Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks is one of the greatest symbols of the Civil Rights movement, aside from Martin Luther King Jr. I believe Rosa Parks to be a hero because of all the work she has done for her country. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks became a symbol of the Civil Rights movement when she refused to give up her seat to a white person on the bus. She could have given up and let the people have their way, but she fought, until she got her own way. There are not many people that change the country, and Rosa Parks is one of them who changed life for people all around the country. She and many other people stopped segregation laws. That is why I think Rosa Parks is a hero.

Rosa Parks had a complicated childhood. It was also bad because she couldn't exactly express herself freely because of segregation laws. On February 4, 1913, Rosa Louise McCauley was born in Tuskegee, Alabama to James and Leona McCauley. At twenty-five years old, Rosa's mother said she was unfit to be a mother at that time, and was unhappy being an expectant mother and not knowing many people. Rosa was considered a sickly child and was tiny for her age. When her uncle moved in, taking care of herself, Rosa, James and her brother-in-law, Leona decided Rosa should move in with her grandparents. At the age of two, Rosa moved in with her grandparents, who lived in Pine Level, Alabama. When her brother Sylvester was born a few months later, he too lived with his grandparents. While Rosa lived there, she learned a lot about her mom's family history. She learned that all the way back when her great grandfather was around, he believed that segregation was wrong and did all he could to be disrespectful to whites. I'm sure every one of Rosa's relatives believed being equal should be the way to live. Since Rosa was on the down side of segregation because of her skin color, she always liked to be praised about every little thing. The only time she could remember being praised by someone white, was when she was about five years old, and a Yankee soldier, as they had called him, stopped by their house. He bent down, patted her on the head and said, "You are such a cute little girl." That was the only time Rosa had been treated like a regular little girl, not a little black girl. Rosa was six years old when she started school. She started school later because she was little for her age, and her parents thought she could handle school a little better when she was older and bigger. Limited schooling opportunities were offered for colored people during that time. Building schools was a challenge because the government didn't pay to build them. Also, these schools only go for five months instead of nine months. In school, Rosa was very protective of her brother Sylvester, as well as her friends. Rosa knew what was equal and knew something should be done about it. Rosa went to Industrial School for Girls. She then went to Alabama State Teachers College for Negroes. At the age of nineteen Rosa married Raymond Parks, a barber, in 1932. They were both members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored people.

Rosa faced many challenges. Most of her challenges were because of the way she acted on December 1, 1955. On this day Rosa was coming home from a hard day at work at the Montgomery Fair department store. She sat down in the first seat in the colored section of the bus. More whites came on the bus so the bus driver had to move the separation sign farther back. Four of the five people in the first section stood up to give up their seats. Rosa did not. When the bus driver threatened to call the police, she said "ok" and prepared to face the consequences of her thinking that she had equal rights. Rosa faced half a night in prison (because she was bailed out) and a ten dollar fine. Because of her reputation, Rosa was fired from her job at the department store. Her husband was also fired from his job. They were also unable to find new jobs. As you can see, Rosa Parks had a complicated life when she was younger.

Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King (wikipedia)

Rosa did a lot in her area. She was a part of a boycott that lasted 381 days. The boycott started because of what happened to Rosa. Everyone who was a part of this boycott refused to ride the bus for over a year so that the white people would give in because they would lose money, and they would want everyone to ride the bus again. To do that, the people who boycotted had to get what they wanted. So after those long days of walking and biking to work every day, they finally got their way and will always be able to ride the bus. This boycott was led by none-other than the famous Martin Luther King Jr. He is probably the most known symbol of the Civil Rights movement, with Rosa Parks right behind. Also, Rosa Parks did many things, not just for her community, but for the whole country. She helped stop segregation laws along with many other people. This means that she stopped the rude separation between white people and colored people. As you know, she joined the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP, and she also served on board of the Planned Parenthood Federation. In conclusion, Rosa is a wonderful role model because of the work she has put into making our country such a good place today.

Rosa has received many awards and honors. First, she is known to have stood up for what she believed in, which helped to stop segregation laws. This made her a symbol of the civil rights movement. She is also known because she founded the Rosa and Raymond Institute for Self Development, which is a foundation where she received the Spingarn medal which is the NAACP's highest award. She also received the Martin Luther King Jr. award on September 9, 1996. Another award she received is the presidential Medal of Freedom, which the highest honor is given by the executive branch /the president. And the Congressional gold medal, which is the highest award given by the Legislative Branch. Also, Time magazine named her one of the 20 most influential people of the 20th century. As you can see, Rosa received a lot of awards and honors.

Rosa Parks has many wonderful traits. First of all, she is compassionate. She cared that the people weren't getting equal rights, and she spent her life trying to stop that. Can you imagine the focus you would need to continue with something that big? She is also strong. Just think, she could have given in and gave up her seat like the other three on the bus, but instead she went through a night in jail, a ten dollar fine and a boycott that lasted 381 days. Can you imagine walking and biking to work for over a year? That's pretty amazing if you ask me. Another one of Rosa Parks' traits is persistence. There were many times that she could have given up. And even after the bus incident, she kept fighting for equal rights. In conclusion, Rosa Parks has many wonderful traits that make her a great person!

Rosa Parks is such a positive role model for anyone. I think Rosa Parks can teach that if you really want something, and keep moving forward to get it, you can accomplish anything. Anything is possible, if you believe in what you are fighting for. There is no reason to give up. Rosa Parks overcame many obstacles, and with the help of African Americans around the country, segregation laws were stopped for good. Changing the world is not easy, but it can be done with the right concentration.

On October 24, 2005, Rosa Parks died peacefully in Detroit, Michigan at ninety-two years of age. It is such a tragedy that she died, and she will be dearly missed. I know Rosa Louis McCauley Parks will be part of history forever.