39 Ruby Bridges Quotes from the Renowned Civil Rights Trailblazer

The name Ruby Bridges might ring a bell for those familiar with the Civil Rights movement in America. Read these 39 quotes where she talks about her personal life and racism with a dash of inspiration.

Ruby Bridges was only six years old when she became the first African American to step into an all-white educational institution. While many supported this new step towards a more just system, she and her family were met with verbal abuse from many individuals.

It was so bad that she had to have marshals escort her to school, with hordes of people surrounding her, making derogatory remarks.

Read these 39 quotes from the now-grown woman who had to take on this colossal burden at such a young age.

Ruby Bridges’ quotes: “We may not all be equally guilty. But we are all equally responsible for building a decent and just society.” | Image: AmoDays

Inspirational Ruby Bridges Quotes

"I believe that we have to come together, and we have to rely on the goodness of each other." — Ruby Bridges

"I pray for my enemies, that God would forgive them." — Ruby Bridges

"Each and every one of us is born with a clean heart. Our babies know nothing about hate or racism. But soon, they begin to learn—and only from us. We keep racism alive. We pass it on to our children. We owe it to our children to help them keep their clean start." — Ruby Bridges

"Racism is a grown-up disease, and we must stop using our children to spread it." — Ruby Bridges

"We may not all be equally guilty. But we are all equally responsible for building a decent and just society." — Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges’ quotes: “" pray for my enemies, that God would forgive them." | Image: AmoDays

"We all have a common enemy, and it is evil." — Ruby Bridges

"We must absolutely take care of one another." — Ruby Bridges

"When you start a new trail equipped with courage, strength, and conviction, the only thing that can stop you is you!" — Ruby Bridges

"Don't follow the path. Go where there is no path and begin the trail." — Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges Quotes about Racism and Discrimination

"You cannot look at a person and tell whether they're good or bad." — Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges’ quote: "I believe that we have to come together, and we have to rely on the goodness of each other.” | Image: AmoDays

"The greatest lesson I learned that year in Mrs. Henry's class was the lesson Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to teach us all: Never judge people by the color of their skin. God makes each of us unique in ways that go much deeper." — Ruby Bridges

"The people I passed every morning as I walked up the school's steps were full of hate. They were white, but so was my teacher, who couldn't have been more different from them. She was one of the most loving people I had ever known." — Ruby Bridges

"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." — Ruby Bridges

"We have tolerance, respect, and equality in our written laws but not in the hearts of some of our people." — Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges’ quote: “We all have a common enemy, and it is evil.” | Image: AmoDays

"I believe it doesn't do yourself any good to hate." – Ruby Bridges

"What I do remember about first grade and that year was that it was very lonely. I didn't have any friends, and I wasn't allowed to go to the cafeteria or play on the playground. What bothered me most was the loneliness in school every day." — Ruby Bridges

"When I think about our babies today and them not being safe in school, I think that should be the next civil rights movement, you know, is to ban the assault weapons so that our babies can be safe." — Ruby Bridges

"Once my school was integrated, and I was there with white kids and a few black kids, it really didn't matter to us what we looked like." — Ruby Bridges

"I've seen schools in Detroit where the windows are broken, where there's no heat, and children are sitting with their coats on in class in the middle of a snowstorm. I've also seen schools in California with Olympic-sized swimming pools and cafeterias like five-star restaurants." — Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges’ quote: “The greatest lesson I learned that year in Mrs. Henry's class was the lesson Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to teach us all: Never judge people by the color of their skin. God makes each of us unique in ways that go much deeper." | Image: AmoDays

"Evil isn't prejudiced. It doesn't care what you look like; it just wants a place to rest. It's up to you whether you give it that place." — 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." — Ruby Bridges

"Never judge people by the color of their skin." — Ruby Bridges

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

Ruby Bridges’ quote: "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." | Image: AmoDays

"Evil looks like you and I. I know what evil looks like, and I know that it comes in all shades and colors." — Ruby Bridges

"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." — Ruby Bridges

"The greatest lesson I learned that year in Mrs. Henry's class was the lesson Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to teach us all: Never judge people by the color of their skin. God makes each of us unique in ways that go much deeper." — Ruby Bridges

More Ruby Bridges Quotes

"My mother had taught me that the only thing you could depend on was your faith, and I had that." — Ruby Bridges

"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." — Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges’ quote: “Racism is a grown-up disease, and we should stop using our kids to spread it.” | Image: AmoDays

"I now know that experience comes to us for a purpose, and if we follow the guidance of the spirit within us, we will probably find that the purpose is a good one." — Ruby Bridges

"I believe in my prayers." — Ruby Bridges

"I'm not a very public person." — Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges’ quote: "My mother had taught me that the only thing you could depend on was your faith, and I had that.” | Image: AmoDays

"Now that I'm a parent, I know that my parents were incredibly brave." — Ruby Bridges

"A lot of my strength came from my upbringing." — Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges’ quote: “Now that I’m a parent, I know that my parents were incredibly brave.” | Image: AmoDays

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

"I do think that some people are born as old souls." — Ruby Bridges

"The person that impacted my life the most would have to have been my father because he shaped me into who I am today." — Ruby Bridges

Ruby Bridges’ quote: "From age 7 to about 37, I had a normal life and not a very easy one." | Image: AmoDays

To this day, Bridges has not stopped pushing for a more progressive society. For one, she founded The Ruby Bridges Foundation. This organization focuses on using education as a tool for transformation and tolerance.

She also began her own podcast, and there was a movie made about her journey that received four awards; the film, namely "Ruby Bridges," is available on Disney +.

To read about another African American woman who broke barriers, read these 40 Madam C.J. Walker quotes on becoming the first black woman millionaire in the US.