Challenges Faced by Rosa Parks: Obstacles and Turning Points
Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Rosa Parks. A timeline of obstacles and growth.
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.
1940: Black Voter Registration Rate
As of 1940, less than 0.1% of Black Montgomerians were registered to vote due to numerous obstacles.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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".
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.
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.
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.
