Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks, a.k.a. the “mother of the civil rights movement", was a social activist best known for standing up against segregation when she refused to move to the back of the bus in the 1950s. However, there is much more to Parks than the typical narrative says. Keep reading to learn about the fascinating life of an activist and leader.

Fig. 1: Rosa Parks, 1955.

Rosa Parks Biography

Rosa Parks was an extremely influential civil rights leader and activist. While most school children are taught that Parks was a poor, frail woman that was too tired to move on the bus, there is much more to her. Keep reading to learn about her long, influential life of activism.

Rosa Parks Timeline

The timeline below shows the key events of Rosa Parks' life.

Rosa Parks Childhood

Rosa Louise McCauley was born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her father, James McCauley, was a carpenter and her mother, Leona McCauley, was a teacher. Her younger brother, Sylvester, was born a little more than two years after Rosa. Rosa's parents separated shortly after the birth of Sylvester.

Rosa, her mother, and her brother moved from Tuskegee to a town called Pine Level to be closer to Rosa's maternal grandparents. Rosa grew up in Pine Level, even attending the local school. When Rosa was 11, her mother enrolled her in Montgomery Industrial School for Girls, also known as Miss White's School for Girls. She later moved on to Alabama State Teacher's College for high school.

Fig. 2: Montgomery Industrial School for Girls

Unfortunately, Rosa was unable to finish her high school degree at this time. She stopped going to school to care for her ailing grandmother. Rosa prepared to return to high school after her grandmother's death; however, this was a short-lived plan. She had to put her plans on hold as her mother became seriously ill.

In December 1932, Rosa married Raymond Parks. Raymond Parks was born in Alabama in 1903. He was self-educated as Jim Crow laws limited his educational opportunities, but was known as well-dressed and apprised of current events. He supported Rosa's desire to obtain her high school diploma.

Rosa Parks Activism

When Rosa met Raymond, he was a barber and an activist. Raymond was a member of the NAACP, or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In December 1943 Rosa became a member of the Montgomery branch of the NAACP. Since she was the only female member, she was elected the chapter's secretary. Around this time, Rosa and Raymond became members of the League of Women Voters.

During the mid-1940s, Rosa had a very eye-opening experience when she began working on a federal air force base in Montgomery, Alabama. At this point in history, segregation prevailed in Montgomery except for the air force base. Since the federal government ran the air force base, segregation was prohibited. Working on the air force base exposed Parks to how life could be without segregation.

Despite it taking several tries, Parks registered to vote in 1945. This was a really big deal because she did this despite the Jim Crow laws that were in place.

Fig. 3: Rosa Parks being fingerprinted.

The summer of 1955 was significant for Rosa. She attended the Highlander Folk School, which was an educational center for activists like her. This was also the summer that Emmett Till was murdered. This had a tremendous impact on the social landscape of Montgomery. Parks would learn of the acquittal of the two men who killed Till just days before the infamous bus incident.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to follow an order from a Montgomery bus driver to leave her seat to make space for a white bus rider. She refused and was later arrested.

Rosa's role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott had some unintended, negative consequences. She and her husband lost their jobs in addition to receiving death threats.

In 1957, Rosa and Raymond left Montgomery. They lived in Virginia for a short time before moving to Detroit. While living in Detroit, Parks worked as a secretary for Congressman John Conyers. She continued to work as an activist in the late 1950s and 1960s, focusing largely on the housing issues affecting those in Detroit.

Rosa Parks: Later Years

The 1970s were a trying time for Parks. She worked to help many people, including Joan Little, the Wilmington 10, the RNA 11, and Gary Tyler. Rosa struggled with many health issues. Her mother, brother, and husband died in the later part of the 1970s.

Fig. 4: Rosa Parks.

Parks spent the 1980s working to help others. She co-founded both the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation and the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development.

In 1992, Parks authored an autobiography for young readers. A few years later, she authored a memoir targeted at older audiences.

Rosa Parks Death

Rosa Parks died on October 24, 2005. She was 92 years old when she passed. Parks had been in poor health for many years and died of natural causes.

After her death, city busses in Montgomery and Detroit memorialized Parks in a special way. They used black ribbons to reserve the front seat of their busses as a way of honoring her.

The United States federal government honored Parks by providing the opportunity for her body to lie in the capital. Thousands of people honored Parks by viewing her as she lay in the capital.

Rosa Parks: Bus Boycott

December 1, 1955, was the day that Rosa Parks refused to move on the bus. Parks had been on her way home from her job at a Montgomery department store. She had been seated on the bus, but a white man needed a seat, as all the seats in the "white section" had been previously filled with riders. Parks had been sitting in a section with three other riders. The other riders all moved as requested; however, Parks did not.

Parks' refusal to leave the bus eventually led to police coming to the bus and placing Parks in custody.

Fig. 6: Rosa Parks Bus Diagram.

Word of her arrest quickly spread. Civil rights leader and activist E.D. Norton heard the news and put a plan into place. In a meeting, he proposed an idea. Parks was a model citizen, and Norton thought she would be a strong plaintiff in a lawsuit that would challenge segregation laws. The idea of the bus boycott arose from the same meeting.

Monday, December 5 was a big day. Not only was it the day that Parks was found guilty of violating segregation laws, but it was also the day of the bus boycott.

Rosa Parks Accomplishments

Rosa Parks is known as the “mother of the civil rights movement” due to her activism, character, and bravery. While many may know her as being the tired woman who did not give up her seat on the bus, she is really so much more! Some of her accomplishments include:

• Victory over segregated city busses

• The Rosa Parks Freedom award was established in her honor

• She co-founded both the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation and the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development

• She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996, the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999, and several awards from the NAACP

• She wrote an autobiography for young readers and a memoir for older readers

Fig. 6: Rosa Parks Signature.

Rosa Parks Summary

Rosa Parks was an influential community leader and activist. Before she became such an important figure in her community, she was born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama. She later moved with her mother and brother to Pine Level, which was just outside of Montgomery. She attended school for a while, but did not finish high school as she had to help care for her ailing grandmother. Rosa married Raymond Parks, and with his support, obtained her high school diploma.

Rosa's marriage to Raymond kicked off her life of community activism. In December 1943 Rosa became a member of the Montgomery branch of the NAACP. She later became a part of the League of Women Voters.

Rosa Parks became well-known to those outside of Montgomery when she refused to give up her seat on a bus in 1955. She was arrested and later found guilty of violating segregation laws. This launched the Montgomery bus boycott, but also had some negative consequences. Parks and her husband lost their jobs in addition to receiving death threats.

Rosa and Raymond left Montgomery, eventually settling in Detroit. Parks continued her activism and community leadership while living in Detroit. She worked for a congressman and advocated for those who suffered from racial discrimination regarding housing issues. Parks helped many people, including Joan Little, the Wilmington 10, the RNA 11, and Gary Tyler. She co-founded both the Rosa Parks Scholarship Foundation and the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development.

Rosa Parks died on October 24th, 2005.