Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005) American civil rights activist

Introduction

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks is best known for refusing to comply with a bus driver to give up her seat to a white man. She was the most influential person in history. Her later arrest for this civil disobedience sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which propelled one of the boycott's organisers, to the forefront of the civil rights movement. She has achieved iconic status in American society due to her significance in American history and her actions on global civil rights movements. She has also received several honours and awards for her contributions to society.

Description: Rosa Parks' wax statue can be found at Madame Tussauds in New York City.

Early Life

• On February 4, 1913, Rosa Louise McCauley was born in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her forebears include a great-grandmother who was a slave as well as Irish-Scottish ancestry.

• After turning 11 years old, she attended the Industrial School for Girls in Montgomery and nearby rural schools. She ultimately had to skip school, nevertheless, to care for her grandma.

• Rosa first learned about Alabama's ingrained segregation as a child. She encountered pervasive prejudice and became aware of the disparities in opportunities between white and black youth.

• The majority of black voters were effectively denied the right to vote because of Jim Crow laws.

• She got married to Montgomery-born barber Raymond Parks in 1932. Rosa Parks joined him as a supporter and helped with fund-raising efforts and other projects since he was engaged in the NAACP. She went to meetings to fight for black people's rights and stop injustice.

Park's Arrest and the Bus Boycott

• Rosa took her well-known seat on the bus and made her infamous stand on December 1st, 1955. Rosa had seated herself on the bus after a long day at the office. When a white man got on the bus, all the seats were occupied.

• Rosa and a few other African Americans were instructed to stand up by the bus driver. Rosa declined. The bus operator promised to contact the police. Rosa remained still. Rosa was taken into custody as soon as the cops arrived.

• Rosa was given a $10 punishment after being accused of violating the segregation law. However, she argued that she was innocent and that the statute was unconstitutional and refused to pay. She filed a higher court appeal.

• Several African-American leaders planned to boycott the city buses that evening after meeting together. African-Americans would no longer be able to board the buses as a result. Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was one of these leaders.

• He assumed leadership of the Montgomery Improvement Association, which played a key role in organising the boycott. People found it difficult to boycott the buses because many African-Americans lacked automobiles.

• They had to take the bus or a carpool to work. Many people were unable to shop in the town. They stayed together, nevertheless, to send a message.

Image of Rose Parks inside Bus

Description: Rosa Parks sculpture inside a bus at the National Civil Rights Museum

Detroit Years

• After Rose Parks's arrest and trials, she moved to Detroit with her family in 1958. And there she began to work as staff of Michigan Congressman John Conyers, Jr. It was from the period of 1960s to 1980s.

• She also took membership in the NAACP, and she was great at her position. She received the Freedom award for her contributions. And she co-founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute, which was a self-development institute for youth to give guidance to their careers. And also the main aim of the institution was to spread civil rights among civilians.

Death and Funeral

• Rosa Parks died at the age of 92. It was in October 2005. She died of natural death in her flat. At the time of her death, her family was in the flat. As she was a great civilian leader, and an official in Detroit announced her death on the same day and honoured her with black ribbons on the buses.

• Her body was for public exhibition in two days. After that, her body was transferred to the United States Capitol's rotunda. She received her funeral from both officials and civilians. Because she made an outstanding service to her country.

Legacy and Honours

Achievements	Year
Spingarn Medal	1979
Congressional Gold Medal	1999
Walter. P. Reuther Humanitarian Award	2002

In Popular Culture

Events	Year
The Lawsuit against Outkast	1999
The documentary: Mighty Times	2002
Rosa’s episode in Doctor Who	2018

Conclusion

Rosa Parks was one of history's most influential and inspiring women who fought in terms of justice. With a single action, she changed the lives of most African Americans as well as society. Rosa Parks fought for equality between black and white in America. So she gained attention from all over the world. Rosa She not only influenced the lives of many Americans, but she also contributed to the achievement of equality for all men and women in the United States. One brave woman will be remembered for the rest of her time. At the time of her death, she received the honour from the whole country. Because of her remarkable service.

FAQs

Q1. What can we learn from Rosa Parks?

Ans. Rosa Parks' act teaches us the value of perseverance in facing adversity and raising our voices against injustice. An example from her life is, her refusal to obey the authority of other passengers, the police and the bus driver made her get arrested, but she stood for justice.

Q2. What makes Detroit famous?

Ans. Detroit has long been known as the world's automobile capital, but it is also known for its distinct Motown music sound from the 1960s. Detroit has a diverse ethnic population, including Italians, English, Germans, and Poles.

Q3. Does Rosa Parks Have children?

Ans. Rosa Parks never had children. She had only one sibling. She lived with her in-laws in Alabama. Her family include nephew and cousins.