The Story of Ruby Bridges (preK-5)
Ruby Bridges was six years old in 1960. She was excited to attend a new school for first grade, Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. There was only one problem, the school had been for white students and Ruby Bridges was an African American. Almost all the white parents decided to boycott the school by keeping their children home. school. Ruby sat in her first-grade classroom all alone with her teacher, Mrs. Henry, for an entire year.

Wilma Rudolph (grades 3 and up)
In 1960, Wilma Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics. She won the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and the 4 by 100-meter relay. What makes Wilma Rudolph’s story most amazing is that she was very sick when she was young – so sick that the one Black doctor in her town wasn’t sure she would live very long – and later so sick from polio, he thought she would never be able to walk without a cane or a crutch.

The Little Rock Nine (middle school and up)
In 1954 the Supreme Court had banned segregation in public schools. Three years later, nine African American teenagers integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The law was on their side. The people of the community were not. Linda Gorham brings the story of the Little Rock Nine to life by telling their story through the eyes of Daisy Bates, President of the Little Rock NAACP; Alex Wilson, an African American newspaper reporter; Danny, a member of the 101st Airborne; and the nine students. Ideally these programs require 50-60 minutes. Each program begins with a folktale.

Ideally these programs require 50-60 minutes. Each program begins with a folktale.

Artist Background

Storytelling was not Linda’s first career. She enjoyed her corporate years in the Actuarial, Human Resources, Training, and Public Affairs areas. But Linda had a creative side that ‘yearned to breathe free,’ so she left corporate life and started her own storytelling business. It was different and a little scary, but it was a risk she could not ignore. Storytelling gives Linda an opportunity to expose audiences of all ages to different cultures, to teach without preaching, to spread the love of books and learning, and to travel internationally.

Linda has performed with the North Carolina Symphony, at the National Storytelling Festival, and at many storytelling festivals, museums, schools, and universities around the country. Her CDs have won several national awards, and the Wall of Names and Voices at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee includes Linda’s photo and this quote: “Stories, whether family, folk, twisted or true, remind us that embellished is acceptable, simple is complex, and the joy of sharing is priceless. Share some love. Tell someone a story.”

Search Criteria

• Program Type: Performance
• Discipline: Storytelling
• Grade Level: Elementary, High, Middle
• Cultural Context: African-American
• Accepts bookings in Johnston County