Priya Kapoor
Norman Rockwell's painting, The Problem We All Live With, is an iconic image of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. It depicts six-year-old Ruby Bridges, an African-American girl, on her way to William Frantz Elementary School, an all-white public school in New Orleans, in 1960. The painting was created a few years after Ruby's historic entrance to the school, and it captures the ugly reality of racism and segregation in America at that time. Rockwell's powerful statement against racism was published in LOOK magazine in 1964 and received a strong response, with the artist even receiving hate mail for his stance. The painting has since been displayed in the White House, and Ruby Bridges herself has commended Rockwell for his courage and impact.
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What You'll Learn
The painting's composition and references
Norman Rockwell's painting "The Problem We All Live With" is considered an iconic image of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The painting depicts Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old African American girl, on her way to school on November 14, 1960, during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis. Bridges is flanked by four deputy U.S. marshals, their heads cropped at the shoulders, making her the only fully visible person in the painting. The viewer is placed in the perspective of the white protesters, who are not shown but whose presence is implied through racist graffiti on the wall behind Bridges, including the racial slur "nigger" and the letters "KKK", along with a smashed tomato.
The composition of the painting is carefully constructed to convey a powerful message about racial segregation and the problem of racism in America. The placement of Bridges in the left foreground of the painting, rather than the centre, was a deliberate choice by Rockwell due to the painting's intended use as a two-page magazine spread, with the centre seam where two pages are joined. This composition also serves to emphasise Bridges' solitude and vulnerability, as she walks in lockstep with the marshals, her right hand curled into a fist mirroring theirs.
The painting is oil on canvas and measures 36 inches (91 cm) high by 58 inches (150 cm) wide. Rockwell's use of light and dark contrasts throughout the painting further emphasises its racial theme. The immaculate white dress worn by Bridges stands out against her dark skin, and the strong light-dark contrast continues with the white marshals and the dark background of the painting.
The painting's references are deeply rooted in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Bridges herself became a civil rights icon at the age of six, though she was unaware of her role in the movement until decades later. The painting depicts a pivotal moment in Bridges' life, when she became the first African American child to attend an all-white school in New Orleans after a federal court ordered the city's school system to integrate. The public outcry was intense, with white parents withdrawing their children from the school rather than allow them to sit with a Black student.
Rockwell's painting, created a few years after this event, captures the courage and determination of Bridges' solitary walk to school, escorted by federal marshals for her protection due to threats of violence. The inclusion of racist graffiti and the splattered tomato on the wall reference the hatred and bigotry that Bridges faced, while also serving as a powerful statement against racism and a call for change.
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The subject, Ruby Bridges
Ruby Bridges was born in 1954, the same year that the Supreme Court declared school segregation unconstitutional. Bridges became a civil rights icon when she was just six years old, as she was the first African American child to attend an all-white public school in New Orleans. Due to the public outcry, white parents withdrew their children from the school so that they would not have to sit with a Black girl. As a result, Ruby spent an entire year in a classroom by herself, accompanied by federal marshals to ensure her safety.
Norman Rockwell's painting, "The Problem We All Live With", depicts Ruby Bridges' courageous walk to school on that first day. Rockwell's work is known for its idyllic images of American life in the 20th century, but his work took on a new sense of purpose in the 1960s when he began to address more serious subjects, such as racism and civil rights. In the painting, Ruby dutifully follows four faceless, white federal marshals, identifiable by their yellow armbands, past a wall defaced by racist graffiti, including a thrown tomato. The viewer sees the scene from the perspective of the white protesters, who are not visible in the painting.
The painting was produced at the height of the Civil Rights Movement and is now considered a symbol of that struggle. Bridges herself came to admire Rockwell's decision to tell her story, despite never having met him. She said the following about Rockwell:
> "Here was a man that had been doing lots of work, painting family images, and all of a sudden decided this is what I’m going to do…it’s wrong, and I’m going to say that it’s wrong…the mere fact that [Norman Rockwell] had enough courage to step up to the plate and say I’m going to make a statement, and he did it in a very powerful way…even though I had not had an opportunity to meet him, I commend him for that."
In 2011, Ruby Bridges worked to get the painting loaned to the White House, where President Barack Obama had it installed just outside the Oval Office.
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The historical context of the Civil Rights Movement
Norman Rockwell's painting, "The Problem We All Live With", depicts Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old African-American girl, on her way to William Frantz Elementary School, an all-white public school in New Orleans, on November 14, 1960, during the New Orleans school desegregation crisis. Bridges was the first African American child to attend the school after a federal court ordered the New Orleans school system to integrate. The painting, created a few years after this incident, became a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement.
The Civil Rights Movement was a social movement in the United States from the mid-20th century, spanning from 1945 to the 1960s, that aimed to end legalized racial segregation, discrimination, and disenfranchisement, which predominantly affected African Americans. The movement had its origins in the Reconstruction era in the late 19th century, when the three Reconstruction Amendments to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery and granted citizenship to all African Americans. However, despite these amendments, African Americans continued to face discrimination and racism, especially in the South.
During the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans and their allies used various forms of protest, including sit-ins, boycotts, protest marches, freedom rides, and lobbying government officials for legislative change. One notable example is the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was sparked by the arrest of civil rights activist Rosa Parks in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger. Another significant event was the 1963 March on Washington, the largest non-violent civil rights demonstration at the time, which was organized to demand comprehensive civil rights legislation and an end to discrimination in various sectors.
The movement faced opposition and violence but ultimately achieved many of its legislative goals in the 1960s, securing new protections in federal law for the civil rights of all Americans. The efforts of civil rights activists resulted in legislation that ended segregation, Black voter suppression, and discriminatory practices in employment and housing. The Civil Rights Movement brought about significant social and legal change, shaping American life for decades to come.
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The painting's publication and reception
Norman Rockwell's painting "The Problem We All Live With" was first published in 1964 as a centre-spread in the January 14 issue of Look magazine. It was Rockwell's first illustration for the magazine, and a clear break from his previous employer, the Saturday Evening Post, which had restricted his exploration of political themes.
The painting depicts Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old African-American girl, on her way to William Frantz Elementary School, an all-white public school in New Orleans, on November 14, 1960. Ruby was the first African American child to attend the school after a federal court ordered the New Orleans school system to integrate. She was escorted by four deputy U.S. marshals because of threats of violence against her. The painting is framed so that the marshals's heads are cropped at the shoulders, making Bridges the only fully visible person in the scene. On a wall behind her are racial slurs and the letters "KKK", along with a splattered tomato.
The painting is considered an iconic image of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. It was created a few years after Ruby's historic entrance at school, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, and is now seen as a symbol of that struggle.
Upon its publication, Rockwell received "sacks of disapproving mail", including accusations of being a "race traitor". However, Ruby Bridges, who didn't meet Rockwell or know of the painting's existence until her late teens, eventually came to admire his decision to tell her story. In 2011, at Bridges' suggestion, President Barack Obama borrowed the painting for a special exhibition at the White House to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ruby Bridges' walk to William Franz Elementary School.
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The artist, Norman Rockwell
Norman Percevel Rockwell was born on February 3, 1894, in New York City. From a young age, he knew he wanted to be an artist. At 14, he enrolled at the Chase Art School in Manhattan, and later studied at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League. He did not attend a regular high school. Instead, he immediately began contributing illustrations to books and magazines.
Rockwell's first paying job as an artist was as a staff artist for Boys' Life, published by the Boy Scouts of America. At 19, he became the magazine's art editor. Rockwell's illustrations appeared on the covers of leading magazines, including Saturday Evening Post, Leslie's Weekly, Life, and LOOK. During World War II, he painted the Four Freedoms series, inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous speech on the four fundamental freedoms.
In 1963, Rockwell joined the progressive magazine LOOK, where he produced his famous painting "The Problem We All Live With," a visual commentary on segregation and racism in America. The painting depicts Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old African American girl, on her first day of school at William Frantz Elementary School, an all-white public school in New Orleans. Ruby was the first African American child to attend the school after a federal court ordered the New Orleans school system to integrate. She is escorted by four deputy U.S. marshals, with racist graffiti and a splattered tomato visible on the wall behind her. The painting is considered a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement and Bridges' courageous walk to school.
Rockwell died on November 8, 1978, at the age of 84. He produced more than 4,000 works of art and is remembered as an American icon.
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Frequently asked questions
The Problem We All Live With.
The painting was created in 1963 or 1964.
The painting depicts Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old African-American girl, on her way to William Frantz Elementary School, an all-white public school in New Orleans, on November 14, 1960, during the process of racial desegregation. She is escorted by four deputy U.S. marshals, and the viewer sees the scene from the perspective of the white protesters. On the wall behind her, there is racist graffiti, including a racial slur and the letters "KKK", and a splattered tomato.
Rockwell created this painting as a visual commentary on segregation and racism in America. It was his first illustration for Look magazine, a more progressive publication that allowed him to explore themes of civil rights and racial integration.
