What was rosa parks known for

Over the next half-century, Parks became a nationally recognized symbol of dignity and strength in the struggle to end entrenched racial segregation. Her brother, Sylvester, was born in , and shortly after that her parents separated. She left at 16, early in 11th grade, because she needed to care for her dying grandmother and, shortly thereafter, her chronically ill mother.

He supported Rosa in her efforts to earn her high-school diploma, which she ultimately did the following year. Although Raymond had previously discouraged her out of fear for her safety, in December , Rosa also joined the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP and became chapter secretary.

She worked closely with chapter president Edgar Daniel E. Nixon was a railroad porter known in the city as an advocate for Black people who wanted to register to vote, and also as president of the local branch of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters union. On Thursday, December 1, , the year-old Rosa Parks was commuting home from a long day of work at the Montgomery Fair department store by bus. Black residents of Montgomery often avoided municipal buses if possible because they found the Negroes-in-back policy so demeaning.

Nonetheless, 70 percent or more riders on a typical day were Black, and on this day Rosa Parks was one of them. Segregation was written into law; the front of a Montgomery bus was reserved for white citizens, and the seats behind them for Black citizens.

However, it was only by custom that bus drivers had the authority to ask a Black person to give up a seat for a white rider. There were contradictory Montgomery laws on the books: One said segregation must be enforced, but another, largely ignored, said no person white or Black could be asked to give up a seat even if there were no other seat on the bus available. The three others obeyed. Parks did not. I was not tired physically… No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.

Eventually, two police officers approached the stopped bus, assessed the situation and placed Parks in custody. Although Parks used her one phone call to contact her husband, word of her arrest had spread quickly and E. Nixon was there when Parks was released on bail later that evening. The US civil rights movement also had a significant impact on racial protest in other parts of the world.

Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, it was an inspiration for the Bristol bus boycott of and the Northern Ireland civil rights demonstrations later in the decade. Rosa Parks died in She earned her place in history, alongside hundreds of other brave men and women who helped end racial segregation by statute. Even today, the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States — sparked by the unlawful police killing of African Americans — demonstrates that the activist spirit unleashed in Montgomery in lives on.

Festival of Social Science — Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire. Edition: Available editions United Kingdom. The protest proved super effective, with more black people participating than had been expected. Nevertheless, the protesters stuck together and fought for their cause — and on 13 November their efforts were finally rewarded. There she continued to promote civil rights and help those suffering from discrimination and injustice.

Rosa received numerous awards for her strength, courage and her incredible work for civil rights — including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in and the Congressional Gold Medal in Rosa died of natural causes on 24 October at the age of But she continues to be recognised all over the world as a symbol of freedom and equality. While you wait for it to be checked and approved why not to add a pre-selected message and a cool badge.

See all. The life of Rosa Parks Learn about this remarkable civil rights activist…. Discover how this remarkable woman helped change the lives of millions of African Americans and the history of her country in our Rosa Parks facts… All people should be treated equally, right?

Rosa Parks facts Who was Rosa Parks? Racial segregation Life for African Americans like Rosa was hard. Black children in the late 19th century and early 20th century had separate schools to white children.