♪ Land of the free ♪
♪ Home of the brave ♪
♪ That's what makes the United States ♪
♪ Now let's take a journey with the spirit of freedom ♪
♪ Liberty will lead the way ♪
♪ Let's take a star (star!) spangled adventure ♪
♪ Star (star!) spangled adventure ♪
♪ All the things you'd wanna know ♪
♪ about America's in this show ♪
♪ So come on all you Patriots let's go ♪
(upbeat music)
(people shouting)
- Mama, is this the Mardi Gras parade?
- Honey, this is for sure not Mardi Gras.
- Glad you are here.
It's November of 1960 in New Orleans.
Even now, some parts of America are still segregated,
meaning not everyone was allowed in some places.
Six years earlier, the Supreme Court ruled
in Brown versus Board of Education
that segregation of schools was illegal.
Schools had to accept all local students,
no matter what color their skin was.
Though it was illegal, some schools are still segregated,
especially in the South.
The hero of our story is six year old, Ruby Bridges.
She shows how it doesn't matter how old you are,
you can still stand up for what's right.
Our story begins a few weeks earlier.
- Look, mama, I can write my numbers to 10.
- That's good, honey, you keep at it.
Abon, Ruby passed the entrance exam
for that white school and she can transfer right away.
- I don't know, Lucille.
- Don't you see? Ruby can be one
of the first kids around here to go to an integrated school.
- Ruby's already been at her school for a couple months.
Maybe next year in second grade.
- This school will give her a much better education.
Don't we want her to do better than us?
Plus she can pave the way for all the other kids.
- I guess we could try, but folks
around here ain't gonna like it.
- Too bad.
It's the law.
Ruby, you're going to go
to a new school, even better than the one you're in.
- Really? Can I start tomorrow?
- Probably next week.
Get a move on.
We don't wanna be late for your first day.
(knocking on door)
Now, who could that be?
- Mrs. Bridges?
- Yes.
- I'm with the Marshal's office and I'm here to drive
and escort you and your daughter to school.
- Oh, it's only five blocks.
We'll just walk.
But appreciate the offer.
- No, ma'am.
You don't wanna do that.
It won't be safe.
- Oh,
okay.
We'll get our things.
(people shouting)
- What's going on?
- Ruby, you're going to be the first black student
at this school.
- Really?
- Some people want only white kids to go here
but the marshals will take good care of you, Ruby Nell.
And remember, if you're afraid, say your prayers.
You can pray to God anytime, anywhere.
He will always hear you.
We're ready.
(gentle music)
♪ Whoever you are, no matter the size, ♪
it's never the wrong thing to do what's right.
Whatever your age, it don't mean a thing.
You can be brave and be inspiring
because you are never too small.
Never too small.
Never too small
to stand tall.
You are never too small.
Never too small.
Never too small
to stand tall. ♪
- No, sir.
This is a first grade student
in our neighborhood and she needs a teacher
and if all the others won't do it, I will.
(bell rings)
Oh, hi.
You must be Ruby.
I'm Mrs. Henry.
I'm going to be your first grade teacher
- But where are all the kids?
- Well, the moms and dads
of those kids wanted to put them in another school.
For right now, it will just be you
and me and we'll have a great time.
(upbeat music)
(upbeat music continues)
- Because Ruby and her family were brave
and did what was right, her dad lost his job
and the grocery store wouldn't let them shop there
but people all over the country helped
out and sent money and other goods to them.
Then the next year, the students returned.
Grown up Ruby later said,
"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.
Dr. King led the civil rights movement that the six
year old Ruby helped to start.
You are never too small to stand tall for what's right.
(upbeat music)