Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) was a pivotal figure in the American Civil Rights Movement, best known for her role in igniting…
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) was a pivotal figure in the American Civil Rights Movement, best known for her role in igniting the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Her refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, became a symbol of resistance to racial segregation and injustice. Often referred to as the “Mother of the Civil Rights Movement,” Parks’ courage and activism helped dismantle institutionalized racism in the United States.
Early Life
Birth and Family:
Rosa Louise McCauley was born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, to James McCauley, a carpenter, and Leona McCauley, a teacher.
After her parents separated, Rosa moved with her mother and younger brother to Pine Level, Alabama, where she grew up on her grandparents’ farm.
Education:
Rosa attended a segregated school system, walking to school while white children were bussed to better-equipped facilities.
She enrolled at the Industrial School for Girls in Montgomery and later at Alabama State Teachers College but had to leave early to care for her grandmother and mother.
Marriage and Early Activism:
In 1932, Rosa married Raymond Parks, a barber and active member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People).
She joined the NAACP in 1943 and served as secretary for the Montgomery chapter, working on issues such as voter registration and racial violence.
The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Segregation Laws:
During the 1950s, Montgomery’s buses were racially segregated under Jim Crow laws. Black passengers were required to sit in designated sections at the back and give up their seats to white passengers if the front section was full.
The Arrest (December 1, 1955):
Rosa Parks boarded a bus in Montgomery and sat in the “colored section.” When the white section filled, the bus driver demanded that she and three other Black passengers give up their seats.
Parks refused to move, stating later, “I was tired of giving in.”
She was arrested and fined $10 plus court costs, setting the stage for a mass protest.
Montgomery Bus Boycott:
Rosa Parks’ arrest inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a 381-day protest organized by the Montgomery Improvement Association and led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..
The boycott crippled the city’s bus system and led to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1956 that declared bus segregation unconstitutional.
Civil Rights Activism
Continued Advocacy:
After the boycott, Parks faced harassment and threats, and she and her husband lost their jobs. In 1957, they moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she continued her activism.
Parks worked for Congressman John Conyers from 1965 to 1988, helping constituents and advocating for racial justice.
Legacy in Civil Rights:
Parks co-founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development in 1987 to offer guidance to young people and preserve the history of the Civil Rights Movement.
She participated in numerous marches and events, including the March on Washington in 1963.
Honors and Recognition
Awards:
Parks received numerous awards, including:
The Presidential Medal of Freedom (1996) from President Bill Clinton.
The Congressional Gold Medal (1999), the highest honor given by the U.S. Congress.
Cultural Legacy:
Rosa Parks became a global symbol of courage and resistance. Her life and story have been featured in books, films, and educational curricula around the world.
The bus she rode on is preserved in the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.
Posthumous Tributes:
Upon her death on October 24, 2005, Parks became the first woman to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
Numerous schools, streets, and parks across the United States are named in her honor.
- Home
- /
- Regions
- /
- North America
- /
- United States of America
- /
- People
- /
- Rosa Parks
Advertisement:
- Parks, Rosa (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages - 01/01/1999 (Publication Date) - Puffin Books (Publisher)
- Author: McDonough, Yona Zeldis.Who HQ.
- Publisher: Penguin Workshop
- Pages: 112
- Hardcover Book
- Meltzer, Brad (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- Jazynka, Kitson (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 08/04/2015 (Publication Date) - National Geographic Kids (Publisher)
- The Inspiring Women Series pays tribute to incredible heroines of their time, courageous women who paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than...
- On December 1, 1955, when Rosa Parks refused an order to give up her seat to a white passenger and move to the back of the bus, her act of defiance became the...
- Hailed as 'the Mother of the Modern Civil Rights Movement,' Rosa Parks earned worldwide recognition and numerous awards including the prestigious Presidential...
- Size: Medium
- COSTUME INCLUDES: This Rosa Parks Costume for kids features a jacket with an attached dress front and includes a hat.
- FROM FUN COSTUMES: We're big into Halloween costumes but we also craft costumes that are great for holidays, plays, and celebrations. If your child wants to...
We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
- Home
- /
- Regions
- /
- North America
- /
- United States of America
- /
- People
- /
- Rosa Parks
Comments