Who would think that a woman from a small town in Alabama would change the way African Americans are perceived? Rosa Louise McCauley Parks never thought that by refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, she would start a nation-wide movement for promoting the rights of black people. When she was arrested on December 1, 1955, African Americans decided it was time to do something about the racial segregation that permeated their societies. Thus, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began—thousands of people refused to take the bus and walked to show their support for what Rosa Parks did. But what really made Parks decide to stand up to the law? In many books and interviews, she discussed numerous reasons why she did what she did, but she always emphasized a few that were most crucial.
Parks talked a lot about her mother and grandmother. She explained why they inspired her throughout her life. Her grandmother faced more difficulties than Parks ever did—slaves were just freed at that time, and were still considered servants by many. Parks told reporters of how her grandmother had to work on a plantation as a child and how grueling her job was. Parks’ parents were not the perfect example of a happily married couple—they split up when Parks was a child. She stayed with her mother, who was a teacher, which motivated Parks to finish her schooling. These strong women taught Parks never to be afraid of anything, to always do the right thing. She stated that when she refused to give up her seat, she was not afraid; instead, she thought of the many people before her who had to suffer from similar humiliating situations, and of the ways her mother and grandmother taught her. That is what gave her strength to face the unknown.
Ever since she was a little girl, Parks was a faithful member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Her family members taught her that whenever in doubt, Parks should read the Bible, for it holds all the answers she needed. So, at that fateful moment of her life, Parks thought of the almighty Lord and prayed that justice will prevail. She knew what happened to people who disobeyed the law, especially African Americans; nevertheless, she had faith that God will keep her safe and help her out of her problems.
More than anything, Parks stressed that the main reason why she refused to get up was that she was tired. She was tired of social injustice, of how she and her fellow African Americans were treated just because of the color of their skin. She hated prejudices, and rarely judged people. In one of her books, she speaks of an incident when her house was broken into and the robber forced Parks to give him all her money. Even then, she says, she tried not to judge the person, because she did not know what he had been through, and how much he needed her money. She just wanted all Americans to be treated the same, in all aspects of life. Parks knew that what she did would not change the way people saw African Americans all over the world, but she hoped at least someone would understand her message.
When she got on the bus on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks never knew that what was about to happen would change the American nation forever. For what she did, many consider her to be the “mother of the modern-day civil rights movement.” Starting from the law about racial segregation on buses, many other laws followed suit and were changed. Today, the United States of America is still affected by racism, but the intensity of racism has been enormously reduced in the past fifty years. With an African American as their President, African Americans in the USA have the same rights as everyone else. Alas, there is still a lot more that can be done: there is still racial segregation in some high schools in Georgia, USA. It should cause everyone great lament to find out that such situations still exist in today’s world; that some people still think that one race is superior over another race. Clearly, there is still a lot of work to be done, but the future generations must continue what Rosa Parks left behind and let her legacy live on forever.
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