Rosa Parks Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in civil rights and to recommit to the ongoing work of combating discrimination and promoting equality. 10. Legacy of inspiring activism. Rosa Parks’ activism and courage continue to resonate and inspire people around the world. 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 Parks’s principled defiance established her as an international symbol of human dignity and freedom. Children from around the world sent her birthday cards, letters, and drawings. She was given many awards and honors, including more than forty honorary doctoral degrees from universities. The honor, given to deserving students in succeeding years, became the Rosa Parks Awards. [ 113 ] [ 114 ] 1983: She was inducted into Michigan Women's Hall of Fame for her achievements in civil rights . Showcases rarely seen materials that offer an intimate view of Rosa Parks and documents her life and activism—creating a rich opportunity for viewers to discover new dimensions to their understanding of this seminal figure. The materials are drawn extensively from the Rosa Parks Collection, a gift to the Library of Congress from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. Throughout Rosa's life, she had won many awards and medals. The NAACP awarded Rosa with the Spingarn Medal in 1979. This was their highest honor. One year later she had been given the Martin Luther King Jr Award. In September of 1992, Rosa Parks had the honor of winning the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience award. Rosa Parks has received the following awards: Springarn Medal (1979); Golden Plate Award; Presidential Medal of Freedom (1996); the Congressional Gold Medal (1999); NAACP Image Award for outstanding supporting actress in drama series (2000) Rosa Parks will always be remembered for her role in the civil rights movement. On 24 October 2005 Rosa -The Rosa Parks Peace Prize in 1994.-The Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996.-The International Freedom Conductor Award in 1998.-The Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award from the legislative branch, in 1999.-Time magazine's 20 most influencial people of the 20th Century in 1999.-Alabama Academy of honor in 2000. Parks received numerous honors, including over 40 honorary degrees, the Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor, and two NAACP image awards. The state of Michigan honors Parks each February 4 on Rosa Parks Day. Troy State University in Alabama honored Parks by constructing a museum and library that bears her name. Rosa Parks received most of her national accolades very late in life, receiving relatively few awards and honors until many decades after the Montgomery Bus Boycott. In 1979, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People awarded Parks the Spingarn Medal, its highest honor, and she received the Martin Luther King Sr. Award the Rosa Parks, the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement" was one of the most important citizens of the 20th century. Mrs. Parks was a seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama when, in December of 1955, she refused to give up her seat on a city bus to a white passenger. The bus driver had her arrested. She was tried and convicted of violating a local ordinance. Her act sparked a citywide boycott of the 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 was a devout Christian. Quote: "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 (See more quotes) # Rosa Parks: The Mother of Civil Rights # Rosa's Story Showcases rarely seen materials that offer an intimate view of Rosa Parks and documents her life and activism—creating a rich opportunity for viewers to discover new dimensions to their understanding of this seminal figure. The materials are drawn extensively from the Rosa Parks Collection, a gift to the Library of Congress from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation. 2. Awards Received by Rosa Parks. Over her lifetime, Rosa Parks received numerous awards and honors that acknowledged her courage and commitment to social justice. Some of the most notable awards include: NAACP Spingarn Medal (1956) - An award given to African Americans for outstanding achievement. The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is an American award founded by the Ellis Island Honors Society (EIHS) (formerly known as the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO)), which is presented annually to American citizens, both native-born and naturalized. [1] [2] The Medal recognizes — in the organization's words — Civil rights activist Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, sparking the transformational Montgomery Bus Boycott. 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 Karmen Smallwood, the recipient of the Robert “Bob” Auchincloss Nia Award, was one of several community members to be recognized Friday night at the 8th Annual Rosa Parks Community Icon Awards. Smallwood, Dutchess County’s first Assistant Commissioner for Youth Services, spoke about her deep roots to the R.E.A.L. Skills Network Inc. Rosa Parks, a name that resonates with courage and defiance, ushered in a new era of civil rights in the United States. Her singular act of refusing to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger on December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, ignited a movement that would change the course of American history.
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