared we were already, so I just tried to smile and be happy.”

Optimism in the face of adversity, a simple act that became a force of resistance.

• “Each and every day, I could sense and feel the hateful expressions of people who didn’t like us. They were frightened.”

Acknowledging the fear and hatred, Ruby still reflects on the power dynamic – those spewing hate were actually the ones who were frightened.

• “I sometimes feel that children have more responsibility in some ways than the adults in our struggle for justice, because we had more to lose. Adults have a certain strength and resources; we had nothing to go on but the power and innocence of our voices.”

The innocence of children’s voices speaks volumes against injustice, with more power than they might realize.

• “Nobody had a rope around my neck, and they couldn’t when I was going to school.”

A poignant reminder that no one can truly take away your freedom or dignity unless you allow it.

• “I was born to confront fear, born to take on the world the way it is.”

From birth, Ruby was set on a path of confrontation and resistance, a path she trod with remarkable valor.

• “You have to actually decide to stand up and go for what you believe in.”

Decision and action are pivotal. Ruby’s words urge us to actively pursue our beliefs and convictions.

• “I grew up at a time where there were no Black, only white. And the whole message in my life is that there’s no such a thing as Black or White, that’s just a human thing, it’s just who we are.”

In race, her only distinction is the human identity, transcending the color of her skin.

• “The racism is a time bomb inside myself. But that’s their problem, not mine.”

Ruby channels the hurt and animosity she faced as racism’s problem, a powerful shift in perspective.

• “I don’t think I understood at the time what a big deal it was. But I knew that it was my right, and it was my time, and that I was ready for this.”

The combination of a child’s innocence with the unwavering belief in one’s rights can move mountains.

• “The hardest thing about being a child is not being able to stand on your own feet. The hardest thing about being Black is having to stand on your own.”

Double indemnity in segregation; the difficulty in achieving independence when the world works against you from the start.

• “I know that our world needs change for the better. There needs to be more love and less hatred.”

Simple and direct—more love, less hate. Words to live by.

• “I saw it as a child, and kids don’t lie. I saw the faces of people. I saw the dogs. I saw the burning crosses. The impact that I had as a child showed me that people wanted change just as much as I did.”

Children are truth-tellers. Ruby’s experience shows the hunger for change deep within the human spirit.

• “I always remember what my dad used to tell us when we were afraid—a lot of times as children, we were afraid of things that could happen or the world in which we lived. But he always told us that God would carry us through it.”

A father’s wisdom and faith echoed in Ruby’s heart, guiding her through even the most frightening moments.

• “You might start something alone, but you can’t stop change once it begins.”

The solitary act of change begins with one, but its impact is collective and unstoppable.

• “Your generation is the one that will change the world. I’m counting on you to do it.”

Encouraging the younger generation to be the change-makers, to fulfill the unmet aspirations of history’s struggles for equality.

• “The only children’s book I remember that had people like those in my school wasn’t about segregation—nobody really wrote about that then.”

The profound absence of representation in literature stood starkly against her reality, stirring her to become a voice for the voiceless.

• “No matter how hard it is, no matter what you go through, that abortion can’t make you into a bad person.”

Adversity can shape, but never break, a person’s inherent goodness.

• “I think if I wasn’t six, I wouldn’t have been able to make that walk alone because I wouldn’t have been so naive. I would have known people in the crowd were yelling at me because of the color of my skin.”

The innocence of her age shielded her from the full horror of the situation, allowing her to walk her path with determined ignorance.

• “It’s so important, the world, my state, my country, my city. People have to understand that our experiences have to be a part of our lives, of our learning.”

Experiences, especially difficult ones, are fundamental in shaping our understanding and learning, and they should not be erased from history and education.

• “To teach my children to hate you because you hate me would do nothing but perpetuate what we’ve been through already.”

A fierce rejection of the cyclical nature of hatred, particularly how it is passed down through generations.

• “The new role model would be this little child, because little kid, much as I was then, they’re the ones who see things more clearly—clearly in the sense of honesty and that kind of stuff—than the adults.”

Reaffirming the remarkable insight that children possess, shifting the paradigm of role models and leadership.

• “All our days we’re going to live with other people who are not us, but are important in our lives, and we have to understand and respect them as individuals.”

A profound understanding of the tapestry of humanity and the necessity of empathy and respect towards every thread.

• “Racism will stubbornly exist until the prejudices are redistricted from one generation to another; it’s a matter of environmental growing and guidance.”

Racist environments breed racist children. It’s a problem that needs to be addressed at the root—prejudices passed down by role models and society.

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• “People grew up with what they heard as children, their minds can’t think past what’s been taught to them. I’m breaking through what’s been taught to me.”

Breaking the cycle of erroneous teachings through awareness and conscious efforts is vital for societal change.

• “The parents are the key to the children. If you get to the parents, you’ll get to the children.”

Education and awareness for parents are the gateways to breaking barriers and nurturing understanding.

• “A lot of things that happened were hard to understand, as a child, that was something you could never imagine—it was scary.”

Acknowledging the incomprehensible terror of racism, especially for a young mind, underlines the absurdity and inhumanity of prejudice.

• “Through all the difficult times that our country has experienced, many people drew strength and inspiration from my story and came together to do extraordinary things.”

Her story serves as a catalyst for unity and remarkable actions, a beacon of hope in dark times.

• “I don’t know if you understand what it is to watch your child go through something like this. We didn’t know what would happen; we only knew it couldn’t happen again.”

The pain and helplessness of a parent watching their child tread such audacious paths can be gut-wrenching but also mobilizing.

• “Bigotry is a system that runs through the fabric of this great nation, and until we expand and challenge the system, we will not have the necessary conversation for change to begin.”

Bigotry isn’t a series of isolated incidents but a system—a system that must be dismantled to pave the way for honest progress and conversations about change.

• “Power and Change is not something you should have to beg for, but it always seems that the change happens when folks get together and demand it.”

Changes shouldn’t be contingent on begging; they should be born from collective will and grassroots movements demanding justice and equality.

• “My parents used to say that religion and racism are learned at talk about the feel. You can’t be born with those things.”

Rooting out the learned behavior of religion and racism becomes a moral responsibility, as they are not inherent but societal constructs.

• “Some of the greatest achievements took place during the Civil Rights Movement, but we’re not finished yet. We can never be.”

Celebrating victories while recognizing that the fight is ongoing is the essence of continuous progress and never-ending righteousness.

• “You need a superhuman spirit to survive anything in life if you’re going to be a survivor.”

Adversity demands an extraordinary spirit—one that Ruby exemplifies with every step she takes.

• “The American education system would significantly improve if it strived to teach real history and not comfort and propaganda.”

An appeal for an unbiased and inclusive educational system that teaches real history, warts and all, for genuine understanding and progress.

• “Our political system is designed in such a way that it makes it difficult for people of color to run for and hold political offices.”

Pointing out the ingrained mechanisms within society that perpetuate inequality, making the climb to political representation steeper for people of color.

• “Start living the life you want NOW.”

Delaying happiness and the pursuit of dreams is a wasteful decision. Ruby’s exhortation is to grasp life’s opportunities and live fully without waiting for a better ‘moment’ that might never come.

• “There’s a difference between people who build bridges and those who build walls; bridges unite and walls divide.”

A metaphorical reflection on the role of individuals in society. She advocates for bridge-builders, those who strive to unite and bring people together, rather than wall-builders who perpetuate division.

• “Leadership is not about the next election; it’s about the next generation.”

A compelling reminder that true leadership isn’t shortsighted, but forward-thinking, considering the impact on the future generation.

• “Hate is a huge burden, but history has taught us that love can heal the deepest wounds.”

A maxim that echoes the most critical lesson from the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement—that hatred only breeds more hate, while love and understanding are the paths to redemption and growth.

• “One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals.”

The final quote encapsulates Ruby’s steadfast belief in self-worth and personal conviction. It’s a lesson in perseverance and focusing on your own integrity, especially during the toughest moments.

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Final Thoughts

Ruby Bridges’ legacy is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit in the face of profound adversity. Her courageous steps as a child laid down a path for change, challenging us to examine our own beliefs and the societal structures that sustain inequality. Ruby’s reflections offer profound insights into the enduring struggle for civil rights and the importance of continuing the fight for justice and equality for all. Through her wisdom, we are reminded that change is both a personal and collective endeavor, requiring us to build bridges, not walls, and to lead with love, not hate. Her story and the lessons she shares are not just historical footnotes; they are vibrant, living calls to action, urging us to strive for a more inclusive, understanding, and compassionate world. Ruby Bridges’ enduring influence serves as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path toward a better future for the next generation.

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