Rosa Parks - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Early life: Rosa Parks was born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama. She grew up in a racially segregated society where African Americans were treated as second-class citizens.
- 2. Montgomery Bus Boycott: Parks became a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery bus on December 1, 1955. This act of defiance sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal event in the fight against segregation.
- 3. Arrest and trial: Parks was arrested and charged with violating segregation laws for refusing to give up her seat. She was later tried and convicted, but her actions inspired a wave of protests and demonstrations in support of desegregation.
- 4. NAACP involvement: Parks was a longtime member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and served as secretary of the Montgomery chapter. She worked closely with civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. to advance the cause of racial equality.
- 5. Civil Rights Movement: Parks' defiance on the bus was a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, leading to significant changes in laws and attitudes towards racial segregation in the United States.
- 6. Rosa Parks Day: In 2005, the United States Congress declared February 4, Parks' birthday, as Rosa Parks Day in her honor. It is celebrated as a day to remember her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.
- 7. Presidential Medal of Freedom: In 1996, Parks was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, for her courageous stand against segregation.
- 8. Rosa Parks Institute: After the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Parks and her husband Raymond moved to Detroit, Michigan, where Parks worked as a secretary and receptionist for U.S. Representative John Conyers. She also co-founded the Rosa Parks Institute for Self-Development, which aimed to educate young people on civil rights issues.
- 9. Later years: Parks continued to be an advocate for civil rights throughout her life, speaking out against discrimination and injustice. She received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the struggle for equality.
- 10. Legacy: Rosa Parks is remembered as a symbol of courage and resistance against oppression. Her actions inspired generations of activists and paved the way for significant advances in civil rights in the United States. She passed away on October 24, 2005, but her legacy lives on as a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations.