My 6 word memoir
My quote collage for the book 13 Gifts by Wendy Mass
My Hero Essay:
My Hero - Ruby Bridges
by: Rebekah
Can you imagine just being just 6 years old in 1960 and having to go to a white school while being a negro child. I think I would be mortified. Well this little girl, Ruby Bridges, did exactly that. Ruby was the only negro child that had ever walked into the William Frantz Elementary School.
Ruby Nell bridges was born in Tylertown, Mississippi on September 8,1954. She grew up on the farm her parents and grandparents sharecropped in Mississippi. In 1958, when Ruby was 4 years old, her parents, Abon and Lucille, moved to New Orleans, hoping for a better life in a bigger city. Ruby’s dad got a job as a gas station attendant and her mom took night jobs to help support their growing family. Soon, Ruby got three siblings. Two younger brothers and one younger sister joined Ruby’s life.
In 1960, when she was 6 years old, her parents responded to a request from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and volunteered her to participate in the integration of the New Orleans School system, even though her father was hesitant. In spring of 1960, Bridges was one of six black children in New Orleans to pass the test that determined whether they could go to the all-white school. Two of the six decided to stay at their old school, three were transferred to McDonogh, and Bridges went to a school by herself.
When Ruby got to the school there was a crowd of people outside shouting and throwing things. Ruby was guarded by U.S. Marshals who brought her to and from school. Once Ruby started to go to school, parents started taking their children out of school. Teachers refused to teach if there was a black person enrolled in school, only one person agreed to teach Ruby, that was Barbara Henry, from Boston Massachusetts. For a full year, Henry and Ruby sat side by side at two desks, working on Ruby's lessons. Henry was very loving and supportive of Ruby, helping her not only with her studies but also with the difficult experience of being ostracized. Ruby loved Mrs. Henry (which she still calls her as an adult) but didn’t like going to school alone. People started to really get angry. One lady threatened to poison her so Ruby had to start bringing lunch from home everyday. Also another person put a black baby doll in a wooden coffin and protested with it outside the school. Ruby’s mom suggested that she would pray on her way to school. Ruby took that suggestion and started to pray everyday on the way to school. She derived her strength and bravery from her faith and when one day forgot to pray on the way to school, she ran outside the school building where the angry mob was, and prayed.
After the end of the first year things began to settle down. White parents started to bring their children back to school. By Ruby's second year at Frantz School it seemed everything had changed. Mrs. Henry's contract wasn't renewed, and so she and her husband returned to Boston. There were also no more federal marshals; Ruby walked to school every day by herself. There were other students in her second grade class, and the school began to see full enrollment again. No one talked about the past year. It seemed everyone wanted to put the experience behind them. Ruby Bridges finished grade school, and graduated from the integrated Francis T. Nicholls High School in New Orleans. She then studied travel and tourism at the Kansas City business school and worked for American Express as a world travel agent. In 1984, Ruby married Malcolm Hall in New Orleans, and later became a full-time parent to their four sons.
By now, nobody can deny the heroism of Ruby Bridges, whose bravery inspired the 1966 painting by Norman Rockwell entitled "The Problem We All Live With." It also inspired the children's book The Ruby Bridges Story by Robert Coles.
Ruby Bridges is a big inspiration in life. She was the first African-American child to integrate a white Southern elementary school, having to be escorted to class by her mother and U.S. marshals due to violent mobs. Ruby is my hero because she was brave, determined and faithful. She was very brave. She had to pass by the angry crowd everyday. Just as United States Deputy Marshal Charles Burks says, "She showed a lot of courage. She never cried. She didn't whimper. She just marched along like a little soldier.” U.S. marshall said. Ruby didn’t just march along though, as she was marching she prayed for the people. That just shows how faithful she was. Ruby was also very determined and kept on going to school everyday, doing the same exact thing. She had the decision to just go to an ordinary negro school but Ruby just kept at it and didn’t stop. I think we could all learn something from Ruby Bridges. I think we should all be brave and determined like she was. Well like she always says, “Don't follow the path. Go where there is no path and start a trail.”
by: Rebekah
Can you imagine just being just 6 years old in 1960 and having to go to a white school while being a negro child. I think I would be mortified. Well this little girl, Ruby Bridges, did exactly that. Ruby was the only negro child that had ever walked into the William Frantz Elementary School.
Ruby Nell bridges was born in Tylertown, Mississippi on September 8,1954. She grew up on the farm her parents and grandparents sharecropped in Mississippi. In 1958, when Ruby was 4 years old, her parents, Abon and Lucille, moved to New Orleans, hoping for a better life in a bigger city. Ruby’s dad got a job as a gas station attendant and her mom took night jobs to help support their growing family. Soon, Ruby got three siblings. Two younger brothers and one younger sister joined Ruby’s life.
In 1960, when she was 6 years old, her parents responded to a request from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and volunteered her to participate in the integration of the New Orleans School system, even though her father was hesitant. In spring of 1960, Bridges was one of six black children in New Orleans to pass the test that determined whether they could go to the all-white school. Two of the six decided to stay at their old school, three were transferred to McDonogh, and Bridges went to a school by herself.
When Ruby got to the school there was a crowd of people outside shouting and throwing things. Ruby was guarded by U.S. Marshals who brought her to and from school. Once Ruby started to go to school, parents started taking their children out of school. Teachers refused to teach if there was a black person enrolled in school, only one person agreed to teach Ruby, that was Barbara Henry, from Boston Massachusetts. For a full year, Henry and Ruby sat side by side at two desks, working on Ruby's lessons. Henry was very loving and supportive of Ruby, helping her not only with her studies but also with the difficult experience of being ostracized. Ruby loved Mrs. Henry (which she still calls her as an adult) but didn’t like going to school alone. People started to really get angry. One lady threatened to poison her so Ruby had to start bringing lunch from home everyday. Also another person put a black baby doll in a wooden coffin and protested with it outside the school. Ruby’s mom suggested that she would pray on her way to school. Ruby took that suggestion and started to pray everyday on the way to school. She derived her strength and bravery from her faith and when one day forgot to pray on the way to school, she ran outside the school building where the angry mob was, and prayed.
After the end of the first year things began to settle down. White parents started to bring their children back to school. By Ruby's second year at Frantz School it seemed everything had changed. Mrs. Henry's contract wasn't renewed, and so she and her husband returned to Boston. There were also no more federal marshals; Ruby walked to school every day by herself. There were other students in her second grade class, and the school began to see full enrollment again. No one talked about the past year. It seemed everyone wanted to put the experience behind them. Ruby Bridges finished grade school, and graduated from the integrated Francis T. Nicholls High School in New Orleans. She then studied travel and tourism at the Kansas City business school and worked for American Express as a world travel agent. In 1984, Ruby married Malcolm Hall in New Orleans, and later became a full-time parent to their four sons.
By now, nobody can deny the heroism of Ruby Bridges, whose bravery inspired the 1966 painting by Norman Rockwell entitled "The Problem We All Live With." It also inspired the children's book The Ruby Bridges Story by Robert Coles.
Ruby Bridges is a big inspiration in life. She was the first African-American child to integrate a white Southern elementary school, having to be escorted to class by her mother and U.S. marshals due to violent mobs. Ruby is my hero because she was brave, determined and faithful. She was very brave. She had to pass by the angry crowd everyday. Just as United States Deputy Marshal Charles Burks says, "She showed a lot of courage. She never cried. She didn't whimper. She just marched along like a little soldier.” U.S. marshall said. Ruby didn’t just march along though, as she was marching she prayed for the people. That just shows how faithful she was. Ruby was also very determined and kept on going to school everyday, doing the same exact thing. She had the decision to just go to an ordinary negro school but Ruby just kept at it and didn’t stop. I think we could all learn something from Ruby Bridges. I think we should all be brave and determined like she was. Well like she always says, “Don't follow the path. Go where there is no path and start a trail.”
Reflections about my hero essay:
Q: How much did you know about the subject before we started?
A: Before we started this project I knew quite a bit about Ruby Bridges. When I was in first grade I found out about her. All the way to the end of third grade, was I really interested. She was very inspiring to me. I did lots of projects on her. This year when we started the hero essay, I didn’t have any trouble picking who I wanted. This year I was brought back to Ruby Bridges. During this project we did a lot of researching. Even though I knew quite a bit of Ruby Bridges, I learned a lot of new facts. I discovered many more things than the things I learned when I was in first grade, second grade and third grade. This year I have become just as interested in Ruby Bridges than when I was in first to third grade, maybe even more interested. This is how much I knew about the subject before we started.
Q: What did you learn about yourself as you worked on this piece?
A: I learned that sometimes I think my piece is all finished and done for but really my work can always be improved. I normally always just do a rough draft and then my rough draft turned out to be my final draft. I realized during this project that I should always read it over and over again and edit and revise it. I also realized that for me it is good to have a friend or family member read it over and tell me what they like and dislike about the piece. It really helps to have another person’s idea about it. It can really improve your piece. This is what I learned about myself as I worked on this piece.
Q: If someone else were looking at the piece, what might they learn about who you are?
A: If someone was looking at this piece I think they would learn a few things about me. First i think they would learn that I am very inspired by some people. Also they might learn that I am very interested segregation. Now I don’t like the idea of segregation, but I have always liked to learn about it and people that have experienced it. Also I think they would learn that I believe everyone is capable to do something amazing in their life but you don’t have to do that amazing thing when your older, you can do it now. That is what I think someone else might learn about me from looking at this piece.
Q: What would you like to spend more time on in school?
A: I think we should spend more time on the editing and revising part. Even though we spent a decent amount of time on it, I feel that we should have at least two people look at our rough draft. When someone looks at my rough draft and tell me things they like and things I should improve on it really helps me. I think my paper can get ten times better than how it started. That is what I would like to spend more time on in school.
A: Before we started this project I knew quite a bit about Ruby Bridges. When I was in first grade I found out about her. All the way to the end of third grade, was I really interested. She was very inspiring to me. I did lots of projects on her. This year when we started the hero essay, I didn’t have any trouble picking who I wanted. This year I was brought back to Ruby Bridges. During this project we did a lot of researching. Even though I knew quite a bit of Ruby Bridges, I learned a lot of new facts. I discovered many more things than the things I learned when I was in first grade, second grade and third grade. This year I have become just as interested in Ruby Bridges than when I was in first to third grade, maybe even more interested. This is how much I knew about the subject before we started.
Q: What did you learn about yourself as you worked on this piece?
A: I learned that sometimes I think my piece is all finished and done for but really my work can always be improved. I normally always just do a rough draft and then my rough draft turned out to be my final draft. I realized during this project that I should always read it over and over again and edit and revise it. I also realized that for me it is good to have a friend or family member read it over and tell me what they like and dislike about the piece. It really helps to have another person’s idea about it. It can really improve your piece. This is what I learned about myself as I worked on this piece.
Q: If someone else were looking at the piece, what might they learn about who you are?
A: If someone was looking at this piece I think they would learn a few things about me. First i think they would learn that I am very inspired by some people. Also they might learn that I am very interested segregation. Now I don’t like the idea of segregation, but I have always liked to learn about it and people that have experienced it. Also I think they would learn that I believe everyone is capable to do something amazing in their life but you don’t have to do that amazing thing when your older, you can do it now. That is what I think someone else might learn about me from looking at this piece.
Q: What would you like to spend more time on in school?
A: I think we should spend more time on the editing and revising part. Even though we spent a decent amount of time on it, I feel that we should have at least two people look at our rough draft. When someone looks at my rough draft and tell me things they like and things I should improve on it really helps me. I think my paper can get ten times better than how it started. That is what I would like to spend more time on in school.
My Convince Your Parents Letter
5/21/15
Dear Mommy and Poppy,
Kids need attention and someone to share their thoughts with. Sometimes children can’t get that. Parents are at work. Siblings have homework to get done. Friends have activities to get to, and so on. Now how can we fix this. The answer to that is with apes. Now you’re probably thinking, APES? Why apes? Well apes can communicate through sign language. Also they have feelings just like we do. They act almost the exact same way humans do, except they don’t have homework to get done, and they don’t have places to go to. They’re always free! How great would that be to have someone to talk to at anytime in the day. An ape would be the perfect way to get the attention that I deserve.
You claim that I am not responsible enough to have an ape. You feel that feeding it, cleaning up after it, and caring for it will all become your responsibility. Well you have never really given me the chance. Now you’re probably thinking, yes we have given you the chance, we have the dog. Yes you are right and at the same time you are wrong. You already said that we fight over who has to feed the dog and we give you a hard time about cleaning up after the dog, but the thing is, the dog is not just my responsibility. The dog is the whole family’s. Everyone in our family is responsible for it. It it not just one person’s responsibility. I should not be doing everything for the dog, I should be doing an equal amount of work as everyone else. Therefore you haven’t responsible.
You say that apes sound smelly and messy. That just shows me that you are judging the ape by it’s cover. Apes can be messy and smelly, but not if you train them and you take care of them, and that that is exactly what I am going to do. Now the real question is, where are we going to keep the ape. Since Grandma and Grandpa live right next door, we will have the ape live in their backyard. Grandma and Grandpa have more than enough room in their backyard, and either way, the ape doesn’t need that much space. Also I will have a reason to go outside. We all know that I don’t spend that much time outside. Between dance, piano, and homework I don’t really even think about spending time outside. This will make me have to go outside. Therefore, I will get more fresh air, instead of hanging out inside.
You believe that the only reason why I want an ape, is because it is cute and furry. Well there is way more to it than that. Apes have a lot to offer. Firstly they are furry and they are cute. It’s not the same thing if you get me another one of those blankets. Those blankets don’t have ape fur anyway, and sorry to tell you this mommy, but you will never be as cute as an ape. Well actually that’s not exactly true. People say that their owners start to look like their pets. If that’s true, you will look cute. Also (like I said before), it will give me more time in the fresh air. Also, an ape will keep me company when you can’t. You are always inside dealing with bills, taxes, invoices, and other stuff that I have no idea what in the world are. If I get an ape, I won’t have to bother interrupting you all the time to talk to you, I could just go talk to the ape. Another thing is, that I might start to enjoy bananas. Now you have always wanted me to eat more bananas because they are healthy and apparently they are “yummy”. Well if I have to feed my ape bananas everyday, I most likely will start to eat them too. Also I can show you that I am responsible. If I get an ape, I will be a more responsible adult. I will potty train it and teach it not to be violent, and as I said before, it will help me to be a more responsible adult. I want to be a preschool teacher when I grow up (you already knew that), and if I get an ape it will help me start to understand how preschoolers act. Also I will learn how to do sign language so that might help me get a really good job when I’m older. I might even start talking to you in sign language, and then you guys will start to understand how to do sign language too. See, I will be a great teacher and a great daughter (remember?).
Now you feel that getting an ape feels too much like having another child. Well I have a few reasons why it will definitely not feel like having another child. First and foremost, none of us run around naked. Apes can do that so it will definitely not feel like another one of your children. Also when we got Maggie, you didn’t say it felt like having another child. She doesn’t feel anything like any of us, and she won’t because she runs around naked. Another reason why an ape won’t feel like any of us, is because you have to get a permit to own the ape. Now you didn’t have to have a permit to have any of us, did you? One more reason is that it may become your best friend. You aren't best friends with your children now, are you? See wouldn’t that be weird. Friends with your daughters and son, but being friends with Maggie isn’t weird. See it would be the same thing as being friends with the ape.
Imagine me in 15 years. Done with collage. Starting my job. Well imagine me at my job (being a preschool teacher) on the first day of school. How well will I do? I don’t know how to deal with the preschoolers by myself. Also, what happens if one of my students have trouble hearing? Well if I don’t get an ape I won’t know how to do sign language, and I won’t be able to deal with the preschoolers by myself (you know because I will have to take care of the ape by myself just like I will have to take care of the preschoolers by myself). See you are basically setting me up for disaster when I grow up. Now do you really want me to have a horrible career? Do you really want me to be a horrible parent? Don’t you want me to have a successful life? Well I’m warning you. Get me an ape before it’s too late and my dream is ruined.
Your sweet little ape daughter,
Rebekah❤
Dear Mommy and Poppy,
Kids need attention and someone to share their thoughts with. Sometimes children can’t get that. Parents are at work. Siblings have homework to get done. Friends have activities to get to, and so on. Now how can we fix this. The answer to that is with apes. Now you’re probably thinking, APES? Why apes? Well apes can communicate through sign language. Also they have feelings just like we do. They act almost the exact same way humans do, except they don’t have homework to get done, and they don’t have places to go to. They’re always free! How great would that be to have someone to talk to at anytime in the day. An ape would be the perfect way to get the attention that I deserve.
You claim that I am not responsible enough to have an ape. You feel that feeding it, cleaning up after it, and caring for it will all become your responsibility. Well you have never really given me the chance. Now you’re probably thinking, yes we have given you the chance, we have the dog. Yes you are right and at the same time you are wrong. You already said that we fight over who has to feed the dog and we give you a hard time about cleaning up after the dog, but the thing is, the dog is not just my responsibility. The dog is the whole family’s. Everyone in our family is responsible for it. It it not just one person’s responsibility. I should not be doing everything for the dog, I should be doing an equal amount of work as everyone else. Therefore you haven’t responsible.
You say that apes sound smelly and messy. That just shows me that you are judging the ape by it’s cover. Apes can be messy and smelly, but not if you train them and you take care of them, and that that is exactly what I am going to do. Now the real question is, where are we going to keep the ape. Since Grandma and Grandpa live right next door, we will have the ape live in their backyard. Grandma and Grandpa have more than enough room in their backyard, and either way, the ape doesn’t need that much space. Also I will have a reason to go outside. We all know that I don’t spend that much time outside. Between dance, piano, and homework I don’t really even think about spending time outside. This will make me have to go outside. Therefore, I will get more fresh air, instead of hanging out inside.
You believe that the only reason why I want an ape, is because it is cute and furry. Well there is way more to it than that. Apes have a lot to offer. Firstly they are furry and they are cute. It’s not the same thing if you get me another one of those blankets. Those blankets don’t have ape fur anyway, and sorry to tell you this mommy, but you will never be as cute as an ape. Well actually that’s not exactly true. People say that their owners start to look like their pets. If that’s true, you will look cute. Also (like I said before), it will give me more time in the fresh air. Also, an ape will keep me company when you can’t. You are always inside dealing with bills, taxes, invoices, and other stuff that I have no idea what in the world are. If I get an ape, I won’t have to bother interrupting you all the time to talk to you, I could just go talk to the ape. Another thing is, that I might start to enjoy bananas. Now you have always wanted me to eat more bananas because they are healthy and apparently they are “yummy”. Well if I have to feed my ape bananas everyday, I most likely will start to eat them too. Also I can show you that I am responsible. If I get an ape, I will be a more responsible adult. I will potty train it and teach it not to be violent, and as I said before, it will help me to be a more responsible adult. I want to be a preschool teacher when I grow up (you already knew that), and if I get an ape it will help me start to understand how preschoolers act. Also I will learn how to do sign language so that might help me get a really good job when I’m older. I might even start talking to you in sign language, and then you guys will start to understand how to do sign language too. See, I will be a great teacher and a great daughter (remember?).
Now you feel that getting an ape feels too much like having another child. Well I have a few reasons why it will definitely not feel like having another child. First and foremost, none of us run around naked. Apes can do that so it will definitely not feel like another one of your children. Also when we got Maggie, you didn’t say it felt like having another child. She doesn’t feel anything like any of us, and she won’t because she runs around naked. Another reason why an ape won’t feel like any of us, is because you have to get a permit to own the ape. Now you didn’t have to have a permit to have any of us, did you? One more reason is that it may become your best friend. You aren't best friends with your children now, are you? See wouldn’t that be weird. Friends with your daughters and son, but being friends with Maggie isn’t weird. See it would be the same thing as being friends with the ape.
Imagine me in 15 years. Done with collage. Starting my job. Well imagine me at my job (being a preschool teacher) on the first day of school. How well will I do? I don’t know how to deal with the preschoolers by myself. Also, what happens if one of my students have trouble hearing? Well if I don’t get an ape I won’t know how to do sign language, and I won’t be able to deal with the preschoolers by myself (you know because I will have to take care of the ape by myself just like I will have to take care of the preschoolers by myself). See you are basically setting me up for disaster when I grow up. Now do you really want me to have a horrible career? Do you really want me to be a horrible parent? Don’t you want me to have a successful life? Well I’m warning you. Get me an ape before it’s too late and my dream is ruined.
Your sweet little ape daughter,
Rebekah❤
Reflection For Convince Your Parents Letter
Q: What do you find frustrating about this piece?
A: What I think is the most frustrating thing about this piece is that no matter how good I write it, how professional it sounds, my parents won't get me an ape. AHHHHHH!!! It's so annoying! I just want to have a fun relaxing childhood and apparently they are against. It just makes me so aggravated. Like I said before, AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Q: What is the one thing you want people to notice about you when they read this piece.
A: The one thing that I want people to notice about me, is that I am a desperate little girl, who only wants on thing in life, and that is an ape. I want people to also want an ape, because if they get an ape, maybe my parents will notice that they are amazing creatures and then decide to get me one.
A: What I think is the most frustrating thing about this piece is that no matter how good I write it, how professional it sounds, my parents won't get me an ape. AHHHHHH!!! It's so annoying! I just want to have a fun relaxing childhood and apparently they are against. It just makes me so aggravated. Like I said before, AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Q: What is the one thing you want people to notice about you when they read this piece.
A: The one thing that I want people to notice about me, is that I am a desperate little girl, who only wants on thing in life, and that is an ape. I want people to also want an ape, because if they get an ape, maybe my parents will notice that they are amazing creatures and then decide to get me one.