Rosa Parks

My hero is Rosa Parks. She has all the qualities and traits of a hero. Rosa was altruistic, caring, and willing to stand up for what was right, even if many people opposed her. I chose her because she is very inspirational and I admire her courage and her willingness to persevere despite all the discouragement she faced. I hope that one day I will be able to do something like she did and stand up for what I believe in.

Rosa Parks, then known as Rosa Louise McCauley, had a very hard childhood. When she was born to James McCauley and Leona Edwards in 1913 at Tuskegee, Alabama, Rosa had a weak immune system, making her extremely prone to illness and had chronic tonsillitis. Later, when Rosa’s parents divorced, she decided to live with her mom in a place called Pine Level. However, Rosa did not have much time to interact with other children her age while she was young. Leona Edwards insisted that her daughter be home schooled until the age of 11, when she started attending the Industrial school for Girls in Montgomery, a school exclusively for blacks. But this luxury did not last long. Rosa’s mother and grandmother both got sick and Rosa was forced to drop out of school and care for them. I’m amazed that Rosa Parks still had so much spirit in her despite her tough history. She must have been a really strong person in order to get through this all right. Rosa even managed start the bus boycott!

Years later, in 1943,when Rosa Parks was 30, a black 15 year old girl named Claudette Colvin was arrested for not giving up her seat on a bus. Her case was seen as a possible opportunity to present to the Supreme Court, but after it was found that Claudette was pregnant and the baby’s father was a married man, the idea was dropped. Rosa did get to speak with Claudette, as she was raising money for her release, and was influenced to do the same as Claudette. A few months later, a bus driver kicked Rosa off a bus after she sat down on a whites only seat to pick up a purse that she dropped. Fortunately, Rosa was not incarcerated for her “offense”. In my opinion, nobody should have to be forced to give up their seat because of the color of their skin.

On December 1, 1945, Rosa boarded a bus driven by the same man that kicked her off in 1943. She was requested to move back when more whites boarded the bus. However, unlike other blacks, Rosa refused to give up her seat. She was arrested, but she didn’t care. Her efforts were enough to start the bus boycott

Rosa Parks (http://z.about.com/d/womenshistory/1/0/4/E/rosa_parks.jpg)

Sources:

“Rosa Parks.” Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 2/21/08. February 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks#Events_leading_up_to_boycott

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/rosaparks133667.html

http://z.about.com/d/womenshistory/1/0/4/E/rosa_parks.jpg