Ruby Bridges to Speak at UChicago’s 35th Annual MLK Commemoration

CHICAGO, Ill. — Ruby Bridges, the civil rights icon who became the first Black student to integrate an all-white New Orleans public school in 1960, will share her story at the University of Chicago’s 35th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration on Jan. 29. The event, free and open to the public, will take place at 6 p.m. at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel.

Bridges, who was just six years old when she walked into William Frantz Elementary School flanked by U.S. marshals, will participate in a fireside chat. The evening will also feature remarks from UChicago President Paul Alivisatos and performances by Uniting Voices Chicago.

“It is an honor to welcome Ruby Bridges to campus as the featured speaker for this year’s program,” said Vice Provost Waldo E. Johnson, Jr. “Her lifelong pursuit of ensuring equal access to educational opportunity began before she recognized the lasting impact of her actions, and her story continues to inspire each new generation.”

Born in 1954, the same year as the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, Bridges made history on Nov. 14, 1960, when she became the first and only Black student to attend William Frantz Elementary School. White parents withdrew their children in protest, and teachers refused to teach, leaving Bridges as the sole student in her class for the entire year. Despite death threats and constant harassment, she never missed a day of school.

Her courageous walk into the school, immortalized in Norman Rockwell’s painting *The Problem We All Live With*, became a defining moment in the fight for desegregation. Bridges’ story has since been featured in books, films, and television shows, and she has dedicated her life to promoting tolerance and change through education.

In 1999, Bridges established the Ruby Bridges Foundation, which organizes Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day each year on Nov. 14 to encourage students to engage in activism. She is also the author of several books, including *Through My Eyes* (1999), *This Is Your Time* (2020), and *I Am Ruby Bridges* (2022). Her latest work, *Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts* (2024), compiles responses to letters from young students addressing issues like bullying, racism, and climate change.

Bridges has received numerous accolades, including the NAACP Martin Luther King Award, the Presidential Citizens Medal, and honorary doctorates from Connecticut College, College of New Rochelle, Columbia University Teachers College, and Tulane University. In March 2024, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

The MLK Commemoration at UChicago continues a tradition of inviting speakers who have followed in Dr. King’s footsteps. Past speakers include Martin Luther King III, Attorney General Eric Holder Jr., Cheryl Brown Henderson, Isabel Wilkerson, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and President Barack Obama. Dr. King himself spoke at UChicago in 1956 and 1959.

Guests are encouraged to register for tickets in advance. For more information, visit UChicago’s event page.