Rosa Parks
On the way to work this morning, I heard repeat after repeat that today marks the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks' refusal to get off the bus. An amazing moment in history for sure - but I wish there was discussion of the other things Ms. Parks did aside from her infamous bus arrest.
First of all. Rosa Parks refused to get off of the bus many times. So did many others. The December 1, 1955 incident gets so much attention because it was after this event that Ms. Parks went to the NAACP and volunteered to become a test case. She was already an activist, at the time serving as secretary of the local NAACP branch. She had recently attended a training course for civil rights campaigners, where she met and gained inspiration from Ella Baker. Another tidbit: Ms. Parks had been commanded to get off of a bus driven by the very same driver nearly 12 years prior to her infamous 12/1/55 stand. Or, well, refusal to stand.
Days later, on December 5, 1955, Rosa Parks was found guilty of violating segregation laws and refused to pay the fine. That same day, the Montgomery Bus Boycott began. 381 days later, the Supreme Court ruled that the Alabama bus segregation laws were unconstitutional.
All steps in a long, unfinished journey.
Recently, I was asked why I am so fascinated by African-American history. The fact is, I never cared much for history until I transferred to UC Berkeley. I was a junior, and had no seniority in terms of getting into classes. But I needed an elective. I opened up the course book. There were no openings in Aeronautics. But African-American Studies 116 had open seats. The course was taught by Ula Taylor, who inspired me more than any other teacher I have ever had. The following spring, I enrolled in AfricAm 117. You cannot understand American history without understanding America's greatest mistake. And the people who carry that burden by demonstrating America's greatest strength. Learning history from this aspect taught me about perseverance, faith and belief in what is right - despite all odds and with enemies outnumbering allies by the thousands. I don't have that sort of dedication, but I am a better person for knowing it exists.
posted by Lex Fori at
9:15 AM
3 Comments:
Your insight depth and diversity
continue to mezmerize me. You make me want to further my education, in all fields large and small.
By
Anonymous, at 10:17 AM
This probably smacks of liberal race-baiting, or something like that, but I think that people only care about that single day, because it's so non-threatening and apolitical. People don't want to think about what followed, about all the struggle and turmoil. Letting blacks seat at the front is an "Awww---look how much we've advanced" moment and lets you sidestep the person and the movement. Because once you start thinking about more than the statutes and speeches, a person might have to consider about the protests and demonstrations and activism of today. Sometimes social change can only occur through acts of civil disobedience and actually breaking the law and causing a ruckus, and oh my god, doing stuff people don't like. Being a hero to all people, means your politics will be ignored. Look at Helen Keller. Everyone can remember the damn "W-A-T-E-R" scene from the Miracle Worker, and forget her membership in the Socialist Party and her praise for communism in the Soviet Union. Change doesn't happen because of a single act in isolation, and to only talk about Rosa Parks as if she only existed on December 1, 1955, is just wrong. But it's the easy way.
By
Pettifogger, at 5:28 PM
SO well put.
Word Pettifogger, word.
As a prime example of just how right you are - I remember the W-A-T-E-R from every Helen Keller book & movie I was exposed to. I like to think I was actually pretty into her whole story. I guess not, because I had no idea about the socialism stuff.
Thanks for the insightful comment.
By
Lex Fori, at 5:32 PM
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