Crash Moment -- In Memoriam

Rosa Parks 1913-2005

On 24 October 2005, Mrs. Rosa Parks died at the age of 92. She was in her home in Detroit, Michigan. Mrs. Parks is most known for her refusal to give up her bus seat to a White person in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. This action is widely regarded as the catalyst that sparked the American Civil Rights movement. The Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a direct result of Mrs. Parks' refusal and subsequent arrest. While there are many African American men who are synonymous with the struggle for racial equality in this country, Mrs. Parks has attained an almost iconic stature as a figure of resolve and non-violent resistance. In later years, she received many accolades and much public recognition (including the Congressional Gold Medal) for her ongoing work as a civic leader and community organizer.

On a personal note, I had the honor of hearing Mrs. Parks speak, and the greater honor of meeting her. In her remarks, she referenced the reasons for her staying in her seat in 1955 -- she particularly addressed the one circulating which reported that she didn't get up because she was 'tired' from working all day as a seamstress (she was also employed by the Montgomery NAACP, and became the plaintiff of this important test case). She said she was tired every day, but mostly because she was tired of giving up or giving in. As our nation pauses to remember Mrs. Parks, I hope that her life, and her legacy, inspire all of us to continue to fight against the social injustices that continue to challenge our communities.

If you'd like to learn more about Mrs. Parks, please feel free to visit:

www.naacp.org

http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/parks01.html