Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks was an American civil rights activist. She was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1913. In 1955, she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. Her brave act helped start the civil rights movement.

Early Life

Parks grew up in Alabama during a time of strict segregation. She experienced racism from a young age. She married Raymond Parks, who was active in civil rights. She joined the NAACP and worked for equal rights.

Big Achievements

On December 1, 1955, Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. She was arrested. Her arrest led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted 381 days. The Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional. She is called the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement.

Fun Facts

• Parks was not the first person to refuse to give up a bus seat, but her case became the most famous.
• She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996.
• After she died in 2005, she was the first woman to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol.

Did You Know?

Parks was a seamstress before she became famous. After the boycott, she lost her job and received threats. She moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she worked for Congressman John Conyers for over 20 years.