The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross

Ruby Bridges Desegregates a School

Clip: Episode 5 | 2m 59s

Six-year-old Ruby Bridges integrated an all-white elementary school in New Orleans in 1960, escorted by federal marshals. Six years earlier, the NAACP had won a major legal victory with Brown vs. the Board of Education. That case declared the doctrine of separate but equal schools was unconstitutional.

Aired: 11/19/13

Rating: NR

Problems Playing Video? | Closed Captioning

Explore Our Shared Histories

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Series

Explore Our Shared Histories

Stream more from Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. through iconic series like Making Black America, Finding Your Roots, and The Black Church. Discover the ancestry of diverse, influential people and delve into the rich history and culture of Black America.

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