Final answer:
The detailed answer explores the historical context surrounding the advice a U.S. Marshal might have given to Ruby Bridges and the broader civil rights struggle, evidencing persistent racism despite legal victories such as Brown v. Board of Education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand concerns the historic moment when Ruby Bridges was advised by U.S. Marshals before she walked into an all-white school, an iconic event during the Civil Rights Movement. The advice given by the U.S. Marshals likely would have been to help her deal with the hostile crowd she was expected to face, though the exact words are not provided in the reference text. The historical context of this time was fraught with tensions, with federal marshals being necessitated to escort young African American students like Ruby Bridges into schools due to vehement local opposition to desegregation.
Thurgood Marshall's reference to the ongoing challenge of racism speaks to the broader struggle for civil rights, indicating that despite legal victories such as Brown v. Board of Education, societal change was slow, and racism persisted. This is evidenced by events such as Governor George Wallace's 'Stand in the Schoolhouse Door,' where he physically blocked the entry of black students into the University of Alabama, demonstrating the fierce resistance to integration even after definitive court rulings. This resistance further highlights why U.S. Marshals' protection and advice were crucial for students like Ruby Bridges.