Ruby Bridges Parent Guide

Most children are apprehensive about transferring to a new school but six-year-old Ruby Bridges’ (Chaz Monet) first day at William Frantz Elementary School is horrifying. Crowds of angry people surround the building, shouting racist epithets and death threats at the little girl, who is flanked by US federal marshals for her own safety. It’s impossible to imagine why adults could direct such hatred at a small child, but this is 1960 and Ruby Bridges is Black. Her tiny body is on the frontlines of the Civil Rights Movement as she becomes one of the first Black children in New Orleans to attend a traditionally white school.

It can be difficult to find civil rights movies that are suitable for kids; fortunately, Ruby Bridges fits the bill. This 1998 Disney made-for-tv film has mediocre production values (not surprising given its provenance) but it tells a true story that can be easily understood by child audiences. The movie’s clear message is that racism is learned behavior and that it can be unlearned. It also clearly demonstrates the ugliness of hate and the terrible damage it wreaks while also shining a light on the power of love, faith and forgiveness.

Ruby Bridges is not a “Christian film” but it is a film in which some of the characters are Christian and their faith is an important part of the story. Lucielle Bridges (Lela Rochon) has a rock solid, radiant faith and imparts it to her daughter. When Ruby questions her about the cruelty of the screaming bigots who threaten her, Lucielle draws on her religious background. Reminding her daughter that Jesus was himself persecuted and rejected, she tells Ruby to pray for those who seek to harm her, just as Jesus did. In one of the most affecting scenes of the film, Ruby recounts how she prays for her persecutors every day. You don’t have to share Ruby’s Christian beliefs to appreciate this film, but fellow believers will be pleased to see their convictions depicted in a positive light.

Director Euzhan Palcy has carefully geared this movie towards a family audience and keeps violence to a minimum. There is enough hate, anger, and peril to make viewers aware of the dangers Ruby and her family face, but there is no on-screen violence. The script is also free from profanity, but there are racial epithets shown on signs and yelled out at Black characters. This is historically accurate but may still upset sensitive viewers.

Overall, Ruby Bridges provides a solid option for parents or teachers trying to introduce elementary school aged children to the Civil Rights Movement. The movie feels a bit clunky at times but the acting is excellent and Chaz Monet is convincing as the self-possessed, indomitable Ruby. Lela Rochon is also believable as Lucielle, a mother determined that her children will have the opportunities she was denied due to the bigotry of the era. The film’s story is deceptively simple but it raises issues that can be understood by kids and should often be assessed by adults. At heart, it’s a story of courage, love, and fighting injustice – and those are the elements of many other great stories. This one just happens to be true.