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". Parks became an NAACP activist in 1943, participating in several high-profile civil rights 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. Parks was married to Raymond Parks, an activist and member of the NAACP, and the couple worked together to advance civil rights. She was the secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP and later established the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development. Rosa Parks was born Rosa Louise McCauley in Tuskegee, Alabama, on February 4, 1913, to Leona (née Edwards), a teacher, and James McCauley, a carpenter.In addition to African ancestry, one of Parks's great-grandfathers was Scots-Irish, and one of her great-grandmothers was a part–Native American slave. California and Missouri commemorate Rosa Parks Day on her birthday February 4, while Ohio and Oregon commemorate the occasion on the anniversary of the day she was arrested, December 1. Rosa Parks was born Rosa Louise McCauley in Tuskegee, Alabama, on February 4, 1913, to Leona (née Edwards), a teacher, and James McCauley, a carpenter. Rosa Parks was born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, USA, to Leona and James McCauley. She belonged to a middle class family. Her father was a carpenter, while her mother was a teacher. Her parents separated and she moved to Pine Level with her mother. Rosa Louise McCauley was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, on February 4, 1913.She moved with her parents, James and Leona McCauley, to Pine Level, Alabama, at age 2 to reside with Leona’s parents. Unfortunately, Rosa's education was cut short when her mother became very ill. Rosa left school to care for her mother. A few years later Rosa met Raymond Parks. Raymond was a successful barber who worked in Montgomery. They married a year later in 1932. Rosa worked part time jobs and went back to school, finally earning her high school diploma. Early Life and Family. Parks was born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her parents, James and Leona McCauley, separated when Parks was two. Parks’ mother moved the family to Pine Level, Alabama, to live with her parents, Rose and Sylvester Edwards. Rosa Parks, a figurehead for equality, not only shaped a nation but also nurtured the generations within her own family tree. Key Influential Ancestors. Someone in Rosa Parks’ lineage who stood as a beacon of strength and perseverance was her paternal grandfather, Anderson McCauley, a former slave who became a successful Alabama farmer. ROSA LOUISE PARKS BIOGRAPHY. Rosa Louise Parks was nationally recognized as the “mother of the modern day civil rights movement” in America. Her refusal to surrender her seat to a white male passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, December 1, 1955, triggered a wave of protest December 5, 1955 that reverberated throughout the United States. There's comments here from people who marvel at their 24, 27, or some degree of separation from Rosa (McCauley) Parks. That's interesting, but lets talk about relations a little closer. It's claimed (in a Virginia newspaper article), by a cousin of Rosa Parks, that one of Rosa's great grandfathers was Scots-Irish and his wife a Creek Indian. In 1999, her lawyers sued the hip hop group OutKast for using her name in their song "Rosa Parks." The suit, which was settled out of court in 2005, sparked concern among some of her relatives that her name was being exploited by her legal team. As her health declined, Parks became more reclusive. Rosa Parks died in Detroit on October 24, 2005. 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. Continuing the Legacy: Rosa Parks’ Family Today. Rosa Parks’ legacy extends beyond her personal achievements. Her family continues to honor her memory by carrying on her work and advocating for social justice. While Rosa herself never had children, she had a strong bond with her nieces and nephews, who have become custodians of her legacy. Rosa Parks was born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913; her parents' last name was McCauley, and they chose the name Rosa Louise for unknown reasons. She married Raymond Parks, a barber from Raymond's parents, whom had both had died by the time he met Rosa, were named David Parks & Geri Culbertson Parks. Rosa's paternal grandparent's were Anderson & Louisa McCauley. And, her maternal Rosa Parks' parents, James and Leona McCauley, divorced in 1932. This event had a significant impact on Rosa Parks' life and upbringing, as she was primarily raised by her mother after the divorce. Rosa Parks was born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama. She and her family moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 1957. Sender Name Please Rosa’s grandfather Sylvester is described in the book Rosa Parks: A Life in American History, 2021, page 6, as having been the son of a white plantation owner, likely named John Edwards, who raped Rosa’s great-grandmother.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.