Read and evaluate the Ruby Bridges' speaker story

 Read and evaluate the Ruby Bridges' speaker story and then do the following:

1. Rewrite the lead by paraphrasing one of the quotes from the story. For example: Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges often equates racism to a disease that "festers and grows and spreads."

2. Evaluate how effectively the direct quotes were used in the story. Did the direct quotes reflect colorful or emotional statements made by Bridges? Offer examples.

Lead Rewrite: Ruby Bridges, one of the first Black children to attend New Orleans’ all-white public school system, reflected on her experience with coming face to face with our "common enemy" during her Presidential Colloquium at Smith College on Friday, Feb. 2.

Quotes Evaluation: 

Direct quotes were used well and sparingly throughout the story. The story flowed well. In my opinion, I enjoyed how the author weaved bits of a quote with paraphrases or indirect quotes. I can also almost "hear" Bridges through her quotes as the writer chose quotes that were concise yet wistful. The nostalgic and calm nature of the quotes were consistent and thus, helped reinforce Bridges' personality and ambiance to the readers. 

"“I remember thinking all things are possible,” Bridges said, “and it’s okay to dream, and to hope and to wish, and Dana brought me back there.”

The "ands" in the quote are not entirely grammatically correct but the reader definitely gets a sense of Bridges wistful tone and emphatic words. 

“She loved me, and I knew that,” Bridges reflected. “She gave me her heart.”

Again, this is a short and powerful quote. I like how the author also broke up the quote to emphasize the latter. 

Likening racism to a disease, Bridges said it was a “form of hate” that “festers, and grows and spreads.”

This is not a direct quote, but I think was powerful for the writer to highlight certain phrases within a direct quote weaving them in with paraphrases or indirect quotes. 

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