Florida School District Reviews Film “Ruby Bridges” After Parent Complaint Over Use of Slurs

A Florida school district is reviewing a film about a Black first grader who integrated an all-White elementary school in the South after a parent objected to the movie’s use of slurs and argued it could teach students that “White people hate Black people.”

The film, “Ruby Bridges,” is a historical drama about 6-year-old Ruby Bridges integrating a New Orleans elementary school in 1960. It was shown to approximately 60 second grade students at North Shore Elementary in St. Petersburg, Florida, on March 2.

However, a parent of a second grade student at the school filed a formal complaint on March 6 requesting the removal of the film from the school’s list of approved films. The parent argued that the movie’s use of slurs could teach students that “White people hate Black people.” The parents of two students declined to allow their children to watch the film, and one of those parents filed the complaint after watching the first 50 minutes of the film.

In response to the complaint, the school district has temporarily barred students from viewing the film. School officials are currently reviewing the film and the complaint to determine if it should remain on the list of approved films.

The 1998 movie “Ruby Bridges” is based on the true story of a brave young girl who integrated an all-White elementary school in the South. The film has been praised for its accurate depiction of the civil rights movement, and it has been used in classrooms to teach students about the importance of standing up for what is right.