Until the law changed in 1954, schools in the United States were segregated by race. Ruby Bridges was the courageous first Black student to enroll at an all-White elementary school. She was met with protest and hostility; White children were withdrawn from the school. Ruby's White teacher, Barbara Henry, formed a strong bond of friendship with her single pupil. Gradually more White children returned to school, Ruby was allowed to interact with the other children, and more Black families also enrolled their children.  Ruby and her teacher showed that racial integration in the classroom could work.