Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was an American activist in the civil rights movement that occurred in America from the
1950’s to 1960’s. She was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on the 4th of February 1913. Also known as
‘The first lady of civil rights’ and ‘The mother of the freedom movement’, she played a pivotal role in
starting the civil rights movement.

The civil rights movement began when Rosa Parks, on a bus, refused to give up her seat. During the
time, buses would be divided into two sections, one where all American passengers would sit, and
another section where African American passengers would sit. The laws at the time promoted
segregation and while both African Americans and All Americans would receive the same service,
they would be divided. These rules complied on the buses as well, as they didn’t give drivers the
authority to force a passenger to give up their seat to anyone, regardless of colour. Despite this, as
the bus started filling up, and the driver noticed that a few white passengers were standing in the
aisle. The driver stopped the bus and asked 4 African Americans to give up their seat, for the whites.
The other three gave up their seat and complied with their driver, however Rosa Parks did not.
When the driver asked, “Why don’t you stand up”, Rosa Parks replied by saying, “I don’t think I
should have to stand up.”

The driver called the police and Rosa Parks was arrested, however granted bail later that night.

https://www.biography.com/people/rosa-parks-9433715

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/rosa-parks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks