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Rosa Parks

by Paige from Quakertown, New Jersey

"I knew someone had to take the first step and I made up my mind not to move"
<a href=http://library.thinkquest.org/J0111123/Graphics/rosa.jpg>Rosa Parks</a>
Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks is a brave woman who stood up (well actually sat) for what she believed in and that is the reason that she is my hero. I can�t even describe how brave she was. She even went against the police at one time!

On February 4, 1913 Rosa McCauley was born in Tuskegee, Alabama. She was a black woman and at this time there was lots of segregation going on. White people were usually the ones to get the better life, like the black people had to drink water out of different water fountains than white people did. Also, the black people had to sit in the back of the bus where it was bumpy and the white people got to sit in the front of the bus where the people didn't get jolted around nearly as much.

Years later in 1932, Rosa married Raymond Parks, a barber. They lived a very happy life until 1977 when Raymond died. Rosa still lived a happy life and she stood up for what she believed in.

<a href=http://e-portals.org/Parks/rosa1.gif>Rosa Parks sitting on the bus</a>
Rosa Parks sitting on the bus

On December 1, 1995 Rosa was got on the bus. She was sitting in the front of the bus when a white person got on the bus. Since Rosa was in the front of the bus and she was black and the woman who got on the bus was white and she had no place in the front to sit, the bus driver asked her to move to a different seat. When Rosa refused to move, the bus driver called the police. The police dragged her off the bus and poor Rosa was arrested.

<a href=http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAparksR2.jpg>Rosa at police station</a>
Rosa at police station

The story of Rosa Parks always makes people think how harsh it was with segregation. Rosa Parks inspires many people because of what she stood up for. Many people, after Rosa's arrest, started boycotting. Boycotting is refusing to do something. No one rode the bus for a long time because of what Rosa did. They felt that since Rosa stood up for what she believed in, they should too. That is how Rosa inspired people in the past and inspires people today.

Page created on 1/12/2008 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 1/12/2008 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

Rosa Parks - A Rosa Parks biography
Academy of Achievement - A Rosa Parks Biography
The Rosa Parks Institute - The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development