Quotes from Ruby Bridges

Racism is a form of hate. We pass it on to our young people. When we do that, we are robbing children of their innocence.

The mission of the Ruby Bridges Foundation is to create educational opportunities like science camp that allow children from different racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds to build lasting relationships.

I remember turning onto the street. I saw barricades and police officers and, just, people everywhere. When I saw all of that, I immediately thought that it was Mardi Gras. I had no idea that they were here to keep me out of the school.

Our babies know nothing about hate or racism. But soon they begin to learn - and only from us.

I do think that some people are born as old souls.

All of our schools should be good enough to attract a healthy racial mix, which, I believe, leads to the most effective learning for everybody.

There are all kinds of monuments to adults - usually dead and usually white. But we don't often lift up the extraordinary work of children.

If you really think about it, if we begin to teach history exactly the way that it happened - good, bad, ugly, no matter what - I believe that we're going to find that we are closer, more connected than we are apart.

I remember what it was like at age 6, not really understanding what was going on around me, but having all these grown-up thoughts running through my head about what I was facing, why this was happening.

I think that racism is ugly and so unfair, and I believe that we all need one another.

Kids come into the world with clean hearts, fresh starts.

As African-Americans, people of that generation felt pretty much if they were going to see changes in the world, they had to make sacrifices and step up to the plate. I'm very proud that my parents happened to be people who did. They were not privileged to have a formal education.

None of our kids come into the world knowing anything about disliking one another.

From age 7 to about 37, I had a normal life and not a very easy one.

A lot of my strength came from my upbringing.

What we, as African Americans, stood on was our faith.

Racism is a grown-up disease, and we should stop using our kids to spread it.

When the scary subject of race is finally broached, kids want to talk and talk. It's very satisfying.

I like to share my story with children, and they are amazed by the story.

If my mama said not to do something, I didn't do it.