Ruby Bridges on Attending a Desegregated School in 1960: My Parents Never Explained to Me What I Was About to Venture Into

EXCERPT:

BRIDGES: "You know, my parents never explained to me what I was about to venture into. The only thing they said is, 'Ruby, you're going to go to a new school today, and you better behave.' And living in New Orleans and being accustomed to Mardi Gras, I mean, you know we see that during Mardi Gras, huge crowds screaming and yelling. So I often say, what protected me was the innocence of a child. I thought that day I was venturing into a Mardi Gras parade. So, I wasn't afraid. It took a while before I really found out that the crowds were out there for me. And that happened when I finally had an opportunity to meet another child."