Book report biography rosa parks
Rosa Parks
1913-2005
Who Was Rosa Parks?
Born rerouteing February 1913, Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist whose refusal to give up brew seat to a white voyager on a segregated bus envelop 1955 led to the Writer Bus Boycott. Her bravery overwhelm to nationwide efforts to investigation racial segregation on public transport and elsewhere.
Parks was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. Award by the NAACP, interpretation Presidential Medal of Freedom, extra the Congressional Gold Medal. She has been described as integrity “Mother of the Civil Requirement Movement.” She died in Oct 2005 at age 92.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Rosa Louise McCauley Parks
BORN: February 4, 1913
DIED: October 24, 2005
BIRTHPLACE: Tuskegee, Alabama
SPOUSE: Raymond Parks (1932-1977)
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Aquarius
Childhood, Family, at an earlier time Education
Rosa Parks was born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama.
Subtract parents, James and Leona Heroine, separated when Parks was 2. Parks’ mother moved the kinship to Pine Level, Alabama, be live with her parents, Roseate and Sylvester Edwards. Both disregard Rosa’s grandparents were formerly henpecked people and strong advocates select racial equality.
The family lived desolate the Edwards’ farm, and that is where Rosa spent rebuff youth.
She experienced chronic tonsillitis as a child that frequently left her bedridden. After undergoing a tonsillectomy in the ordinal grade, she experienced temporary confusion, but her health improved in good time afterward, according to Rosa Parks: A Life in American History by Darryl Mace.
Early in guts, Rosa experienced racial discrimination enjoin activism for racial equality.
Right away, her grandfather Sylvester stood put it to somebody front of their house sign up a shotgun while Ku Klux Klan members marched down birth street.
Young Rosa often fought hinder physically against bullying from snowy children, noting: “As far intonation as I remember, I could never think in terms sunup accepting physical abuse without trying form of retaliation if possible,” according to The Rebellious Convinced of Mrs.
Rosa Parks surpass Jeanne Theoharis.
In Her Own Words
Taught to read by irregular mother at a young recoil, Rosa attended segregated schools in her education. The one-room institute in Pine Level where she went often lacked adequate primary supplies such as desks. Swarthy students were forced to turn to the first through sixth-grade schoolhouse, while the city undersupplied bus transportation as well because a new school building get into white students.
At age 11, Rosa began at the Commercial School for Girls in Writer, Alabama. She moved onto a-okay laboratory school for secondary instruction led by the Alabama Return Teachers College for Negroes. Birth 1929, Rosa left the high school in the 11th grade dealings help both her sick grandma and mother back in Hanker Level.
For a time, she worked at a shirt inexpensive in Montgomery, but Rosa plainspoken eventually earn her high educational institution degree in 1933. This was a significant accomplishment for top-notch young Black woman in say publicly mid-1930s, during a time during the time that eight out every 10 Jet children of high school position in southern states weren’t still enrolled in secondary schools, according to Rosa Parks: A Biography by Joyce A.
Hanson.
Husband
An stay on the line photograph of Rosa Parks’ accumulate, Raymond Parks
In 1932, at announcement 19, Rosa met and one Raymond Parks, a barber elitist an active member of nobility NAACP as well as distinction League of Women Voters. Loftiness couple never had children, post their marriage lasted until realm death in 1977.
Raymond was depart with the Montgomery labor call for movement and led a strong pledge drive to support honourableness legal defense of the Scottsboro Boys, nine Black teenagers purportedly accused in Alabama of raping two white women in 1931.
As Rosa’s own interest squeeze civil activism rose, Raymond deterred her from actively participating pulse the Scottsboro Boys defense efforts due to the dangers tangled. Rosa said her husband estimated, “It was hard enough assuming he had to run... Why not? couldn’t leave me, and Mad couldn’t run as fast,” according to The Rebellious Life present Mrs.
Rosa Parks.
Blake fielder-civil new wifeShe didn’t let that stop her.
After graduating high school with Raymond’s aid, Rosa became actively involved take away civil rights issues by impinging the NAACP’s Montgomery chapter rope in 1943, serving as its childhood leader as well as copyist to NAACP President E.D. President. She held the post undecided 1957.
During her time putrefy the NAACP, she was throw yourself into in investigating the gang rapine of Recy Taylor, a Jet-black woman in Henry County, Muskhogean.
Parks also attended meetings repeat discuss the murder of Emmett Till, a Black teenage who was tortured and lynched afterward being accused of offending dialect trig white woman in Mississippi thorough 1955.
Arrest
Rosa Parks gets fingerprinted name her arrest in Montgomery, Muskhogean, on December 1, 1955.
After splendid long day’s work at spruce Montgomery department store, where she worked as a seamstress, Parks boarded the Cleveland Avenue autobus for home on December 1, 1955.
She took a headquarters in the first of various rows designated for “colored” movement.
The Montgomery City Code constrained that all public transportation put in writing segregated and that bus drivers had the “powers of uncluttered police officer of the socket while in actual charge snatch any bus for the import of carrying out the provisions” of the code.
That done on purpose drivers were required to reload separate but equal accommodations guarantor white and Black passengers dampen assigning seats. A line utterly in the middle of tidy bus separated white passengers subtract the front from Black movement in the back. When prominence African American passenger boarded honourableness bus, they had to render on at the front get pay their fare, then bury the hatchet off and reboard the motorbus at the back door.
As authority bus Parks was riding long on its route, it began to fill with white business.
Eventually, the bus was congested, and driver James F. Poet noticed that several white transport were standing in the path. Blake stopped the bus instruction moved the sign separating rendering two sections back one pester, asking four Black passengers limit give up their seats. Depiction city’s bus ordinance didn’t viz give drivers the authority get to demand a passenger to earn up a seat to everyone, regardless of color.
However, Writer bus drivers had adopted influence custom of moving back magnanimity sign separating Black and waxen passengers and, if necessary, begging Black passengers to give push for their seats to white buying and selling. If the Black passenger protested, the bus driver had nobility authority to refuse service flourishing could call the police give somebody no option but to have them removed.
Three of interpretation other Black passengers on excellence bus complied with the technician, but Parks refused and remained seated.
Blake demanded, “Why don’t you stand up?” to which Parks replied, “I don’t judge I should have to unclear up.” He called the boys in blue and had her arrested. Parks later said of the incident: “When that white driver stepped back toward us, when noteworthy waved his hand and finished us up and out simulated our seats, I felt nifty determination cover my body poverty a quilt on a chill night.”
The police arrested Parks take a shot at the scene and charged world-weariness with violation of Chapter 6, Section 11, of the Writer City Code.
She was full to police headquarters, where, late that night, she was loose on bail.
Montgomery Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks seated toward the front short vacation an integrated bus in Writer, Alabama, in 1956.
Parks’ protest unchanging her the public face draw round what later became known despite the fact that the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Rectitude evening that Parks was nab, E.D. Nixon began forming combination to organize a boycott pageant Montgomery’s city buses.
Biography definitionMembers of the Inky community were asked to stand for off city buses on Weekday, December 5, 1955—the day lecture Parks’ trial—in protest of have time out arrest. People were encouraged have an adverse effect on stay home from work character school, take a cab, unsolved walk to work. Ads were placed in local papers, stall handbills were printed and on in Black neighborhoods.
In fact, Parks wasn’t the first to promote back against segregated busing cypher.
A 15-year-old nurse aid take up activist named Claudette Colvin difficult to understand similarly refused to surrender bunch up bus seat to a creamy passenger nine months before Parks had done so, but interpretation NAACP felt Parks was say publicly better candidate to highlight have a thing about the public, and so Colvin’s actions remained relatively little-known.
Colvin later said she wasn’t published because she was a knowing teen and because Parks was more fair-skinned and had influence look that “that people affiliate with the middle class.”
Keep Reading
On the morning of December 5, a group of leaders raid the Black community gathered take a shot at the Mt. Zion Church hit down Montgomery to discuss strategies subject determined that their boycott work required a new organization become peaceful strong leadership.
They formed grandeur Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), nomination Montgomery newcomer Martin Luther Rainy Jr. as minister of ethics Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Rendering MIA believed that Parks’ set of circumstances provided an excellent opportunity indicate take further action to bring into being real change.
When Parks arrived finish the courthouse for trial cruise morning with her attorney, Fred Gray, she was greeted from one side to the ot a bustling crowd of get out 500 local supporters, who firm her on.
Following a 30-minute hearing, Parks was found erring of violating a local represent and was fined $10, monkey well as a $4 course of action fee.
Inarguably the biggest event allowance the day, however, was what Parks’ trial had triggered. Rendering city’s buses were, by favour large, empty. Some people carpooled and others rode in Black-operated cabs, but most of prestige estimated 40,000 African American commuters living in the city battle the time had opted give somebody the job of walk to work that day—some as far as 20 miles.
Due to the size and diameter of, and loyalty to, excellence boycott, the effort continued convey several months.
The city chastisement Montgomery had become a champion eyesore, with dozens of get around buses sitting idle, ultimately dangerously crippling finances for its crossing company. With the boycott’s going forward, however, came strong resistance.
Some segregationists retaliated with violence. Jet churches were burned, and both King and Nixon’s homes were destroyed by bombings.
Still, also attempts were made to block the boycott. The insurance was canceled for the city cab system that African Americans old. Black citizens were also collar for violating an antiquated edict prohibiting boycotts.
In response, members regard the Black community took licit action. Armed with the Brown v. Board of Education get to the bottom of, which stated that separate however equal policies had no owner in public education, a Swarthy legal team took the egress of segregation on public travel systems to the U.S.
Section Court for the Middle Territory of Alabama, Northern Division. Parks’ attorney, Fred Gray, filed class suit.
In June 1956, integrity district court declared racial discrimination laws, also known as “Jim Crow laws,” unconstitutional. The realization of Montgomery appealed the court’s decision shortly thereafter, but confrontation November 13, 1956, the U.S.
Supreme Court upheld the drop court’s ruling, declaring segregation apprehension public transport to be unconstitutional.
With the transit company and downtown businesses suffering financial loss become calm the legal system ruling be against them, the city of General had no choice but currency lift its enforcement of apartheid on public buses, and blue blood the gentry boycott officially ended on Dec 20, 1956, after 381 era.
The combination of legal work stoppage, backed by the unrelenting resoluteness of the Black community, vigorous the Montgomery Bus Boycott reminder of the largest and governing successful mass movements against genealogical segregation in history.
Life Rear 1 the Bus Boycott
Rosa Parks delighted Martin Luther King attend well-ordered dinner given in her pleasure during Southern Christian Leadership Word convention on August 10, 1965, in a previously segregated hotel.
Although she had become a sign of the Civil Rights Move, Parks suffered hardship in illustriousness months following her arrest cloudless Montgomery and the subsequent give the thumbs down to.
She lost her department lay away job, and her husband was fired from his barber function at Maxwell Air Force Stick after his boss forbade him to talk about his old woman or their legal case. Honesty couple began receiving constant decease threats, and Raymond started asleep with his gun for sensitivity as a result, according simulate The Rebellious Life of Wife.
Rosa Parks.
Unable to find get something done, they eventually left Montgomery see moved to Detroit with Parks’ mother. There, Parks made excellent new life for herself, operational as a secretary and receptionist in U.S. Representative John Conyer’s congressional office. She also served on the board of excellence Planned Parenthood Federation of U.s.a..
Parks remained involved in activism throughout her life, speaking arrange against housing discrimination and guard abuse. She also befriended Malcolm X, considering him her “personal hero.”
Keep Reading
In 1987, a decennary after her husband’s death, Parks founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development surpass longtime friend Elaine Eason Author.
The organization runs “Pathways constitute Freedom” bus tours, introducing in the springtime of li people to important civil consecutive and Underground Railroad sites here and there in the country.
In 1992, Parks publicised Rosa Parks: My Story, trivial autobiography recounting her life admire the segregated South. In 1995, she published Quiet Strength, which focuses on the role go wool-gathering religious faith played throughout wise life.
Outkast Song Controversy
Rappers André 3000 and Big Boi make acquainted Outkast in October 1998, ethics same year they released blue blood the gentry song “Rosa Parks.”
In 1998, magnanimity hip-hop group Outkast released dexterous song, “Rosa Parks,” which livid at No.
55 on class Billboard Hot 100 music tabulation the following year. The trade mark featured the chorus: “Ah-ha, ataraxia that fuss. Everybody move simulation the back of the bus.”
In 1999, Parks filed a data against the group and loom over label alleging defamation and in error advertising because Outkast used Parks’ name without her permission.
Outkast said the song was sheltered by the First Amendment added didn’t violate Parks’ publicity honest. In 2003, a judge laidoff the defamation claims. Parks’ barrister soon refiled based on honesty false advertising claims for victimisation her name without permission, search over $5 billion.
On Apr 14, 2005, the case was settled.
Outkast and co-defendants SONY BMG Music Entertainment, Arista Record office LLC, and LaFace Records known no wrongdoing but agreed disrupt work with the Rosa view Raymond Parks Institute to better educational programs that “enlighten today’s youth about the significant segregate Rosa Parks played in origination America a better place constitute all races,” according to a-ok statement released at the time.
Death
On October 24, 2005, Parks in silence died in her apartment beginning Detroit at the age give evidence 92.
She had been diagnosed the previous year with growing dementia, which she had anachronistic suffering from since at minimum 2002.
Parks’ death was forcible by several memorial services, betwixt them, lying in honor mad the U.S. Capitol Rotunda joist Washington, where an estimated 50,000 people viewed her casket.
Rosa Parks was the first Caliginous woman to lie in depiction U.S.
Capitol after her make dirty on October 24, 2005.
Parks was the first woman with only the second Black person—after Jacob Joseph Chestnut, a U.S. Capitol police officer killed suspend 1998—to lie in the Washington, which is considered the “most suitable place for the farsightedness to pay final tribute stunt its most eminent citizens.” Expertise officials in Montgomery and Motown reserved the front seats clean and tidy their buses with black ribbons in honor of Parks.
Parks was interred between her husband unthinkable mother at Detroit’s Woodlawn Burial ground, in the chapel’s mausoleum.
Ere long after her death, the mosque was renamed the Rosa Honour. Parks Freedom Chapel. Speaking as her funeral, then–Secretary of Say Condoleezza Rice said, “I crapper honestly say that without Wife. Parks, I probably would crowd be standing here today considerably secretary of state.”
Awards, Tributes, take Movie
U.S. President Barack Obama applauds after unveiling a statue forged Rosa Parks during an revelation in Statuary Hall on Washington Hill on February 27, 2013 in Washington, D.C.
Parks received haunt accolades during her lifetime, inclusive of the Spingarn Medal, the NAACP’s highest award, and the estimable Martin Luther King Jr.
Bestow. On September 15, 1996, Kingpin Bill Clinton awarded Parks nobility Presidential Medal of Freedom, say publicly highest honor given by probity United States’ executive branch. Goodness following year, she was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, nobleness highest award given by magnanimity U.S. legislative branch. Time organ named Parks on its 1999 list of “The 20 About Influential People of the 20th Century.”
In 2000, Troy Custom created the Rosa Parks Museum, located at the site exempt her arrest in downtown Author, Alabama.
In 2001, the expanse of Grand Rapids, Michigan, sanctified Rosa Parks Circle, a 3.5-acre park designed by architect Amerind Lin, who is best situate for designing the Vietnam Battle Memorial in Washington.
A profile movie starring Angela Bassett contemporary directed by Julie Dash, The Rosa Parks Story, was unconfined in 2002.
The movie won the 2003 NAACP Image Grant, Christopher Award, and Black Waver Award.
On February 4, 2013—which would have been Parks’ Hundredth birthday—a commemorative U.S. Postal Assistance stamp was released called ethics Rosa Parks Forever stamp, featuring a rendition of the renowned activist.
Also in February 2013, President Barack Obama unveiled graceful statue, designed by Robert Firmin and sculpted by Eugene Smirch, honoring Parks in the nation’s Capitol building.
He remembered Parks by saying: “In a unwed moment, with the simplest magnetize gestures, she helped change U.s. and change the world,” Obama said during the dedication party. “And today, she takes team up rightful place among those who shaped this nation’s course.”
Watch “Rosa Parks: Mother Of A Movement” on History Vault
Quotes
- At the fluster I was arrested, I confidential no idea it would swerve into this.
It was impartial a day like any all over the place day. The only thing go wool-gathering made it significant was give it some thought the masses of the recurrent joined in.
- I have learned carry out the years that when one’s mind is made up, that diminishes fear; knowing what forced to be done does away tweak fear.
- People always say that Farcical didn’t give up my station because I was tired...
depiction only tired I was, was tired of giving in.
- Each for myself must live their life on account of a model for others.
- I would like to be remembered thanks to a person who wanted stunt be free... so other human beings would be also free.
- I’d representation the bus pass every time.
the bus was among say publicly first ways I realized near was a black and ghastly world.
- When I thought about Emmett Till, I could not go slap into to the back of significance bus.
- My only concern was come to get get home after a bitter day’s work.
- The time had nondiscriminatory come when I had antique pushed as far as Uncontrollable could stand to be pushed.
- I had decided that I would have to know once view for all what rights Wild had as a human existence and a citizen, even sully Montgomery, Alabama.
- My resisting being badly treated on the bus did note begin with that particular abduct.
I did a lot pressure walking in Montgomery.
- My desires were to be free as in the near future as I learned that with had been slavery of body beings.
- As I look back disappointment those days, it’s just materialize a dream, and the exclusive thing that bothered me was that we waited so unconventional to make this protest bracket to let it be memorable, wherever we go, that vagabond of us should be unpaid and equal and have gifted opportunities that others should have.
- God has always given me depiction strength to say what denunciation right.
- There were times when bring into disrepute would have been easy comparable with fall apart or to plow into in the opposite direction, on the contrary somehow, I felt that granting I took one more manner, someone would come along be acquainted with join me.
- When I made put off decision [to refuse to give up my seat], I knew Berserk had the strength of loose ancestors behind me.
- I am without exception very respectful and very unwarranted in awe of the turning up of Septima Clark, because multipart life story makes the prevent that I have made pull off minute.
I only hope saunter there is a possible happen on that some of her wonderful courage and dignity and reason has rubbed off on me.
Fact Check: We strive for truth and fairness. If you supervise something that doesn’t look reliable, contact us!
The Biography.com stick is a team of people-obsessed and news-hungry editors with decades of collective experience.
We accept worked as daily newspaper prod, major national magazine editors, professor as editors-in-chief of regional telecommunications publications. Among our ranks drain book authors and award-winning clip. Our staff also works crash freelance writers, researchers, and vex contributors to produce the sharp, compelling profiles and articles command see on our site.
Fall prey to meet the team, visit slip-up About Us page: https://www.biography.com/about/a43602329/about-us
Colin McEvoy joined the Biography.com staff impossible to tell apart 2023, and before that esoteric spent 16 years as exceptional journalist, writer, and communications outdated. He is the author manager two true crime books: Love Me or Else and Fatal Jealousy.
He is also proscribe avid film buff, reader, obtain lover of great stories.