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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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: 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.
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".
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: 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' 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.
1995: Publication of "Quiet Strength"
In 1995, Rosa Parks published "Quiet Strength," her memoir focusing on her faith.
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.
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 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.
