Rosa Parks — that name instantly conjures intense feelings and images for me. Her famous, courageous act of defiance in 1955 was followed by many years of dignified activism. She was an altogether admirable person.
I was only three years old in 1955, so of course I do not remember the actual event that made her a household name. And we did not discuss civil rights in the home where I grew up; at least, not that I can remember. My first recollection of Rosa Parks is from elementary school, where my fourth grade teacher (Mrs. Fitzpatrick) told her story in an attempt to get the all-white class to understand a little bit about racial discrimination and segregation. Mainly what I got from her story was this: Mrs. Fitzpatrick clearly thought Rosa Parks was a saint walking upon the earth.
A few years later, in high school and beyond, I started reading a lot of history; a habit and a hobby which continues to this day. My first readings of history were of two events that I had much curiousity about: the American civil rights movement, and World War II. Rosa’s place in the civil rights movement is well-documented in zillions of places; I won’t repeat it here. But for me (and many others) she was a kind of icon of the civil rights movement: both an inspiration and a continuing force. And her abiding, overriding dignity struck me profoundly, especially by contrast with some of the more flamboyant or radical black leaders. A world full of people like Rosa would be a world full of peace, love, and tolerance. Her life helped change our world in very positive ways; she will be missed and mourned…
Wikipedia has a good article on Rosa Parks.
The blogosphere takes note:
Michelle Malkin has a roundup.
TigerHawk connects two daughters of Alabama.
Althouse has a commenter who says:
Notwithstanding the efforts of M L King and other purported black leaders, Rosa Parks’ simple act of civil disobedience (refusing to give up her bus seat for a white man) was the tipping point in the advancement of civil rights in America. She should inspire us all to appreciate how personal courage can lead to extraordinary public legacies.
God bless you Ms Parks!
La Shawn Barber has a roundup and commentary.
Parks and her husband Raymond didn’t have children, as far as I can tell from news accounts of her life. In a way, I suppose those she inspired to stand up to injustice were her offspring. Once people understand the power they have in a free country, the moral authority to demand justice, watch out. I once heard this line from a movie: “Change the way people think, and things will never be the same.”
Whatever her reasons that fateful day, I glad she decided to stay in her seat.
Kate at Small Dead Animals says “They don’t make civil rights leaders like they used to.
Outside the Beltway has a brief history, and says:
The civil rights leaders of today pale in comparison to Parks and her compatriots. I was born a decade after Parks' act of defiance and went to school, mostly in the South, in schools that had recently desegregated. By that time, the culture had changed sufficiently that the idea of segregated institutions was inconceivable.
Rest in peace.
Rest in peace, Rosa Parks…
In the old blog, Jessica Flanagan said:
ReplyDeleteI am very glad that Rosa decided not to give up her saet and i hope and pray that she is really in a better place being praised like she was here. i hate racism and the fact that she was forced and didnt give up just showed all of the American people that we can fight back wheather your weak or strong just stick up for yourself and never forget Rosa Parks!!!!!!
In the old blog, Anonymous said:
ReplyDeleteGOD is your only choise..GOD BLESS YOU!
In the old blog, Anonymous said:
ReplyDeleteI didn’t find wat I was looking for