Rosa Parks: My Story
(Rosa Parks)

Racism

Rosa Parks grew up in the south during a time when segregation was common place. There were separate water fountains for whites and “coloreds”, white and black students were not able to attend school together, and black citizens were hard-pressed to vote, get a higher education, or have a successful career. Black Americans were seen as lesser individuals in the eyes of the southern whites and were often still treated as slaves, despite slavery having been over for quite some time. As black citizens became more frustrated with their place in the country, the civil rights movement emerged.

Hope

As Rosa tells her story there is a constant feeling of hope in her story. Even at times when the civil rights movement seemed to be going nowhere, and the progress yet to be obtained seemed endless, Rosa and her peers always hoped for more. At the end of Rosa’s story, she mentions that while the movement has come so far, and much progress has been achieved, there is still so much more that must be done. Despite the overwhelming task ahead, she seems hopeful for the future and the possibility of someday achieving total equality of all people.

Unity

During the civil rights movement unity was hugely valuable. Fighting for equality gave black citizens something to reach for, and band together toward. The group of people whom Rosa associated with was extremely supportive of one another and very much on the same page, despite sometimes disagreeing on the way to go about certain things. Rosa mentions that while she does not always agree that nonviolence is the solution to all problems, Dr. King had the right idea in terms of the civil rights movement, because she does not believe it would have been so successful had they resorted to violent means. Camaraderie was hugely influential for those involved in the struggle.

Relationships

Relationships and unity go hand in hand. The relationships that were forged between those who were fighting for civil rights were bonds which could not be broken. The individuals within the movement were bound together by a common cause which was extremely beneficial to them, and to the progress of the entire African-American population. Rosa and her peers worked together within a close-knit group for the duration of the civil rights movement, right up until their deaths. The ties that bound them could not even be severed with death, as Rosa fought on even after she had lost those close to her.

Perseverance

Perseverance is something that was an integral part of the civil rights movement. Had Rosa, Parks, Dr. King, and the others not been so steadfast and determined throughout their journey the civil rights movement would not have made the progress that it did. Throughout arrests, assassinations, prejudice, hate crimes, setbacks, and harsh words, the folks closely involved with the heart of the movement kept pushing forward to reach their goal. Even after the passing of some of the most influential people in the movement, such as Dr. King, Rosa and the others knew they must persevere.

Death

Death is something that was almost expected to those within the civil rights movement, as they were involved in a cause which sparked a lot of hate throughout the nation, especially the south. Though the untimely and tragic deaths of those involved were sad, they were also fuel for those who were still living. Each tragedy made those who were still living and fighting hungrier for progress; they knew that those who had died had died for a cause and would not want the others to stop moving forward. Each death gave those who were living something more to fight for.

Politics

One of the biggest struggles during the fight for civil rights was not changing the views and actions of citizens in the south, but getting politicians on board. Mr. Fred Gray worked hard to get Rosa’s case taken to the Supreme Court, because it was only there that he felt Rosa may have a fair trial. The more attention that civil rights cases were given by the political powers, the more progress was being made. While several small victories were won along the way, it was President Lyndon B. Johnson who pushed forward the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act.

Civil Rights

Civil Rights were the exact thing that Rosa and her peers were fighting for. Though slavery had been outlawed many years before, black citizens were still not afforded the same basic human rights as white citizens, and they knew that this treatment was unfair. They worked to outlaw segregation in public facilities, give black children the same schooling opportunities as white children, have job equality, and the right to vote without obstacles standing in the way. Those involved in the movement knew that Civil Rights were something that should not be withheld from them and were willing to fight for what was right.

Struggle

Struggle and hardship were something that black citizens had to endure for many years, especially during the height of the civil rights movement. The more noise that was made for the cause, the more action white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan took. Rosa and the others who were involved in the cause remained determined to try every door available to them, even when danger lied behind most of them. There was a lot of pain and tragedy which resulted from the civil rights movement, but the struggle was worth it to those involved, if the result was equality for future generations.

Dedication

Dedication to the cause is what helped equal civil rights come to fruition. Those who were involved in the struggle, such as Rosa and her friends, remained dedicated to the cause even when it seemed hopeless because they knew that if they kept pushing it would inspire others to do the same and eventually progress would be made. Those who were truly dedicated to the cause put their lives on the line every day, knowing that they were fighting for something worth dying for. Many men and women lost their lives in the fight for civil rights, and their dedication earned them a spot in history.