Wearing shades of purple and waving flags, a procession of students from Woodrow Elementary took to the streets Friday morning, aiming to make Modesto a kinder, safer community.
The students were among those nationwide who participated in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, in honor of the brave child who played an important role in challenging racial segregation in the Deep South during the Civil Rights era.
The Woodrow Elementary students gathered at both ends of the Virginia Corridor next to their campus on Friday morning to participate in the celebration, the school’s fourth.
The color purple is traditionally worn during the celebration, as it is said to be Bridges’ favorite color.
Trisha Rascon, a transitional kindergarten teacher and member of the PTA, spearheaded the event this year, alongside first grade teacher Cindy Bigelow.
The idea began after the pandemic, as their group looked for a way to reignite the community’s spirit. Participating in the annual Ruby Bridges event was the perfect fit.
“We have a diverse population at our school. We want to make sure that we are including everyone in our school and telling them that they are included, that they are seen, that they are part of our school community,” she said.
Keeping the conversation going
The annual event, championed by AAA and The Ruby Bridges Foundation, is dedicated to supporting an ongoing conversation about student-led civic engagement and inspiring local communities to practice kindness through learning, while teaching about U.S. history.
The walk honors Bridges’ first walk to school during the de-segregation era in New Orleans. On Nov. 14, 1960, Bridges, who was only 6 years old, was escorted by four deputy U.S. Marshals through a crowd of protestors who did not want Black children attending an all-White school.
At 7:30 a.m. Friday, roughly 80 Woodrow Elementary students and parents gathered to walk the 1,300 feet along the Virginia Corridor from Rumble Road to Woodrow Avenue.
The school’s parent-teacher association handed out hot chocolate, donuts, beanies and flags to the community members in attendance.
Love Stanislaus County, a local nonprofit organization, supported the event through its “Love Our Schools” program. David Collins, the program’s director, invited Modesto City Councilman Jeremiah Williams and Mayor Sue Zwahlen to participate in this year’s event.
The Ruby Bridges Foundation slogan is “Racism is a grown-up disease. Let’s stop using our kids to spread it.” As she researched Bridges’ story, Zwahlen said the slogan resonated with her.
Bridges, who today is considered a civil rights icon, is only a few weeks older than Zwahlen, the mayor told The Focus.
Because of that, the history lesson is a vivid memory. She recalled the famous Norman Rockwell painting “The Problem We All Live With” that depicted Bridges’ first walk to the school in 1960.
“(The slogan) is probably too controversial for some people, but it’s motivational to me,” she said. “This is personal for me. I certainly remember those times and the courage that she demonstrated… These things that were happening when I was a little girl were deeply impactful to me and really were motivators for me to run for public office.”
Zwahlen presented Collins with certifications for the students’ participation in the event.
Councilman Williams said he’s been to the walk before and was happy to join the festivities again.
“The one takeaway is that education is important for all people, and inclusion is important for all people. We can achieve anything we want to achieve if we try,” Williams said.
Throughout the school day, teachers read books and gave themed lessons on Ruby Bridges’ story to educate the students on why they wear the purple pledge ribbons this time each year.