Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges, who was one of the first Black students to attend an all-white elementary school in 1960, will give a lecture at Berry College on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Despite facing severe racism and threats to her family, she never missed a school day. The lecture is scheduled for 10 a. m. on Jan. 20, 2025, with doors opening at 9:30 a. m. in the Berry College Chapel. The event, part of the Conson Wilson Lecture Series, is sponsored by GHD Foundation and is free to the public.

Bridges started attending William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans on Nov. 14, 1960, leading desegregation in public education. She has inspired many through art, media, and her own books. Bridges currently advocates for civil rights and founded the Ruby Bridges Foundation. She has received numerous awards and was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in March 2024.

This lecture also celebrates the 60th anniversary of Berry College’s integration, a process guided by President John R. Bertrand in 1964.