As I consider how far America has come in sixty years, and how far we have yet to actualize the ideals listed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights, one singular image is burned into my mind. Little Ruby Bridges, escorted by federal marshals to her first day of kindergarten at a newly desegregated elementary school in 1960 New Orleans. She looks like every other kindergartener: smaller than the school bag she carries, with a button nose and chubby cheeks of a baby, stepping out into the big wide world. Her hairbow is most prominent as she looks down, her little feet stepping down those big steps.
I want to rush up those steps and scoop her into my arms,
hiding her face in my shoulder so she doesn’t see the crowds of other white
women hurling objects at her and yelling ugly words. I felt this even more
strongly as images of my hometown from last week portrayed white adults
physically assaulting young protesters who were peacefully requesting an end
systemic racism. I often think about what Ruby Bridge’s mother must have felt
that first day of school… in addition to the fear, I know her mother felt an
overwhelming sense of awe, love, and pride in that little girl who held her
head up and returned to school day after day, walking through those crowds with
the federal marshals at her side.
Little Ruby Bridges grew into a strong woman with a large
voice that she uses to this day to continue to advocate for civil rights.
In his essay, “The Fire Next Time”, writer James Baldwin
touches upon the strength that Ruby displayed at such a tender age. He states
that generations of Black Americans surviving the worst that life had to offer
had born, “children of kindergarten age who can walk through mobs to get to
school.”
The title of Baldwin’s essay is from a slave song, “God gave
Noah the rainbow sign, No more water, the fire next time!” His essay opens with
a letter to his nephew, also named James. The letter is a map for his nephew to
navigate a white America as a young black man. The second part of the essay is
a letter from the writer describing his own navigational journey. Harassed and
abused by police when he was ten, young James finds security in a life devoted
to the church, and enters the ministry. His essay examines the roles
Christianity and Islam played during the civil rights movement, and in slavery
and oppression. Through hardship, black Americans rose above fear and moved
forward with love and grace. The overarching message is change is messy, and
requires all citizens to stand up and make their voices heard in unity. At 100
pages, the essay is bit longer than most, and requires a quiet mind to listen.
At once historical and timely, “The Fire Next Time” provides context for civil
right actions today.
