First Book’s Kyle Zimmer and Lynda Lancaster (second and third from left) pose with Ruby Bridges’ husband Malcolm Hall and their son Sean.

Recently, our very own Ruby Bridges (First Book’s spokesperson for Book Relief) was one of four honorees and recipients of the Ina Kay Award at the 12th annual Anti-Defamation League’s Concert Against Hate that was held at the Kennedy Center here in Washington, DC.

A few of us from First Book were there as Ruby’s guests.

In 1960, when Ruby Bridges was six years old, she became the first black child to integrate New Orleans’ all white public school system. Her walk to the front door of William Frantz Elementary School, which was immortalized in Norman Rockwell’s painting, The Problem We All Live With. All of the white teachers — except Mrs. Barbara Henry — refused to teach her. Ruby Bridges has dedicated much of her adult life to fighting bigotry and intolerance. Mrs. Barbara Henry joined her former student and close friend as she was honored.

For me, it was incredibly uplifting and poignant to finally meet Mrs. Barbara Henry. This woman defied her coworkers by spending a year teaching a little African-American girl in an empty classroom. Her commitment and actions proved to Ruby that you should not judge people by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. To this day Mrs. Henry says she did nothing heroic but Ruby is our own Living Legend who proves otherwise.

All of the honorees’ stories of the trials that they faced were horrendous and should make all of us more observant of our world — both locally and internationally — and encourage us to consider whether or not we are a part of the solution.

The other honorees included Ruth Halimi, Simon Deng, and Vincent Chen. You can read more about them on the ADL website.