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The Problem We All Live With

Steve Williams · Tuesday, June 23rd 2015 at 2:48PM · 981 views

Uploaded on Jul 15, 2011

Ruby Bridges visited the White House to see how a painting commemorating her personal and historic milestone looks hanging on the wall outside of the Oval Office. American Artist Norman Rockwell was criticized by some when this painting first appeared on the cover of Look magazine on January 14,1964; now the iconic portrait will be on display throughout the summer of 2011 in one of the most exalted locations in the country.

The Problem We All Live With

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Steve Williams Coatesville, PA

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Comments (8)

Jeni Fa Tuesday, June 23rd 2015 at 6:09PM

Boomshakala a pacesetter.... that's what I'm talkin' bout! Forget Rachel Da weasel... Ruby you go gurl!


Jeni Fa Tuesday, June 23rd 2015 at 6:11PM

That's what is meant what don't kill you , makes you stronger so she learned in first grade what it meant to have ppl not like you because of the color of one's skin... what a terrible thing to learn at 6 years old.

Dea. Ron Gray Sr. Tuesday, June 23rd 2015 at 11:04PM

Brother Steve,

I want more people to see this clip so I will share it on my face book page.

Diane Thurmond Wednesday, June 24th 2015 at 3:33AM

Blessings to you Ruby you go girl!!!

Steve Williams Wednesday, June 24th 2015 at 4:53AM

http://www.rubybridges.com/index.html

Steve Williams Wednesday, June 24th 2015 at 5:02AM

As I got a bit older, my job was to keep an eye on my younger brothers and sister, which wasn't too difficult. Except for church and the long walk to the all-black school where I went to kindergarten, our world didn't extend beyond our block. But that was all about to change.

Under federal court order, New Orleans public schools were finally forced to desegregate. In the spring of 1960 I took a test, along with other black kindergarteners in the city, to see who would go to an integrated school come September. That summer my parents learned I'd passed the test and had been selected to start first grade at William Frantz Public School.

My mother was all for it. My father wasn't. "We're just asking for trouble," he said. He thought things weren't going to change, and blacks and whites would never be treated as equals. Mama thought I would have an opportunity to get a better education if I went to the new school - and a chance for a good job later in life. My parents argued about it and prayed about it. Eventually my mother convinced my father that despite the risks, they had to take this step forward, not just for their own children, but for all black children.

Jeni Fa Wednesday, June 24th 2015 at 8:56AM

..."Eventually my mother convinced my father that despite the risks, they had to take this step forward, not just for their own children, but for all black children."...

God bless all fathers that listen to wise mothers...



MIISRAEL Bride Wednesday, June 24th 2015 at 4:48PM

Wonderful! When I first saw this art, I didn't know until later it was done by a White man.... It always stirs my imagination to see it!! Thanks Steve!

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