Rosa Parks - A True Hero

Rosa Parks http://www.ducksters.com/history/civil_rights/montgomery_bus_boycott.phpIn today’s world heroes are perceived to us as the superhuman beings that fly around with special powers saving people, especially with all the new action pact movies coming out. We forget about the heros who have lived among us, for these people do not have powers, but something much greater than that. The power to make a difference through their actions and words. One person who was and will forever be remembered as a hero is Rosa Parks. She is one of the most famous activists regarding modern day civil rights. She is known as “mother of the modern day civil rights movement.” Rosa Parks was born in  Tuskegee, Alabama. Important people in her life that helped her succeed with this was her mother, brother, and husband who was also an activist. Not all the events that happened in her life are very known, like her smaller movements such as, working in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People programs alongside her husband. What she is most famous for is refusing to give up her seat for a white man on a bus. She was later arrested and fined for fourteen dollars. Because of all her actions we no longer have to worry about the kinds of things Parks did as well as other African Americans. Unfortunately Rosa Parks died in 2005 and can no longer be found. Although there is a plethora of information on her, for her actions have inspired many to write about her  her life and legacy. Parks work help shaped our world today through her desire, passion, ability to speak about what she believed in, and strength to continue to her work even after threats and harassment were thrown at her. Because of her perseverance through hardship, and passion for equality. Even when being looked down upon those of higher social standings. Rosa Parks gave us what is now out modern day civil rights.

Rosa Parks found her calling, in speaking her mind and making a difference. She was and still is considered a hero because of the many traits she obtained. One of them being a passionate person, but more specifically having a passion for equality. “Rosa Louise Parks was nationally recognized as the “mother of the modern day civil rights movement” in America. Her refusal to surrender her seat to a white male passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, December 1, 1955, triggered a wave of protest December 5, 1955 that reverberated throughout the United States. Her quiet courageous act changed America, its view of black people and redirected the course of history” (Rosa Parks Institute, Rosa Parks).  Rosa Parks stood up for what she believed in. She believed that everyone deserves equal rights no matter the color of their skin, and was able to display her belief by not giving up her seat even though it didn’t match with the accustomed ways.  When she took action by refusing to give up her seat she exhibited her knowledge of the fact nobody deserved to be treated differently because of their differences. Proving her genuine passion. There were other element to Rosa Parks that showed her passion for equality which included, “her regular involvement  in social justice causes, as members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Parks was a part of the activist efforts protesting the trial of the Scottsboro Boys, nine black teenagers accused of raping two white women in 1931. Parks was secretary and a youth leader for the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP. Despite the minimal publicity the NAACP received at this time, Parks remained an active member, regularly challenging the established authority over the years” (Gale Student Resources in Context, Rosa Parks).  Parks is mostly known for her major act of the Montgomery Bus Incident, and although she could have stopped then,  Parks worked vigorously on many projects. Even after her large leap forward in solving equality problems. She earned her position and participated in many events. She knew engaging in these opportunities would make the largest difference when it came to equal rights.  Parks had a passion for equality and this was shown in numerous ways whether she displayed it as a big or small job. Making this only one of the reasons she is perceived as a hero today.

Rosa Parks Montgomery Bus Incident Arresthttps://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/the-civil-rights-movement-in-america-1945-to-1968/rosa-parks/Parks wasn’t only considered a hero because of her passion, but had many other traits that made her heroic. An additional trait that made her a heroic figure was her perseverance even through hardships. She proved this when,  “at the time of her arrest, she was preparing for a major youth conference. After the arrest of Rosa Parks, black people of Montgomery and sympathizers of other races organized and promoted a boycott of the city bus line that lasted 381 days. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was appointed the spokesperson for the Bus Boycott and taught nonviolence to all participants” (Gale Student Resources in Context, Rosa Parks). Rosa Parks faced much adversity and hardship throughout her life. Especially being African American and a woman, the bus incident was a big deal, and because of it she faced consequences. Parks was arrested and fined, but that didn’t stop her from continuing from pushing civil rights. After her arrest she continued with her activism, not just by herself, but through other people who also faced the hardships she did. This did not go well with those of higher social standing who did not want change. To Parks this didn’t matter. The only thing that did was being able to provide equality for everyone. More hardship that Rosa Parks faced and overcame included, “facing continued harassment and threats in the wake of the boycott, Parks, along with her husband and mother, eventually decided to move to Detroit, where Parks’ brother resided. Parks became an administrative aide in the Detroit office of Congressman John Conyers Jr. in 1965, a post she held until her 1988 retirement” (Badertscher). Not only did she face an arrest, but also threats and harassments that were put upon her. Although she moved after the threats she never let go of her dream about civil rights. Parks continued her activism work in Detroit.  Her work did not go unrecognized. People saw what she went through and what she persevered through in order to make a difference, so she was offered a job even as her involvement in the civil rights act began to slow down. Her perseverance through difficulties and adversity is what makes Rosa Parks a hero. She never gave up even through conditions that would probably stop most.

Rosa Parks Statuehttp://www.pbs.orgRosa Parks is a true hero because of the multiple ways she expressed her passion for equality and perseverance through hardships. She is also deemed a hero because she pursued her dream of civil rights no matter whether or not others respected her opinions.  Her many actions that shaped her into being a hero today includes when she refused to give her seat up on a bus for a white male, her regular involvement in social justice groups, and the rallies she participated in, showed her passion for equal rights. Parks also received many threats and harassments from those who did not agree with her view. As well as an arrest from her bus incident, yet she continued to work harder and harder to achieve her goal. This displayed her perseverance through hardships because nothing would stop her from speaking her mind. Rosa Parks has inspired many, including myself, because of the way she used her voice and her actions to make a powerful difference when it came to equality. She is proof that there are good people in the world ready to fight until the end to create beneficial change. Even after her death she is still known as a heroic figure to countless number of people, and many of those people who she has inspired have followed in her footsteps or wrote about her in hopes that someone would do the same. All in all a true hero is someone who fights and inspires others with words and actions. Rosa Parks was a living breathing example of this. Her actions brought clarity to what seemed like a never ending problem to African Americans. She spoke out knowing she'd be facing consequences, and never stopped her work even when danger occured. She believed in something so greatly she was willing to dedicate and risk her life to achieve it.

Works Cited

Badertscher, Eric. "Rosa Particles." Ebsco Host, Great Neck. Ebsco Host,  web.a.ebscohost.com/brc/detail?vid=2&sid=2a4f4889-99de-404b-9fdc-3d63ebfaaec1%40sessionmgr4006&bdata=JnNpdGU9YnJjLWxpdmU%3d#db=b6h&AN=15317138&anchor=AN0015317138-2. Accessed 28 Mar. 2018.

"Rosa Parks." Gale Student Resources in Context, Gale, 2017. Student Resources In Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/JAUXXF120188915/SUIC?u=powa9245&sid=SUIC&xid=b9a2a824. Accessed 27 Mar. 2018.

SalutionPal. "Rosa Louise Parks." Biography, Rosa Parks, 2015, www.rosaparks.org/biography/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2018.