Rosa Parks Rosa Parks Pioneer of Civil Rights Pioneer of Civil Rights

Date of birth: February 4, 1913Date of birth: February 4, 1913Date of death: October 24, 2005 Date of death: October 24, 2005

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005Most historians date the Most historians date the beginning of the modern civil beginning of the modern civil rights movement in the rights movement in the United States to December 1, United States to December 1, 1955. That was the day when 1955. That was the day when an unknown seamstress in an unknown seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery, Alabama refused to give up her bus refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. seat to a white passenger. This brave woman, Rosa This brave woman, Rosa Parks, was arrested and fined Parks, was arrested and fined for violating a city ordinance, for violating a city ordinance, but her lonely act of defiance but her lonely act of defiance began a movement that began a movement that ended legal segregation in ended legal segregation in America, and made her an America, and made her an inspiration to freedom-loving inspiration to freedom-loving people everywhere. people everywhere.

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks Rosa Parks approaches the approaches the Montgomery Montgomery courthouse to courthouse to enter her plea.enter her plea.

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005

Rosa Parks leaving Rosa Parks leaving the Montgomery the Montgomery courthouse with courthouse with her attorney, her attorney, Charles Langford. Charles Langford. Feb. 22, 1956Feb. 22, 1956

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005Dr. Martin Luther Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. conducts a King, Jr. conducts a meeting of the meeting of the Montgomery Montgomery Improvement Improvement Association in Association in 1955. Rosa Parks is 1955. Rosa Parks is seated in the front seated in the front row.row.

Montgomery bus boycott lasted 381 days

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks in Rosa Parks in Montgomery after Montgomery after the Supreme Court the Supreme Court decision outlawing decision outlawing segregation on segregation on public transit. public transit. – 19561956

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks (c) Rosa Parks (c) riding on newly riding on newly integrated bus integrated bus following Supreme following Supreme Court ruling ending Court ruling ending segregation of segregation of Montgomery Montgomery buses.buses.

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks at a Rosa Parks at a 1956 press 1956 press conference. conference.

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks, with Rosa Parks, with Dr. Martin Luther Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.King, Jr.

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005 (L-R) First Lady Hillary (L-R) First Lady Hillary

Rodham Clinton, Rodham Clinton, baseball player baseball player Sammy Sosa, and Sammy Sosa, and Tipper Gore (wife of Tipper Gore (wife of Vice President Albert Vice President Albert Gore, Jr.) applauding Gore, Jr.) applauding civil rights activist civil rights activist Rosa Parks, during Rosa Parks, during President Bill Clinton's President Bill Clinton's State of the Union State of the Union address. address.

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks was Rosa Parks was presented with the presented with the Congressional Gold Congressional Gold Medal, On June 15, Medal, On June 15, 19991999

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005President George President George W. Bush pays his W. Bush pays his respects to the late respects to the late Rosa Parks, Rosa Parks, October 30, 2005. October 30, 2005. She was the first She was the first woman to lie in woman to lie in state in the state in the rotunda of the rotunda of the United States United States Capitol. Capitol.

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005

1987 - Present: Established the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development. Its ongoing mission is to motivate and direct youth to achieve their highest potential

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005

“ “ As I look back on those days, it's As I look back on those days, it's just like a dream. The only thing just like a dream. The only thing that bothered me was that we that bothered me was that we waited so long to make this waited so long to make this protest and to let it be known protest and to let it be known wherever we go that all of us wherever we go that all of us should be free and equal and should be free and equal and have all opportunities that have all opportunities that others should haveothers should have.”.”

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005Birth:Birth: February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, to James and February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, to James and Leona McCauley Leona McCauley Childhood:Childhood: Grew up on a small farm with her brother, mother, Grew up on a small farm with her brother, mother, and grandparents. and grandparents. Childhood Fears:Childhood Fears: Hearing the Ku Klux Klan ride at night, Hearing the Ku Klux Klan ride at night, listening to lynchings, and being afraid the house would burn listening to lynchings, and being afraid the house would burn down. down. School:School: Attended a school for African-American children. The old, Attended a school for African-American children. The old, one-room schoolhouse was only open five months a year and just one-room schoolhouse was only open five months a year and just went up to sixth grade. In 1924, at age 11, she was sent to went up to sixth grade. In 1924, at age 11, she was sent to Montgomery to continue her studies. Five years later, she left Montgomery to continue her studies. Five years later, she left school in order to care for her sick grandmother, and later, her school in order to care for her sick grandmother, and later, her mother. mother. Marriage/Young Adult Years:Marriage/Young Adult Years:Married barber and civil rights activist Raymond Parks in 1932. Married barber and civil rights activist Raymond Parks in 1932. With Raymond's support, Rosa finally graduated from high school With Raymond's support, Rosa finally graduated from high school in 1934. Together, they worked for the Montgomery chapter of the in 1934. Together, they worked for the Montgomery chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). (NAACP).

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~20051930s - 1955:1930s - 1955: Seamstress Seamstress 19431943: Appointed secretary of the NAACP's Montgomery branch and later its youth : Appointed secretary of the NAACP's Montgomery branch and later its youth leader. leader. 1965 - 19881965 - 1988: Worked as a receptionist and office assistant for John Conyers, an : Worked as a receptionist and office assistant for John Conyers, an African-American congressman. Part of her job involved helping homeless people get African-American congressman. Part of her job involved helping homeless people get housing. housing. 1987 - Present1987 - Present: Established the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-: Established the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development. Its ongoing mission is to motivate and direct youth to achieve their Development. Its ongoing mission is to motivate and direct youth to achieve their highest potential. highest potential. Greatest Achievement:Greatest Achievement: Sparking the modern civil rights movement in the United Sparking the modern civil rights movement in the United States by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. Rosa Parks's arrest States by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. Rosa Parks's arrest for breaking Montgomery segregation laws started a boycott of the city bus line that for breaking Montgomery segregation laws started a boycott of the city bus line that lasted 381 days. This eventually led to the 1956 Supreme Court ruling declaring lasted 381 days. This eventually led to the 1956 Supreme Court ruling declaring segregation illegal on public buses. segregation illegal on public buses. Later Adult Years:Later Adult Years: After moving to Michigan in 1957, Rosa Parks continued the After moving to Michigan in 1957, Rosa Parks continued the fight for equal rights and treatment for African Americans. On several occasions, Mrs. fight for equal rights and treatment for African Americans. On several occasions, Mrs. Parks returned to Montgomery to support Dr. King in demonstrations and civil rights Parks returned to Montgomery to support Dr. King in demonstrations and civil rights marches. marches. Awards:Awards: Over the years, Rosa Parks has received hundreds of awards and honors, Over the years, Rosa Parks has received hundreds of awards and honors, including the Medal of Freedom Award, presented by President Clinton in 1996. In including the Medal of Freedom Award, presented by President Clinton in 1996. In July, 1999, Rosa Parks was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, the July, 1999, Rosa Parks was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, the nation's highest civilian award. nation's highest civilian award.

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005EducationEducation:  Rosa attended Montgomery Industrial School for Girls, Booker T. :  Rosa attended Montgomery Industrial School for Girls, Booker T. Washington High School, and Alabama State College. With the support of Raymond, Washington High School, and Alabama State College. With the support of Raymond, Rosa went back to school in 1933 and obtained her high-school diploma. Rosa went back to school in 1933 and obtained her high-school diploma. Although Raymond did not have a formal education, he did hunger for knowledge. Although Raymond did not have a formal education, he did hunger for knowledge. Self taught, he had a thorough knowledge of domestic affairs and current events. Self taught, he had a thorough knowledge of domestic affairs and current events. Many people thought he was college educated. He spent his life encouraging others Many people thought he was college educated. He spent his life encouraging others to get an education. to get an education. ChildrenChildren:  Although Rosa is known as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, :  Although Rosa is known as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, Raymond and Rosa had no children of their own. Raymond and Rosa had no children of their own. Residence:Residence:Raymond and Rosa never owned their own home. Raymond and Rosa never owned their own home. Occupations:Occupations:Early in her life, Rosa was a dressmaker, a seamstress, a life insurance agent, and a Early in her life, Rosa was a dressmaker, a seamstress, a life insurance agent, and a housekeeper. In her later years, Rosa was a hotel supervisor, civil rights activist, housekeeper. In her later years, Rosa was a hotel supervisor, civil rights activist, speaker, and author. From March 1, 1965 through 1988, Rosa was a staff assistant speaker, and author. From March 1, 1965 through 1988, Rosa was a staff assistant for Congressman John Conyers, Jr. for Congressman John Conyers, Jr. In 1987, Rosa founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development to In 1987, Rosa founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development to offer career training for kids aged 12 to 18. Raymond was a barber and civil rights offer career training for kids aged 12 to 18. Raymond was a barber and civil rights activist and encouraged black people to vote. He worked secretly for the National activist and encouraged black people to vote. He worked secretly for the National Committee to Save the Scottsboro Boys and was later a member of the National Committee to Save the Scottsboro Boys and was later a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005

“ “I would have to take I would have to take longer than a minute to longer than a minute to give my whole synopsis give my whole synopsis of my life, but I want to of my life, but I want to let you know that all of let you know that all of us should be free and us should be free and have equal opportunity have equal opportunity and that is what I'm and that is what I'm trying to instill and trying to instill and encourage and inspire encourage and inspire young people to reach young people to reach their highest potential.their highest potential. ””

Rosa Parks 1913~2005Rosa Parks 1913~2005

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