"I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people. " ~ Rosa Parks
Growing up in Tuskegee, Alabama, Rosa Parks faced segregation and discrimination.
The Early Years
On February 14, 1913 Rosa Parks was born into the family of James McCauley, a carpenter, and Leonia Edwards, a teacher. Two years later, her younger brother Sylvester was born. At a young age Rosa's parents seperated. Due to this seperation she moved to Pine Level, Alabama with her mother to live with her grandmother. There she was home schooled until she was 11. Her mother worked hard as a teacher, hairdresser, and seemstress. She used the money she earned to send Rosa to the Montgomery Industrial School for Girls. This school was only for African American girls, and the classes were taught by white women from the north. She left high school early to take care of her mother and grandmother.
Married at a young age
In 1932, 19 year old Rosa married Raymond Parks. Raymond was a barber, and was born in Wedowee, Alabama. His birthday was February 12, 1903. Two years after being married Rosa went back to highschool and got her diploma. Shortly after, they both became members of the NAACP(National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). This groups mission was to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to obliterate racial discrimination and racial hatred. Rosa became secretary of the NAACP. Aside from this she was involved in many protests fighting for equality. For example she was in the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. She went on to make many other accomplishments. Some of these accomplishments are listed on the next page. Unfortunatley on August 19, 1997, after five years of batteling with cancer, Raymond Parks past away.
Life After Raymond
After Raymond's death Rosa went on to make the Rosa and Raymond Instute for Self-Developement. This institue aims to motivate the youth to reach their highest potential. In 1944 a drug addict named Joseph Skipper broke into Rosa's appartment and attacked and robbed her. He was later arrested and sentenced an 8-15 year term in prision. In March of 1999 Rosa filed a law-suit against the band Outkast for writing a song that she found disrespectful. The chorus of the song was, "Ah ha, hush that fuss/Everybody move to the back of the bus..." In the end the court did not agree with the case. In 2004 Rosa was diagnosed with progressive dementia. She died the following year on October 25th. Three days after Rosa's death, in honor of her, all the busses in Montgomery and Detroit put black ribbons on the front seat on every bus.
