The Problem We All Live With...
The Problem We All Live With......is the title of this painting by Norman Rockwell. He painted it in 1964.
That was ten years after a 1954 Supreme Court ruling which decided the practice of segregating white and black school children is unconstitutional.
Still, the Louisiana State Legislature passed a law that schools would remain segregated. And, the city of New Orleans fought the order for six years until forced segregation began in 1960.
This was long after the Supreme Court had ordered "separate but equal" school facilities for both white and African American students in 1896.
"Separate" happened, but "equal" never did.
The black schools in mostly poorer neighborhoods like the Ninth Ward fell way behind the standards of white schools. A community group from the Ninth Ward finally sued the Orleans Parish School Board in 1951.
November 14, will be the 58th anniversary of the first African American student to attend William Frantz Elementary School in the Ninth Ward. On November 15th white students boycotted.
Rockwell's painting depicts Ruby Bridges, a six year old student, being escorted by U.S. marshalls to the all white school. Note the "N" word and KKK, as well as thrown tomatoes, on the wall. The riots, protests, and ugly discourse remain the worst blemish on the history of the city.
Ruby Bridges suggested President Obama put the painting in the White House. He hung it on a wall outside the oval office for several months in 2011.
I first saw a print of the painting several years ago on a wall in the dining room at Charlie's Steakhouse in New Orleans. Unfortunately, 'the problem we all live with' remains in our country and is made all too obvious by this administration.
There are several books on Ruby's story, and many about segregation.
I have this one:
Through-My-Eyes
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