Rosa Parks đ
The first time I learned about Rosa Parks, I was deeply impressed by her bold, iconic response simply saying "Nah" when asked to give up her seat. I could understand the exhaustion she must have felt being discriminated against, relegated to the back of the bus just because of her skin color.
One day, Rosa boarded a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. The seating was segregated: African Americans had to sit in the back, while whites sat in the front. But that day, Rosa sat at the front and refused to move. For her defiance, she was arrested and even lost her job. I imagine she might have asked herself, "Was it worth it?"
In a time when racial segregation was the norm, not everyone would have had the courage to challenge the law. But Rosa was destined for something greater. Her act of resistance became a spark that inspired the Black community. This is how the Montgomery Bus Boycott began, led by one of the most iconic civil rights leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The boycott lasted a full year, from December 5, 1955, to December 20, 1956, until the court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional. I can imagine Rosa waking up one morning and saying to herself, "Enough is enough. I will not let myself be treated as less than anyone else." Her courage became a symbol of justice, shining a light of hope for those who had been denied equality.
One of my favorite quotes of hers is: "You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right." That line has inspired me to make difficult decisions in my own life, especially when faced with choosing between doing whatâs right and whatâs easy.
Thereâs another side to Rosa Parks that many people donât knowâher work before the Montgomery Bus Boycott. She was deeply involved in criminal justice, working as an investigator. Part of her work was protecting Black men from false accusations and lynchings. She also fought to ensure that Black people who had been sexually assaulted by white people could have their day in court. This was especially personal for Rosa, as in 1931, a white neighbor had attempted to assault her.
Over the next half-century, Rosa became a nationally recognized symbol of dignity and strength in the fight against entrenched racism. While she often shied away from the spotlight, she remained an esteemed figure in the history of American civil rights. In 1999, the U.S. Congress awarded her the Congressional Gold Medal, its highest honor.
On October 24, 2005, Rosa Parks passed away at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and shape the world. Iâd like to end this blog with one of her powerful quotes: âPeople always say that I didnât give up my seat because I was tired, but that isnât true. I was not tired physically⌠No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in. I was a person with dignity and self-respect, and I should not set my sights lower than anybody else just because I was black."
Works Cited Editors, Biography.com. âRosa Parks.â Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 23 June 2020, www.biography.com/activist/rosa-parks. Editors, History.com. âRosa Parks.â History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/black-history/rosa-parks.