Speaker Profile Thumbnail for Ruby Bridges

Civil Rights Icon & Activist | Founder of the Ruby Bridges Foundation | Inspirational Speaker on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Education

Ruby Bridges Speaking Fee: $50,000 to $75,000

Civil Rights Icon & Activist | Founder of the Ruby Bridges Foundation | Inspirational Speaker on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Education

Speaker Profile Thumbnail for Ruby Bridges
Speaking Fee:
$50,000 to $75,000

Travels From:
LAX - Los Angeles (All Airports)

Primary Topic Category:
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) / Social Justice

Secondary Topic Category:
Education

 

Ruby Bridges Speaker Profile: At A Glance

Ruby Bridges is a renowned civil rights icon and activist best known for her role in desegregating an all-white elementary school in New Orleans at the age of six. She is the founder of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which promotes diversity and inclusion through educational initiatives. Ruby continues to inspire audiences with her powerful messages on social justice and the importance of education.

Ruby Bridges was born in 1954 in Mississippi and moved to New Orleans, where she became a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights Movement. At just six years old, Ruby bravely integrated William Frantz Elementary School, becoming the first African-American child to attend an all-white school in the South. Her courageous walk to school, escorted by federal marshals, was immortalized in Norman Rockwell's painting "The Problem We All Live With." Throughout her life, Ruby has been a tireless advocate for social justice and education. She founded the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which focuses on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools and communities. The foundation's programs aim to inspire and educate young people about the importance of tolerance and understanding. Ruby's contributions to civil rights have been recognized with numerous awards, including the NAACP Martin Luther King Award and the Presidential Citizens Medal. She has also received honorary doctorate degrees from several prestigious institutions. Ruby Bridges' story continues to be a source of inspiration, demonstrating the impact of one individual's courage and determination in the fight for equality.
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