History of Rosa Parks in Timeline
Rosa Parks, an American activist, played a crucial role in the civil rights movement, most notably sparking the Montgomery bus boycott. Her refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in 1955 led to her arrest and the subsequent boycott, a watershed moment in the fight against racial segregation. Parks became an enduring symbol of resistance and is revered as "the first lady of civil rights" and "the mother of the freedom movement" by the U.S. Congress for her courageous act and lasting impact.
1900: Montgomery Segregates Buses
In 1900, Montgomery passed a city ordinance to segregate bus passengers by race.
1901: Jim Crow Segregation Codified into Law
In 1901, a constitutional convention in Alabama formally codified Jim Crow segregation into law, enforcing racial separation across various aspects of life.
February 4, 1913: Rosa Parks' Birth
On February 4, 1913, Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was born. She would later become a pivotal figure in the American civil rights movement.
1928: Parks Transfers to Booker T. Washington Junior High School
In 1928, after the Montgomery Industrial School for Girls closed, Rosa Parks transferred to Booker T. Washington Junior High School to continue her education.
1931: Introduction to Raymond Parks
In 1931, Rosa McCauley was introduced to her future husband, Raymond Parks, by a mutual friend. Raymond was a barber and active member of the NAACP.
December 18, 1932: Marriage to Raymond Parks
On December 18, 1932, Rosa McCauley married Raymond Parks at her mother's house, beginning their life together as civil rights activists.
1933: Parks Completes High School
In 1933, with Raymond's encouragement, Rosa Parks completed her high school education, a significant achievement as only a small percentage of Black people in Alabama held a high school diploma at the time.
1940: Black Voter Registration Rate
As of 1940, less than 0.1% of Black Montgomerians were registered to vote due to numerous obstacles.
1941: Parks Begins Working at Maxwell Air Force Base
In 1941, Rosa Parks started working at Maxwell Air Force Base, where she experienced an integrated environment that contrasted sharply with the segregation she faced elsewhere.
1942: Bayard Rustin's Bus Sit-In
In 1942, Bayard Rustin protested segregation with a bus sit-in. He preceded Rosa Parks in this form of protest.
December 1943: Parks Elected Secretary of Montgomery NAACP
In December 1943, Rosa Parks was elected secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP, taking on a key role in the fight for civil rights.
1943: Parks Becomes NAACP Activist
In 1943, Rosa Parks became an activist in the NAACP, actively participating in high-profile civil rights campaigns.
1943: Parks Denied Bus Re-entry
In 1943, Rosa Parks boarded a bus and paid the fare. She was then ordered by driver James F. Blake to re-enter the bus from the back door, but he drove off without her.
1943: Previous encounter with James F. Blake
In 1943, Rosa Parks had a prior incident with bus driver James F. Blake, who left her in the rain after ordering her off the bus for not re-entering through the back door.
1944: Parks Investigates Recy Taylor Case
In 1944, as secretary for the NAACP, Rosa Parks began investigating the gang rape of Recy Taylor, a Black woman from Abbeville.
1945: Second Grand Jury Fails to Indict Taylor's Assailants
In 1945, a second grand jury hearing failed to secure indictments for Recy Taylor's assailants, despite the efforts of Rosa Parks and other activists.
1945: Parks Successfully Registers to Vote
In 1945, after several attempts beginning in 1943, Rosa Parks successfully registered to vote, overcoming the obstacles faced by Black people in Alabama.
1946: Irene Morgan's Bus Sit-In
In 1946, Irene Morgan protested segregation with a bus sit-in. She preceded Rosa Parks in this form of protest.
1950: Scottsboro Boys Released
In 1950, The Supreme Court of the United States ultimately overturned the Scottsboro Boys' convictions in Powell v. Alabama, citing insufficient legal representation. They were released.
1951: Lillie Mae Bradford's Bus Sit-In
In 1951, Lillie Mae Bradford protested segregation with a bus sit-in. She preceded Rosa Parks in this form of protest.
1952: Parks Organizes Support for Jeremiah Reeves
In 1952, Rosa Parks organized support for Jeremiah Reeves, who was accused of raping a white woman.
1952: Sarah Louise Keys' Bus Sit-In
In 1952, Sarah Louise Keys protested segregation with a bus sit-in. She preceded Rosa Parks in this form of protest.
1954: Parks Works as a Seamstress for the Durrs
In 1954, Rosa Parks began working as a seamstress for Clifford and Virginia Durr, a white couple who opposed segregation and became her friends.
August 1955: Parks Attends Meeting on Emmett Till Lynching
In August 1955, Rosa Parks attended a meeting in Montgomery concerning the lynching of Emmett Till, an event that deeply affected her.
December 1, 1955: Parks Refuses to Give Up Bus Seat
On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger, defying segregation laws and sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
December 4, 1955: Montgomery Bus Boycott Plans Announced
On Sunday, December 4, 1955, plans for the Montgomery bus boycott were announced at black churches, and an article in the Montgomery Advertiser helped spread the word, leading to the agreement to continue the boycott until certain demands were met.
December 5, 1955: Parks' Trial and Boycott Leaflets Distributed
On December 5, 1955, the day of Rosa Parks's trial, the Women's Political Council (WPC) distributed 35,000 leaflets to promote the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
1955: Parks Reflects on Emmett Till
In 1955, while being asked to move to the back of the bus, Rosa Parks thought of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American lynched in Mississippi, and couldn't bring herself to move.
November 1956: Bus Segregation Ruled Unconstitutional
In November 1956, the Browder v. Gayle case resulted in a federal decision declaring bus segregation unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment, marking a significant victory in the fight against segregation.
1956: Parks Discusses Rights as Human Being
During a 1956 radio interview, Rosa Parks said she wanted to know once and for all what rights she had as a human being and a citizen.
1956: Browder v. Gayle Lawsuit
In 1956, Claudette Colvin, Aurelia Browder, Susie McDonald, and Mary Louise Smith were arrested in Montgomery for not giving up their bus seats. This led to the Browder v. Gayle lawsuit.
1956: Post-Boycott Strategy Meeting and Sugar Bowl Riots
In 1956, following the success of the one-day boycott, a group gathered to discuss strategies, where Rosa Parks was introduced and received a standing ovation. This movement also sparked riots leading up to the 1956 Sugar Bowl.
1956: Bowl Game Armageddon
In 2022 a major motion film Bowl Game Armageddon was announced, which will spotlight Rosa Parks and Emmett Till leading up to the 1956 Sugar Bowl and Atlanta riots
1957: Execution of Jeremiah Reeves
In 1957, Jeremiah Reeves, for whom Rosa Parks organized support, was executed.
1957: Parks Move to Hampton, Virginia
In 1957, Rosa and Raymond Parks moved to Hampton, Virginia, due to her inability to find work, disagreements with civil rights leaders, and constant death threats. She took a job as a hostess at Hampton Institute.
1958: King's Book on Parks' Arrest
In 1958, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in his book Stride Toward Freedom that Rosa Parks' arrest served as the catalyst, not the cause, for the Montgomery Bus Boycott, highlighting the deep-seated injustices faced by African Americans.
1962: Impact of Urban Renewal in Detroit
By 1962, urban renewal policies in Detroit had destroyed 10,000 structures, displacing 43,096 people, with 70 percent being African-American. Rosa Parks lived in a compromised neighborhood due to these policies.
1964: Parks on Housing Segregation in Detroit
In 1964, Rosa Parks stated in an interview that she didn't feel a great deal of difference between the South and Detroit because "housing segregation is just as bad".
1965: Parks Begins Working for John Conyers
In 1965, Rosa Parks began working as a secretary and receptionist for U.S. Representative John Conyers, a position she held until 1988.
August 30, 1967: Parks Serves on People's Tribunal
On August 30, 1967, Rosa Parks served on a "people's tribunal" investigating the killing of three young men by police during the 1967 Detroit uprising, in what came to be known as the Algiers Motel incident.
1967: Parks Views on Housing Discrimination and Detroit Riots
In 1967, Rosa Parks lived a mile from the center of the Detroit riot and considered housing discrimination a major factor provoking the disorder.
August 19, 1977: Death of Rosa Parks' Husband
On August 19, 1977, Rosa Parks' husband, Raymond Parks, died of throat cancer, leading to personal ordeals that caused her to become removed from the civil rights movement.
1979: Parks Receives NAACP Spingarn Medal
In 1979, Rosa Parks received the NAACP's Spingarn Medal, a prestigious award recognizing her contributions to civil rights.
1979: Supersisters Trading Card
In 1979, Rosa Parks was featured on card No. 27 in the Supersisters trading card set.
1979: Death of Rosa Parks' Mother
In 1979, Rosa Parks' mother, Leona McCauley, died at the age of 92 after being nursed through cancer and geriatric dementia by Rosa in a senior citizen apartment.
1980: Parks Rededication to Civil Rights
In 1980, widowed and without immediate family, Rosa Parks rededicated herself to civil rights and educational organizations.
February 1987: Co-founding of the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute
In February 1987, Rosa Parks co-founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development with Elaine Eason Steele.
1987: Parks Recalls Arrest on 'Eyes on the Prize'
In 1987, Rosa Parks recounted the bus incident and her arrest for the public television series 'Eyes on the Prize', reflecting on her decision to not give up her seat.
1988: Parks Ends Work with John Conyers
In 1988, Rosa Parks ended her service as secretary and receptionist for U.S. Representative John Conyers.
1988: Parks' Retirement from Conyers' Office
In 1988, Rosa Parks retired from her position as a secretary and receptionist in John Conyers' congressional office in Detroit, where she focused on socio-economic issues and community activism.
1992: Publication of "Rosa Parks: My Story"
In 1992, Rosa Parks published "Rosa Parks: My Story," an autobiography aimed at younger readers, recounting her life leading up to her decision on the bus.
August 30, 1994: Parks Robbed and Assaulted in Her Home
On August 30, 1994, at age 81, Rosa Parks was robbed and assaulted in her home in Detroit. She sustained facial injuries and swelling.
1994: The Rosa Parks Highway
In 1994, the Missouri legislature voted to name a section of highway the "Rosa Parks Highway" after the Ku Klux Klan applied to sponsor that portion of United States Interstate 55.
1995: Publication of "Quiet Strength"
In 1995, Rosa Parks published "Quiet Strength," her memoir focusing on her faith.
1998: Outkast song Rosa Parks
In 1998, Outkast released a song named after Rosa Parks, that resulted in a lawsuit due to using her name without permission.
March 1999: Lawsuit Against OutKast
In March 1999, Rosa Parks filed a lawsuit against OutKast, claiming their song "Rosa Parks" used her name without permission.
1999: Parks' Cameo on Touched by an Angel
In 1999, Rosa Parks filmed a cameo appearance for the television series Touched by an Angel. This was her last appearance on screen, as she began to suffer from health problems due to old age.
2001: Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks
In 2001, the documentary Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks was released.
2002: Academy Award Nomination and Film Release
In 2002, Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks received a nomination for the Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject. Also in 2002, the film The Rosa Parks Story, starring Angela Bassett, was released, alongside the film Barbershop, which caused controversy.
2002: Eviction Notice Due to Unpaid Rent
In 2002, Rosa Parks received an eviction notice from her apartment for non-payment of rent, as she was unable to manage her financial affairs due to age-related decline.
2003: Boycott of NAACP Image Awards
In 2003, Rosa Parks was offended by content in the film Barbershop and boycotted the NAACP Image Awards ceremony, which Cedric the Entertainer hosted.
2004: Rent Forgiveness Amid Eviction Publicity
In 2004, executives of the ownership company forgave Rosa Parks' back rent and allowed her to live rent-free in her apartment for the remainder of her life after her impending eviction was publicized.
April 15, 2005: Settlement of Lawsuit Against OutKast
On April 15, 2005, the lawsuit filed by Rosa Parks against OutKast was settled with an undisclosed cash settlement and agreement to create educational programs.
October 24, 2005: Rosa Parks' Death
On October 24, 2005, Rosa Parks passed away, leaving behind a powerful legacy as a leading figure in the civil rights movement.
October 27, 2005: City Buses Reserved in Honor of Parks
On October 27, 2005, officials in Montgomery and Detroit announced that the front seats of their city buses would be reserved with black ribbons in honor of Rosa Parks until her funeral.
October 29, 2005: Parks Lies in Repose in Montgomery
On October 29, 2005, Rosa Parks' coffin was flown to Montgomery and taken to St. Paul AME church, where she lay in repose dressed as a church deaconess.
October 31, 2005: Parks Lies in Honor in the U.S. Capitol
On October 31, 2005, Rosa Parks lay in honor in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, the first American who had not been a U.S. government official to be honored in this way. An estimated 50,000 people viewed the casket, and the event was broadcast on television.
November 2, 2005: Rosa Parks' Funeral
On November 2, 2005, Rosa Parks' funeral service was held at the Greater Grace Temple Church in Detroit. She was interred at Detroit's Woodlawn Cemetery in the chapel's mausoleum, which was renamed the Rosa L. Parks Freedom Chapel.
2005: Parks Lies in Honor at the Capitol Rotunda
Upon her death in 2005, Rosa Parks became the first woman to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, a tribute to her significant impact on American history.
2013: Portrayal in Psychobitches
In 2013, Rosa Parks was portrayed by Llewella Gideon in the first series of the Sky Arts comedy series Psychobitches.
April 2016: Gary Tyler's Release After Parks' Support
In April 2016, Gary Tyler, whom Rosa Parks supported, was released after 41 years in prison, highlighting her long-standing advocacy for political prisoners.
2018: Return of Parks' House to the United States
In 2018, Rosa Parks' house was moved back to the United States after being exhibited in Germany, with plans for exhibition at Brown University that were later cancelled.
2018: Doctor Who Episode "Rosa"
In 2018, the Doctor Who episode "Rosa", which centers on Rosa Parks and is portrayed by Vinette Robinson, was released.
2019: Rosa Parks Barbie Doll
In 2019, Mattel released a Barbie doll in Rosa Parks's likeness as part of their "Inspiring Women" series.
2020: Nicki Minaj's "Yikes" Controversy
In 2020, Nicki Minaj incorporated Rosa Parks into her song "Yikes", which caused controversy due to its reference to the Montgomery bus boycott.
2022: Release of "The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks" Documentary
In 2022, the documentary The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, the first full-length documentary about Parks, was released on Peacock. Also in 2022, the film Bowl Game Armageddon was announced.
March 12, 2024: Value of Rosa Parks' fine Adjusted for Inflation
As of March 12, 2024, Rosa Parks' $10 fine plus $4 in court costs from her 1955 arrest would be equivalent to $161.11.
