Rosa ParksPresented by:

Andrew Carter

Rosa Parks as a Young Girl

Rosa was born in Tuskegee, Alabama in 1913.As a girl, Rosa walked to school while white children in her townrode the school bus.

Rosa Parks as an Adult

Rosa worked for a white couple as a housekeeper and a seamstress. While working

for them, she attended the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee for people interested in

activism and civil rights.

Secretary of NAACP

During this time, she was also a secretary for the local chapter of the NAACP.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and E.D. Nixon werealso a part of this chapter.

The Refusal

On December 1, 1955, after Rosa finished work, she got on the bus to ride home. When the bus became full, Rosa refused to give up her seat to a white person in the colored section of the bus. She said she was tired of giving in. Then she was arrested for not giving up her seat.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott

As a result of her arrest, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began on December 5, 1955 and lasted for 381 days causing the Montgomery Bus Line

to lose a lot of money.

Bus Boycott Ends

The bus boycott ended in 1956 when Montgomery passed a city ordinance that buses

would no longer be segregated.

Rosa Starts Again

After Rosa’s arrest, she lost her job and had trouble finding another job. She and her

husband finally moved to Detroit, Michigan.

Rosa began working for U.S. Representative John Conyers in Detroit. She worked for him from

1965-1988.

Let’s Write a Book

Rosa wrote her autobiography in 1992, Rosa Parks: My Story.

Rosa Gets Recognized

Rosa was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

by President Bill Clinton in 1996.

Rosa Parks Passed Away

When she died in 2005, a memorial service was held for her in Montgomery, Alabama. Another famous

Alabamian, Condoleezza Rice said if it had not been for Rosa, she may have never been the United States

Secretary of State.

Rosa Lies in State

Rosa’s casket was taken to Washington, D. C.The casket was placed in the rotunda of the

United States Capitol. She was the first woman and second black

person to have this honor.

Rosa is Remembered

Rosa was buried in Detroit.She will always be remembered as

“The First Lady of Civil Rights”.