Ruby Bridges

In 1960, first grader Ruby Bridges made history in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she made one of the first steps for the cause of integration in an all-white public school. Toni Ann Johnson has written the screenplay for this biographical film showing her courage.

Thanks to her good grades, Ruby, played by Chaz Monet, is chosen by the NAACP to be a creator in breaking downs the walls of segregation. Depending on the Christian warnings of her mother (Lela Rochon) and the moral support of her father (Michael Beach), this brave African girl is escorted by four federal marshals through a crowd of angry white protestors in front of the school. A teacher, played by Penelope Ann Miller, from Boston works with Ruby since none of the regular teachers have flat out refused to teach her.

Dr. Coles, played by Kevin Pollak, a psychiatrist who has worked with children under danger, begins counseling Ruby when she refuses to eat her lunch afraid it might have been poisoned by one of the white parents. Tension increases at home when her father loses his job because of Ruby’s civil rights movement. At one part, the spiritual teacher tells Dr. Coles that she has been praying for those in the angry mob just like Jesus did when he faced the same situation.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat said in their review, “Euzhan Paley directs this inspiring film about an exceptional black girl whose Christian faith and spiritual resiliency is a lesson for all of us.” “Ruby Bridges,” released in 1998, is perfect for Sunday School children to discuss.

I remember reading the children’s book about Ruby Bridges when I was about in third grade, if I’m not mistaken. We also saw a little bit of the movie, but I had forgotten the name, so I never went back and finished it. That is until I think earlier this year or last year when I saw that Doug Walker had reviewed it, then I remembered what it was. I checked it out on Disney+ earlier this year and I liked it, but it is devastating to see what this child went through. However, that does not mean you shouldn’t check it out, because you should. Seeing how this is one of the first Disney Channel Original Movies, I think it is one that everyone should watch because it is good, but I wouldn’t be surprised if anyone cried while watching this.

Look out tomorrow when I review a film that is based on an old TV show that I wasn’t really a fan of in “Disney Month 2021.”