Rosa Parks Facts For Kids
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Rosa Parks is a name that holds a special place in American history. She is an inspirational figure who stood up for her rights and sparked a civil rights movement. Here are some interesting facts about this brave woman that kids will love to learn.
Rosa Parks was born on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her parents were both farmers, and she grew up in a family of five siblings.
She was a student at the Alabama State Teachers College, where she completed her high school education. However, she had to drop out and care for her ailing mother and grandmother.
Parks was known for her quiet and reserved nature. She often avoided confrontation and didn’t like to cause trouble. However, her act of defiance on a Montgomery bus would change her life forever.
On December 1, 1955, Parks boarded a Montgomery bus and took a seat in the “colored” section. When the “white” section filled up, the bus driver demanded that Parks and three other African American passengers move to the back of the bus. Parks refused, sparking a city-wide bus boycott that lasted 381 days.
Parks was arrested and fined for violating the city’s segregation laws. However, her bravery and determination had inspired many other activists to join the civil rights movement. The Montgomery bus boycott ended in 1956, and the Supreme Court declared segregation on public buses to be unconstitutional.
Parks continued to fight for equal rights throughout her life. She worked as an activist and attended numerous civil rights rallies and marches. She also served on the board of directors for the NAACP.
In addition to her activism, Parks was also a talented seamstress, and she designed and sewed her own clothes. She also wrote an autobiography called “Rosa Parks: My Story.”
Parks received many honors and awards for her contributions to the civil rights movement. In 1996, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton, and in 1999, Congress awarded her the Congressional Gold Medal.
Rosa Parks’ legacy continues to inspire people of all ages, races and backgrounds. Her bravery and determination to stand up for what she believed in serves as a reminder that everyone has the power to make a difference.