NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - South Florida students are taking part in the annual Walk to School Day to honor the courageous and historic act Ruby Bridge made by being the first African American child to attend a former Whites-only school in New Orleans.
In 1960, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges made history when she was escorted by federal Marshals to Williams Frantz Elementary School amid a desegregation crisis in the South.
Sixty-four years later, Bridges’ valor is still being celebrated throughout the world and here in South Florida, with many students consciously putting themselves in her shoes and opting to walk to school and meditate on the heroic act.
The Ruby Bridges Walk in Liberty City invited parents, students, staff, and community members to march together from Holmes Elementary School to Miami Northwestern Senior High School.
“It was just a year or two before I was born its important for our children to know there’s real value in standing out and being different and kids can lead the way,” said Bill Diggs, Executive Director of Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust. .
However, the point of Thursday’s event was two-fold. The first reason was to celebrate Bridges and the second was to host a Math Matters rally to shed light on the educational disparities that still exist today.
“The major challenge for us is having people to understand that education is at the beginning of economic opportunity. There’s a direct correlation between the success of children from education perspective and them having decent and good lives,” said Diggs.
According to Miami-Dade schools, 60% of students in lower-income neighborhoods face significant challenges in math proficiency.
The Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust is working to change that by hosting the rally, which is certainly a message Ruby Bridges would support as she’s gone on to create the Ruby Bridges Foundation which promotes diversity, respect, and equal opportunity.
“This really is about empowerment we know that the next generation of leaders and community leaders and folks running businesses. Math is the key artificial intelligence isn’t going anywhere its getting smarter every day. Technology is the way of the world as we know it, “said Diggs.
Guest speakers in the math and science field attended the rally to encourage kids to apply themselves in school and dream big.
“Nobody in this room wants to fail and that’s why were here because we’re here for you to be successful,” said a speaker.
“You guys understand that I am from Liberty City. I actually sat in some of the same seats that you guys sit in,” said another.
This was the first year of the Ruby Bridges walk here in Liberty City but the organizers are hoping it certainly will not be the last.
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