Ruby Bridges

In 1960, while most kids were focused on hopscotch and recess, six-year-old Ruby Bridges was busy making history. Escorted by federal marshals, she became the first African American child to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, facing down a barrage of vitriol from adult protesters who apparently had nothing better to do with their mornings. It's hard to say who had it worse: Ruby, enduring daily hate, or her teacher, Barbara Henry, who had to teach a class of one because all the white parents pulled their children from school. We're betting on Ruby. She certainly didn't sign up for that kind of elementary school experience.

Bridges's incredible courage at such a young age cemented her place as an icon of the Civil Rights Movement. Her story, famously depicted in Norman Rockwell's painting "The Problem We All Live With," highlighted the ugliness of segregation and the immense bravery required to dismantle it. Apparently, some people needed a painting to understand that screaming at a child is generally not okay.

Today, Bridges continues her activism through the Ruby Bridges Foundation, dedicated to promoting tolerance and appreciation of differences. It's safe to say she’s still not putting up with any nonsense, particularly from those who think diversity is a bad word. Her life’s work serves as a stark reminder that sometimes, the smallest among us bear the heaviest burdens and, occasionally, change the world.