Step by Step, the Ruby Bridges Suite
From The Second Street Dreams Audio Network by Judlyne Lilly
April 28, 2026 · 24 min
About this episode
The episode discusses Darrel Grant's composition inspired by Ruby Bridges' historic integration of New Orleans public schools.
Sometimes when someone makes a suggestion to you, it kind of sticks with you. That’s what happened to jazz artist Darrel Grant. He decided to act on this suggestion from a friend by composing Step by Step, the Ruby Bridges Suite. It is a piece about the 6-year-old girl who was the first African American student to integrate the New Orleans public schools in 1960. It was not without protests, or strong resistance and a teacher who ignored the noise and taught the little girl in a classroom void of any other students.
People in this episode
Host: Judlyne Lilly
Topics covered
- jazz
- civil rights
- education
- integration
- historical events
Keywords
- Darrel Grant
- Ruby Bridges
- jazz music
- civil rights
- New Orleans schools
Mentioned in this episode
Places: New Orleans
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