Rosa Parks (1913—2005) helped initiate the civil rights movement in the United States when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955. Her actions Rosa Parks (born February 4, 1913, Tuskegee, Alabama, U.S.—died October 24, 2005, Detroit, Michigan) was an American civil rights activist whose refusal to relinquish her seat on a public bus precipitated the 1955–56 Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama, which became the spark that ignited the civil rights movement in the United States. Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005) was an American activist in the civil rights movement, best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. The United States Congress has honored her as "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement". 02/03/2025 February 3, 2025. She stood up for her rights by staying seated. In the 1950s, Rosa Parks gave the US Civil Rights Movement a huge boost, and inspired Martin Luther King Jr. Rosa Parks is best known for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, which sparked a yearlong boycott that was a turning point in the civil rights Parks, whose refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man sparked the modern civil rights movement, died of natural causes in her Detroit home on Monday, Oct. 24, 2005. She was 92-years-old. King became a national civil rights leader following his support of the bus boycott inspired by Parks. Photo by Associated Press. A lifelong activist for civil rights, Rosa Parks marches at the South African Embassy in Washington on Dec. 10, 1984, in protest of South Africa’s apartheid policies. U.S. Rep. Mickey Leland, D-Texas, is behind her. On 1 December 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested in Alabama for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man. Discover how her act of defiance sparked the US civil rights movement. A seamstress by trade, Rosa Parks was an activist with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) whose refusal in 1955 to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama, inaugurated a year-long bus boycott by black residents, propelled the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., to national prominence as a civil rights leader, supplied a blueprint for The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development’s “Pathways to Freedom program, traces the underground railroad into the civil rights movement and beyond. Youth, ages 11 through 17, meet and talk with Mrs. Parks and other national leaders as they participate in educational and historical research throughout the world. Rosa Parks is synonymous with the peak of the Civil Rights Movement. It all stems from December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, when Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus to a It is crucial to recognize that the struggle for civil rights is ongoing, and her example continues to inspire new generations to fight for justice and equality. FAQs What was Rosa Parks’s role in the civil rights movement? Rosa Parks played a crucial role in the civil rights movement by refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her bus seat on December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked a pivotal moment in American civil rights history.Her act of defiance against racial segregation laws ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott and became a catalyst for the broader civil rights movement. On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks made a bold choice in Montgomery, Alabama. By not giving up her seat on a bus to a white person, she sparked a major push for civil rights. This wasn't just a one-time event; it was the result of long-standing unfair treatment and her personal commitment to equality. Rosa Rosa Parks' involvement in civil rights activities prior to her famous act of resistance. Rosa Parks was deeply involved in civil rights activities before her famous act of resistance. She served as the secretary for the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP, where she worked closely with chapter president E.D. Nixon. Well-suited for formal ceremonies, civil rights museums, and educational institutions. #4 Beyond the Bus. Good evening, distinguished guests. Rosa Parks’s name echoes through history as a symbol of courage and determination. Yet her contribution to civil rights and social justice extends far beyond that famous December day in Montgomery. On December 21, 1956, Rosa Parks boarded a Montgomery bus, marking the day Montgomery’s public transportation was legally integrated. Behind her was UPI reporter Nicholas C. Chriss, documenting this historic event after Parks’ initial arrest had sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and furthered the civil rights movement. Introduction. The Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955-1956 was a defining moment in the American Civil Rights Movement. Triggered by the arrest of Rosa Parks for refusing to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger, the 13-month protest campaign reshaped the struggle for racial equality and introduced the world to a young minister named Martin Luther King Jr. In 1983, based on Rosa Parks’ great achievements in the civil rights movement, she got inducted into the “Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame”. Rosa Parks was secretary to a Michigan Congressman. Rosa Parks became the personal Secretary of a high-profile U.S politician (a congressman by name John Conyers). Rosa Parks is often referred to as the “mother of the civil rights movement.” In 1955, she became a symbol of resistance when she refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. This act of civil disobedience led to her arrest and sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a pivotal event in the civil rights movement.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() | ![]() |