The First Lady of Civil Rights
Most historians believe that the beginning of the civil rights movement in the United States was December 1, 1955. That was the day when an unknown women in Montgomery, Alabama refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. This brave woman was Rosa Parks, she was arrested and fined for doing that, but her lonely act of defiance began a movement that ended legal segregation in America, and made her an inspiration to freedom-loving people everywhere.
Childhood
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was born on Februrary 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Albama. At the age of 2, her parents seperated and Rosa went with her mom to Pine Level, Albama to live with Rosa’s grandparents.
Pine Level had an elementary school that had buses for white students but the African-American students had to walk to school. Throughout the rest of Rosa’s education, she went to various segretated schools in Montgomery.
However in 1929, she had to go home to look after her grandmother. She never went back. Instead, she got a job in a shirt factory in Montgomery.
Pine Level had an elementary school that had buses for white students but the African-American students had to walk to school. Throughout the rest of Rosa’s education, she went to various segretated schools in Montgomery.
However in 1929, she had to go home to look after her grandmother. She never went back. Instead, she got a job in a shirt factory in Montgomery.
Meeting Raymond Park
In 1932, Rosa Parks met and married a barber named Raymond Park, who was a member of the National Assosciation for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). With Raymond’s help, Rosa finished her high school degree in 1933 and joined the NAACP in 1934, serving as the secretary of the president E.D. Nixon until 1957.
Rewards
Rosa Parks received many awards during her lifetime. She received the highest award in the NAACP - Spingarn Medal. She also received the Martin Luther King, Jr. award. On September 9, 1996, President Bill Clinton awarded Rosa with the Presidential Medal of Freedom which is the highest honor given by the U.S. executive branch. The next year, she was rewarded the Congressional Gold medal, which was the highest award given by the U.S. legislative branch.