Rosa Parks

About

Rosa Parks was a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement, born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama. She grew up in a segregated South, witnessing racial violence and discrimination firsthand. Parks became active in the NAACP in the early 1940s, serving as secretary of the Montgomery chapter and organizing youth programs. Her most famous act was refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus in 1955, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This courageous act galvanized the civil rights movement, leading to the eventual desegregation of public buses. Parks continued her activism throughout her life, moving to Detroit in 1957 where she supported local civil rights initiatives. She worked for Congressman John Conyers from 1965 to 1988, focusing on issues like housing and job discrimination. Parks received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Her legacy extends beyond her iconic act, as she remained a committed advocate for racial equality until her death on October 24, 2005. Her impact on American history is profound, symbolizing resistance against racial segregation and inspiring generations of civil rights activists.