Childhood and Education Journey of Rosa Parks in Timeline
Discover the defining moments in the early life of Rosa Parks. From birth to education, explore key events.
Rosa Parks was a pivotal figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. Her courageous refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955, in violation of discriminatory Jim Crow laws, ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This event became a landmark protest against racial segregation and propelled Parks to national prominence as an icon of resistance and a symbol of the struggle for racial equality. Often referred to as the 'mother of the civil rights movement', she dedicated her life to fighting for justice and equality.
1900: Montgomery Segregates Streetcars; Boycotts Begin
In 1900, Montgomery passed a city ordinance segregating streetcar passengers by race, leading to boycotts between 1900 and 1902. These boycotts resulted in an amendment but drivers often failed to follow the ordinance.
1901: Jim Crow Segregation Codified in Alabama
In 1901, Alabama formally codified Jim Crow segregation into law at a state constitutional convention, enforcing racial separation in nearly all aspects of life.
1902: Montgomery Segregates Streetcars; Boycotts Begin
In 1902, Montgomery was still under segregationist policies that started in 1900, there were boycotts during this time.
February 4, 1913: Rosa Parks Born
On February 4, 1913, Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was born. She would later become an American civil rights activist, remembered for her role in the Montgomery bus boycott.
1928: Parks Transfers to Booker T. Washington Junior High School
In 1928, Rosa Parks transferred to Booker T. Washington Junior High School after the Montgomery Industrial School for Girls closed.
1931: Rosa Meets Raymond Parks
In 1931, Rosa Parks was introduced to her future husband, Raymond Parks. He persuaded her to ride with him in his car.
December 18, 1932: Rosa Parks Marries Raymond Parks
On December 18, 1932, Rosa Parks married Raymond Parks at her mother's house.
1933: Parks Completes High School
In 1933, Rosa Parks completed her high school education with encouragement from Raymond. Subsequently, she worked as a nurse's aide and sewed to supplement her income.
1940: Black Voter Registration Obstacles
As of 1940, less than 0.1% of Black Montgomerians were registered to vote due to obstacles such as poll taxes, literacy tests, intrusive questions, and employer retaliation.
1941: Parks Begins Working at Maxwell Air Force Base
In 1941, Rosa Parks began working at Maxwell Air Force Base. The base's integrated environment contrasted sharply with the segregated buses she had to use when returning home.
December 1943: Parks Elected Secretary of NAACP Chapter
In December 1943, Rosa Parks was elected secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
1943: Parks Joins NAACP
In 1943, Rosa Parks joined the Montgomery chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and began serving as the organization's secretary.
1943: Parks Confronted by Bus Driver James F. Blake
In 1943, Rosa Parks was confronted by bus driver James F. Blake when she tried to take her seat from the front of the bus, resulting in her exiting the bus without re-boarding.
1944: Viola White Arrested on Bus
In 1944, Viola White was arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus.
1944: Parks Investigates Recy Taylor Case
In 1944, as secretary, Rosa Parks began investigating the gang rape of Recy Taylor, a Black woman from Abbeville. She organized "The Committee for Equal Justice for Mrs. Recy Taylor" after a grand jury declined to indict the perpetrators.
1945: Parks Successfully Registers to Vote
In 1945, after multiple attempts since 1943, Rosa Parks finally succeeded in registering to vote, encouraged by NAACP activist E. D. Nixon.
1945: Failed Indictments in Recy Taylor Case
In 1945, despite pressure from Parks' campaign, the state failed to secure indictments for the assailants in the Recy Taylor case after a second grand jury hearing.
1949: Mary Wingfield Arrested on Bus
In 1949, Mary Wingfield was arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus.
1952: Parks Organizes Support for Jeremiah Reeves
In 1952, Rosa Parks organized support for Jeremiah Reeves, who was accused of raping a white woman.
October 1954: Mary Louise Smith Arrested on Bus
In October 1954, teenager Mary Louise Smith was arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus.
1954: Parks Works for the Durrs
In 1954, Rosa Parks began working as a seamstress for Clifford and Virginia Durr, a white couple who were politically liberal and opposed to segregation.
March 1955: Claudette Colvin Arrested on Bus
In March 1955, Claudette Colvin, a fifteen-year-old student was also arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus.
April 29, 1955: Aurelia Browder Arrested on Bus
On April 29, 1955, Aurelia Browder was arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus.
August 1955: Parks Attends Montgomery Meeting Concerning Emmett Till
In August 1955, Rosa Parks attended a Montgomery meeting concerning the lynching of Emmett Till, heartened by the attention the case managed to get.
October 21, 1955: Susie McDonald Arrested on Bus
On October 21, 1955, Susie McDonald was arrested for not giving up her seat on the bus.
December 1, 1955: Parks Boards Bus, Leading to Arrest
On December 1, 1955, at around 5:30 p.m., Rosa Parks boarded a bus after purchasing items from Lee's Cut-Rate Drug. She sat in the middle section of the bus, unaware that James F. Blake was the driver. This led to her arrest for refusing to give up her seat.
December 5, 1955: Montgomery Bus Boycott Planning and Parks's Trial
On December 5, 1955, the day of Rosa Parks's trial, the Women's Political Council (WPC) initiated a one-day boycott of Montgomery buses. The WPC, led by Jo Ann Robinson, produced 35,000 leaflets announcing the boycott. Attorney Fred Gray agreed to represent Parks, after Nixon conferred with Clifford Durr about the possibility of adopting Parks's arrest as a test case.
December 1955: Prior Arrests Before Parks
Before December 1955, several people were arrested for declining to give up their seats on Montgomery buses. These included Viola White, Mary Wingfield, Mary Louise Smith, Claudette Colvin, Aurelia Browder and Susie McDonald.
1955: Parks's Refusal to Move
During the 1979/1980 academic year, during Parks's visit to the Black Panther school in Oakland, California, she attended a student play dramatizing her refusal to move in 1955, staying after to answer the students' questions.
1955: Parks Refuses to Give Up Bus Seat
In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to move from her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, defying Jim Crow segregation laws. This act sparked the Montgomery bus boycott, a pivotal event in the civil rights movement.
1955: Parks Arrested for Bus Incident; Boycott Begins
In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus. The Women's Political Council organized a one-day bus boycott on the day of her trial, which then extended indefinitely. The Montgomery Improvement Association organized its own transportation network. The boycott lasted 381 days until segregation on buses was deemed unconstitutional in Browder v. Gayle.
January 1956: Parks Fired, Boycott Continues
In January 1956, Rosa Parks was terminated from her seamstress job at Montgomery Fair due to her involvement in the bus boycott. A week later, her husband, Raymond, was also terminated from his job at Maxwell Air Force Base. Montgomery Police Commissioner Clyde Sellers initiated a "Get Tough" policy, harassing Black pedestrians and boycott participants. Boycott organizers, including Parks, received regular death threats.
February 1956: MIA Relief Fund and Health Issues
In February 1956, King requested a $250-$300 disbursement for Parks from the MIA relief fund due to financial hardship after being terminated from their jobs, which was authorized. Parks developed severe health problems, including chronic insomnia, stomach ulcers, and a heart condition.
December 20, 1956: Supreme Court Orders Bus Integration, Boycott Ends
On December 20, 1956, the Supreme Court ordered the integration of Montgomery's buses, following the Browder v. Gayle ruling. King called off the boycott that day, 381 days after it began.
1956: Lawsuit Filed After Arrests
In 1956, Mary Louise Smith, Claudette Colvin, Aurelia Browder, and Susie McDonald were the plaintiffs in the lawsuit Browder v. Gayle.
August 1957: Parks Moves to Detroit
In August 1957, Rosa Parks left Montgomery for Detroit, prompted by economic insecurity, threats to her safety, and divisions within the MIA leadership. The MIA raised $500 for her as a "going-away present".
1957: Execution of Jeremiah Reeves
In 1957, Jeremiah Reeves, who was supported by Rosa Parks, was executed.
1957: Parks Moves to Detroit
In 1957, Rosa Parks relocated to Detroit, Michigan, due to financial hardship and health problems resulting from her participation in the Montgomery bus boycott. She continued her advocacy for civil rights.
1959: Parks Family Loses Apartment
In 1959, Rosa Parks and her family lost their apartment and moved into a meeting hall for the Progressive Civic League (PCL).
1960: Parks Suffers Health Problems and Incurs Debt
In 1960, Rosa Parks's health further deteriorated, necessitating multiple surgeries, and she and her family incurred significant debt due to unpaid medical bills.
1962: Parks Attends SCLC Convention
In 1962, Rosa Parks attended the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) convention in Birmingham, Alabama.
August 1963: Parks Participates in March on Washington
In August 1963, Rosa Parks traveled to Washington, D.C. to take part in the March on Washington, where she was honored alongside other prominent women in the civil rights struggle.
1964: Parks Works on Conyers's Congressional Campaign
In 1964, Rosa Parks played a critical role in John Conyers's congressional campaign, persuading King to endorse him. After Conyers was elected, he hired her as a secretary and receptionist for his congressional office in Detroit.
1965: Parks Joins Selma to Montgomery Marches
In 1965, Rosa Parks attended the Selma to Montgomery marches, joined the Lowndes County Freedom Organization, and supported the Freedom Now Party.
1967: Parks Expresses Beliefs on Gradualism
In a 1967 interview, Rosa Parks stated that she did not believe in gradualism.
1968: Parks Attends Philadelphia Black Power Conference
In 1968, Rosa Parks took part in the Black power movement, attending the Philadelphia Black power conference.
1972: Parks Attends National Black Political Convention
In 1972, Rosa Parks continued to support the Black power movement, attending the National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana.
July 1975: Little Acquitted Following Defense Committee Support
In July 1975, Joanne Little was acquitted following national outcry around her case, after Parks played a key role in the establishment of the Detroit chapter of the Joanne Little Defense Committee.
1977: Death of Raymond Parks
In 1977, Raymond Parks, Rosa's husband, died of throat cancer.
1979: Parks Visits Black Panther School
In the academic year of 1979/1980, Rosa Parks visited the Black Panther school in Oakland, California.
1981: Parks Supports Arrested Activists
In 1981, Rosa Parks wrote to attorney Chokwe Lumumba in support of arrested activists from the Black Liberation Army, the May 19th Communist Organization, the RNA, and Weather Underground.
1984: Parks Supports Jesse Jackson's Presidential Campaign
In 1984, Rosa Parks supported Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign.
1985: Unsuccessful NAACP Detroit Chapter Run
In 1985, Rosa Parks and Joe Madison unsuccessfully ran for president and vice president of the NAACP's Detroit chapter.
1987: Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute Founded
In 1987, Rosa Parks co-founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development with Elaine Eason Steele.
1987: Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development Co-founded
In 1987, Rosa Parks, along with Elaine Eason Steele, co-founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development. The institute was created with the purpose of enhancing youth leaders' capabilities in advancing civil rights initiatives. The institute also conducts "Pathways to Freedom" bus tours that introduce young people to significant civil rights and Underground Railroad locations throughout the country.
1988: Parks Supports Jesse Jackson's Presidential Campaign Again
In 1988, Rosa Parks supported Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign for a second time. Speaking on his behalf at the 1988 Democratic National Convention.
1990: Parks calls for Nelson Mandela's release
In 1990, at a Washington, D.C. gala celebrating her birthday, Rosa Parks gave a speech calling for the release of anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela.
August 30, 1994: Robbery and Assault in her home
On August 30, 1994, at the age of 81, Rosa Parks was robbed and assaulted in her home by Joseph Skipper, who broke in claiming to have deterred an intruder and demanding money. He punched her in the face and eventually took $103 before Parks was able to call for help.
1994: Attendance at National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America meeting
In 1994, Rosa Parks attended the meeting of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America in Detroit along with Jesse Jackson and Queen Mother Moore.
1995: Participation in Million Man March
In 1995, Rosa Parks, upon the invitation of Louis Farrakhan, participated in the Million Man March alongside Moore, Betty Shabazz, Dorothy Height, and Maya Angelou.
2001: Open letter against military response
In 2001, following the September 11 attacks, Rosa Parks joined Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte, and Gloria Steinem in signing an open letter that cautioned against a "military response" and advocated for international collaboration.
2002: Eviction Notice
In 2002, Rosa Parks received an eviction notice from her apartment for non-payment of rent, due to her age-related decline which made her incapable of managing her own financial affairs.
2004: Landlord Forgives Rent
In 2004, after Rosa Parks's impending eviction was publicized, her landlord forgave the back rent and allowed her, then 91 and in extremely poor health, to live rent-free in the building for the remainder of her life.
February 4, 2013: "100th Anniversary of the Birth of Rosa Parks" Proclamation and Postage Stamp Unveiling
On February 4, 2013, Obama proclaimed the day as the "100th Anniversary of the Birth of Rosa Parks", calling for Americans to honor her legacy. The Henry Ford Museum designated the day as a "National Day of Courage," and the United States Postal Service unveiled a postage stamp in Parks's honor.
2016: Tyler Freed After Wrongful Conviction
In 2016, Gary Tyler was ultimately freed, after 41 years in prison, as Rosa Parks advocated for Gary Tyler, who was wrongfully convicted of shooting of a 13-year-old white boy while being attacked by a group of white segregationists.
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