I met the interesting senior gentlemen while in Louisville Kentucky at one
of the National Parks . He was quite proud of his horse who took
a liking to me right away. He quickly informed me that his horse
was raised on Kentucky blue grass. It was explained to me with a gleam in his
eyes how the horses were one of a kind. Beautiful in stature, the best in the
world he said with true happiness. Must be something special about the grass
I thought to myself.
He asked me if l lived in Louisville Kentucky. No l said just visiting friends.
I am from Saint Paul MINNESOTA. It gets pretty cold there was his replie.
Mostly in January and February l answered. I find it so funny that when
you say you’re from MINNESOTA, icebergs is the first thing that comes
to people’s mind that live in warmer conditions.
We ended our conversation with a firm hand shake. As we
both turned and l walked away. I noticed he had stopped
than turned his horse around. Then started waving his
right hand and asking me to come back and continue
the conversation. As l meet him half way. He said l notice
that you’re a colored man. It was quite clear he was well in his
eighty’s .
You know he proudly expressed. I was one of
the federal marshals that escorted that colored
girl who was the first one to integrate a all white
school. The African American student was
Ruby Bridges. The year was 1958.
Can you imagine the courage it took for her to have. A child
surrounded by adults filled with hate.
None of the other children would talk to her.
THE INNER STRENGTH IT TOOK
Ruby Bridges Civil Rights Activist born in Tylertown, Mississippi ( September 8 1954 ) was six when
she became the first African American child to integrate Willam Frantz a white Southeren
elementary school on November 14, 1960, escorted to class by her mother
and U.S. Marshals due to violent mobs. The bravery paved the way for continued
Civil Right action and she’s shared her story with future generations in
educational forms.
She is still doing positive work.
What a joy and educational moment to come face to face
with a amazing part of history. Talk about a once in a lifetime
experience!
