Ruby Bridges became a civil rights icon on November 14, 1960, as she was the first African-American to attend an all-white public school in the south. The then six-year-old and her mother had to be escorted to William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans by four U.S. marshals due to protesters. Legendary painter #NormanRockwell painted the iconic scene and titled it “The Problem We All Live With.”
Today, we have a different problem as the painting has become a mockery thanks to conservative cartoonist Glenn McCoy.
According to the Washington Post, he is a syndicated artist by Universal Press Syndicate and recreated the painting to include education secretary Nancy DeVos instead of Bridges. Where the original painting had “NIGGER” plastered across a wall, the new drawing states “CONSERVATIVE.”
DeVos has been accused of buying her way into her cabinet position and has received a ton of backlash from Americans who cite her apparent lack of experience with education.
For the cartoonist to compare the struggles of a billionaire, white woman in 2017 to that of a six-year-old, black, female child during the Jim Crowe era is absolutely disturbing and speaks volumes about the disconnect with anyone who associates with or supports President Trump.
Check out some of the reactions on Twitter:
What?! What?! https://t.co/oYcCLSZ0DK
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 14, 2017
hows becky devos a privileged WW experiencing the same as ruby bridges- a black girl who risked her LIFE just to desegregate a white school? pic.twitter.com/K3CEFetL21
— nj (@wolfnae) February 14, 2017
Instead of a trash DeVos cartoon, I'm sharing this: my fave photo of President Obama, with the REAL painting and its subject, Ruby Bridges. pic.twitter.com/gOvmSOjcSf
— Shelly (@ShellySometimes) February 14, 2017
Watch how WW like DeVos will be rendered powerful and powerless at the same time to be "icons" and "victims," but never accountable.
— Trudy (@thetrudz) February 14, 2017
I'm disgusted.
What we're NOT gonna do is compare Ruby Bridges to Betsy Devos.
NOT TODAY.
NOT TOMORROW.
NOT EVA. https://t.co/RaliyauszO— GreatIsNate (@TheGreatIsNate) February 14, 2017
TSR STAFF: Talia O. @theclosetratchet on Instagram & @tallyohhh on Twitter!
Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/02/15/conservative-cartoonist-portrays-education-secretary-devos-as-civil-rights-icon-ruby-bridges-and-twitter-reacts/
