Banned Book Spotlight - This is Your Time by Ruby Bridges

Each week, we are taking a closer look at one of the 800+ books banned in school districts across Texas

This is Your Time by Ruby Bridges is an autobiographical account of the author’s life as the first Black child to be integrated into an all-white school.

The premise reads: Written as a letter from civil rights activist and icon Ruby Bridges to the reader, This Is Your Time is both a recounting of Ruby’s experience as a child who had to be escorted to class by federal marshals when she was chosen to be one of the first black students to integrate into New Orleans’ all-white public school system and an appeal to generations to come to effect change.

The book was initially challenged in Spring Branch ISD, and was then included in the Krause List, with North East ISD following the lead and pulling it from their shelves as well. The reason? The contents, which are the lived experiences of the author—Ruby Bridges, might make white children uncomfortable. During a hearing in the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee dedicated to the current issue of book banning, Ruby Bridges was quoted as saying :

"My books are written to bring people together…Why would they be banned? But the real question is, why are we banning any books at all? Surely we are better than this. We are the United States of America with freedom of speech."

It seems the answer might be found in the pages of a book written about the very real experiences of racism and segregation.