"We can never thank her enough for the part she played, and continues to play, to ensure that our nation lives up to the promise of liberty and justice for all."- NJ Attorney General Platkin
By: Richard L. Smith
In a powerful display of unity and remembrance, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin stood alongside the Hillside Branch of the NAACP, in partnership with AAA Northeast, Hillside Public Schools, to announce a significant community event that honors the courage of Ruby Bridges.
The "Ruby Bridges Community March" took place Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., commencing from the Hurden Looker School, located at 1261 Liberty Avenue in Hillside.
The event held deep significance and aimed to commemorate Ruby Bridges becoming the first Black student to integrate an elementary school in the Southern United States.
Ruby Bridges, at the tender age of 6, desegregated the William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana, a journey marked by her escort by federal marshals due to concerns for her safety.
Ruby's daily walk to school was a heart-wrenching ordeal as she passed through crowds of adults hurling profanities and racist slurs.
The Honorable Nicole Graves-Watson, Founder and President of the Hillside Branch of the NAACP, underscored the importance of this event, saying, "During a time when some states are working towards erasing Black History from schools, we come together as a community to embrace our history, share our history, and learn from our history."
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin also paid tribute to Ruby Bridges, emphasizing her enduring impact on civil rights.
"Ruby Bridges was just a child when she took on the role of civil rights leader. Her strength and courage in the face of vile racist taunts, vicious intimidation, and harassment made her a hero to those seeking equality for all Americans," said Attorney General Platkin.
The event received sponsorship from AAA Northeast, with Roz Thompson, Senior Public Affairs Specialist, expressing admiration for Ruby Bridges' courage: "Courage doesn't mean that you don't get afraid. Courage means you don't let fear stop you."
The historical context further underlined the significance of this event. The state of New Jersey ordered the Hillside Board of Education to racially desegregate its elementary schools in 1984.
However, the issue of racial imbalance had been identified as far back as 1973, with desegregation only taking place after 11 years.
Kimberly Cook, Hillside Board of Education President, shared her personal connection to the desegregation process as a former student in Hillside Public Schools.
"I'm so excited for this educational experience for our Hillside students to join NAACP and the AAA to honor such a courageous little girl now turned woman, Ms. Ruby Bridges," said Cook. She continued, "Ruby Bridges was the first but not the last. What a pleasure it is to celebrate with our students a woman who made it possible, no matter what we look like, that we can fellowship in education as one."
Erskine Glover, Superintendent of Hillside Public Schools, highlighted Ruby Bridges' enduring influence on education, noting that her actions continue to shape the educational landscape in the United States.
"The administration, educators, and three thousand students at Hillside Public Schools remain committed to ensuring that our district models our practices and priorities of equity and excellence just as Ruby Bridges has done throughout her impactful life."
The Hillside Branch of the NAACP was chartered on October 16, 2021, marking a significant milestone in the township.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), founded in 1909, remains dedicated to dismantling racism and accelerating change in areas such as criminal justice, healthcare, education, climate, and the economy.
Additional information about the Hillside NAACP can be found on their website at naacphillsidenj.org.