Ruby Bridges Visits The White House To See Norman Rockwell Painting (VIDEO)

The White House's recent addition of a Norman Rockwell painting has prompted a serious discussion of civil rights. Rockwell's 1963 painting, "The Problem We All Live With," shows a young girl on her way to first grade after the school board mandated the desegregation of two New Orleans schools in 1960.

To commemorate the piece, President Obama received a visit from Ruby Bridges, the student depicted in the painting. At six years old, Bridges was escorted by Federal Marshals to William Frantz Public School as its first African American student, thereby signaling the beginning of the integration of the local public school system.

President Obama took time out of his day to meet with Bridges and representatives of the Norman Rockwell Museum in order to discuss the painting, which has become an icon in the civil rights era.

She described the experience to ABC News: “Driving up I could see the crowd, but living in New Orleans, I actually thought it was Mardi Gras. There was a large crowd of people outside of the school. They were throwing things and shouting, and that sort of goes on in New Orleans at Mardi Gras."

The painting will be on display in the West Wing of the White House outside of the Oval Office until October 31st. Another Rockwell painting depicting the Statue of Liberty donated to the White House by Steven Spielberg in 1994 hangs in the same room.

See Bridges visit with President Obama and discuss the painting below:

Comments

[Jenni Gahr Schmidt]

10:49 AM on 08/26/2011

I think this is a fantastic story. That painting has always had a profound effect on me. It so simply tells the story of race relations in our country. And sadly this is the problem we still all live with, racism is a live and well in this country, though it isn't as out in the open, it's there. I wish it wasn't, but it is.

I think it beyond fitting that our first black president would have this on display. It illustrates how far we have come and reminds us how far we have to go.

I heard somewhere that there was a "controversy" over the painting being displayed by some on the Right. Tempest/teapot/mountain/molehill.

[cshedenberg]

08:20 AM on 08/03/2011

Rockwell had a peculiar - meaning unique - way of seeing us. Particulary important in this painting is the perspective, eg, it's at the child's eye level. Elsewhere, all that's visible are suits. You'll notice the suits are alternating dark and light, on both pairs on men, in front of her and behind. Very symbolic! You might also notice the skin colors of the men's hands. Similarly, Rockwell's other paintings are mirrorlike, with a message.

Rockwell was a teacher, with paint, and in everyway possible, let us know what's important!

Check out the website for his museum in Stockbridge, MA - or - go check out his work, it's hung all over the country!

http://www.nrm.org/

[Gnarly]

11:57 PM on 08/02/2011

what a cool moment.

[artist-53]

09:22 AM on 07/24/2011

Art that documents our history is so vital, and yet today, social Artists often times are neglected.

Being a child during that period, the image brings back so many memories for me. In Catholic School, students were asked to stand before the class and sing a song of their choosing. I stood up and sang "We Shall Over Come"

By the time I got to the stanza, Black and White together, my sister of the merciless ordered me to sit. And I remember as I was going back to my seat, thinking, you're wrong and you're a hypocrite.

But I felt confident in knowing that I was right and felt such self pride. Then I preceded to my desk where I had to sit and listen to other students belt out awkward and irrelevant Shirley Temple tunes as Sister Mary Hypocrite stood approvingly with hands clasped in the statuesque pose only a nun could pull off .And I thought surely, this must be the HL they spoke about .

[myblueohio]

11:17 PM on 07/23/2011

Painting for the common man, Norman Rockwell was one of the greatest social commentators this country has ever seen. With his quiet and gentle spirit, he held up a social mirror for everyone to see the country this can be. This is one of those reflections, and should be cherished for all that it says.

[iLoveOldNY]

01:16 PM on 07/23/2011

Kids know better.

[wwoody]

01:08 PM on 07/23/2011

Time in a bottle .

[Meldy1]

12:40 PM on 07/23/2011

historical visit...hurray.Civil rights won.

[db08]

11:52 AM on 07/23/2011

President Obama can take time to honor and remember what can be great about our country. While our problems may seem insurmountable and our past challenging, our willingness and courage even from our smallest citizen (with the support of her family and community) will make us stronger.

[zanzy]

10:50 AM on 07/23/2011

Inspirational American story! American can achieve great things, if we can about each other.

[thepostalfeminist]

07:01 AM on 07/23/2011

Beautiful!

[whaat]

06:26 AM on 07/23/2011

oops painting

[whaat]

06:25 AM on 07/23/2011

Illustration not paintig

[art525]

08:17 AM on 07/23/2011

Wrong. That's dogma that has been pounded into our heads for the last fifty years. Real art moves you. And Rockwell moved people.

[krillbreme]

05:51 PM on 08/20/2011

Nope, it's a painting. Oil paint I believe.

[MizK]

12:43 AM on 07/23/2011

I used to think that Rockwell was hokey until I saw this piece. He was "inspired" to paint this because of the racist actions of adults against a young child. It's one of my favorites and I'm glad to see the POTUS take a quick break from the other stuff. It should clear his mind and put things into better perspective.

[BowlingForRevenge]

12:19 AM on 07/23/2011

Children are oblivious...hate has to be taught.
Lately we are doing a fine job of that.