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. In 1955, her refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, led to her arrest and sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott. This boycott, a major event in the Civil Rights Movement, lasted over a year and ultimately led to the Supreme Court ruling that segregation on buses was unconstitutional. Parks' courageous act and subsequent activism made her an icon and earned her the title of 'mother of the civil rights movement'.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1900: Streetcar Segregation Ordinance Passed

In 1900, Montgomery passed a city ordinance segregating streetcar passengers by race, before state-wide segregation was implemented.

1901: Jim Crow Laws Codified

In 1901, a state constitutional convention formally codified Jim Crow segregation laws in Alabama, enforcing racial separation in most aspects of life.

1902: Boycotts Against Segregated Streetcars

Between 1900 and 1902, Montgomery's Black residents conducted boycotts against segregated streetcars, coinciding with similar protests in other southern cities.

February 4, 1913: Rosa Parks' Birth

On February 4, 1913, Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was born. She later became a prominent American civil rights activist.

Others born on this day/year

1928: Attended Booker T. Washington Junior High School

In 1928, after the closure of the Montgomery Industrial School for Girls, Rosa Parks transferred to Booker T. Washington Junior High School.

1931: Met Raymond Parks

In 1931, Rosa Parks, at age 18, was introduced to her future husband, Raymond Parks, who was 28 at the time.

December 18, 1932: Married Raymond Parks

On December 18, 1932, Rosa Parks married Raymond Parks at her mother's house. Following the marriage, they moved to a rooming house in Montgomery.

1933: Completed High School

In 1933, with Raymond's encouragement, Rosa Parks completed her high school education, a rare achievement for Black people in Alabama at the time.

1940: Black Voter Registration Statistics

As of 1940, less than 0.1% of Black Montgomerians were registered to vote, which shows the restrictions and obstacles faced by the African Americans.

1941: Worked at Maxwell Air Force Base

In 1941, Rosa Parks began working at Maxwell Air Force Base, where she experienced an integrated environment, contrasting with the segregated conditions she faced elsewhere.

December 1943: Elected NAACP Secretary

In December 1943, Rosa Parks was elected secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

1943: Confrontation with Bus Driver James F. Blake

In 1943, Rosa Parks had an encounter with bus driver James F. Blake, who demanded she re-board from the back after paying her fare in the front. She refused and sat in the white section, leading to a confrontation.

1943: Joined NAACP

In 1943, Rosa Parks joined the Montgomery chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and also attempted to register to vote for the first time.

1944: Investigated Recy Taylor Case

In 1944, Rosa Parks began investigating the gang rape of Recy Taylor, a Black woman from Abbeville, and organized "The Committee for Equal Justice for Mrs. Recy Taylor" after a grand jury declined to indict the perpetrators.

1944: Arrest of Viola White

In 1944, Viola White, who was an employee at Maxwell Air Force Base, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus.

1945: Registered to Vote

In 1945, Rosa Parks successfully registered to vote after multiple attempts, encouraged by NAACP activist E. D. Nixon.

1945: Second Grand Jury Hearing for Recy Taylor Case

In 1945, despite pressure from civil rights activists, the state failed to secure indictments for the assailants in the Recy Taylor case after a second grand jury hearing.

1949: Arrest of Mary Wingfield

In 1949, Mary Wingfield was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus.

1952: Organized Support for Jeremiah Reeves

In 1952, Rosa Parks organized support for Jeremiah Reeves, who was accused of raping a white woman.

October 1954: Arrest of Mary Louise Smith

In October 1954, teenager Mary Louise Smith was arrested for declining to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus.

1954: Worked as a Seamstress

In 1954, Rosa Parks began working as a seamstress for Clifford and Virginia Durr, a white couple, who became her friends and encouraged her activism.

March 1955: Arrest of Claudette Colvin

In March 1955, Claudette Colvin, a fifteen-year-old student, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery.

April 29, 1955: Arrest of Aurelia Browder

On April 29, 1955, Aurelia Browder was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus.

August 1955: Attended Montgomery Meeting on Emmett Till Lynching

In August 1955, Rosa Parks attended a Montgomery meeting concerning the lynching of Emmett Till and was heartened by the attention the case received.

October 21, 1955: Arrest of Susie McDonald

On October 21, 1955, Susie McDonald was arrested for not giving up her seat on a Montgomery bus.

December 1, 1955: Boarded Bus Driven by James F. Blake

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks boarded a bus around 5:30 p.m. after leaving work and purchasing items from Lee's Cut-Rate Drug. She sat in the middle section and did not initially realize that James F. Blake was the driver.

December 5, 1955: Montgomery Bus Boycott Trial and Planning

On December 5, 1955, the day of Rosa Parks's trial, the Women's Political Council (WPC) planned a one-day boycott of Montgomery buses. This was after Rosa Parks's arrest, and her subsequent consultation with her family, who approved the decision despite concerns about potential violent retaliation. Attorney Fred Gray agreed to represent Parks in court. The WPC, led by Jo Ann Robinson, produced 35,000 leaflets announcing the boycott.

December 1955: Bus Arrests Before Rosa Parks

Before December 1955, several people like Viola White, Mary Wingfield, Mary Louise Smith, Claudette Colvin, Aurelia Browder and Susie McDonald were arrested for not giving up their seats on buses in Montgomery.

1955: Visit to Black Panther School

During the 1979/1980 academic year, Rosa Parks visited the Black Panther school in Oakland, California. As part of her visit, she attended a student play dramatizing her refusal to move in 1955, and stayed after to answer the students' questions.

1955: Refusal to Move on Bus

In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, violating segregation laws. This action sparked the Montgomery bus boycott.

1955: Arrest and Bus Boycott

In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus, leading to a widespread boycott organized by the Women's Political Council. The boycott lasted 381 days until bus segregation was deemed unconstitutional.

January 1956: Job Loss and Boycott Hardships

In January 1956, Rosa Parks was terminated from her job as a seamstress at Montgomery Fair due to her involvement in the Montgomery bus boycott. Her husband, Raymond, was also terminated from his job at Maxwell Air Force Base a week later. Additionally, the Montgomery Police Commissioner initiated a "Get Tough" policy, harassing Black pedestrians and boycott participants. Boycott organizers, including Rosa Parks, received regular death threats.

February 1956: Financial Assistance and Health Problems

In February 1956, Martin Luther King Jr. requested a disbursement of $250-$300 for Rosa Parks from the MIA relief fund due to financial hardship. The funds were authorized. Rosa Parks developed severe health problems, including chronic insomnia, stomach ulcers, and a heart condition. She traveled to Detroit, Michigan, and addressed United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 600.

December 20, 1956: Supreme Court Orders Bus Integration

On December 20, 1956, after the Supreme Court upheld the district court's ruling and rejected appeals, the integration of Montgomery's buses was ordered. As a result, Martin Luther King Jr. called off the Montgomery bus boycott, which had lasted 381 days.

1956: Browder v. Gayle Lawsuit

In 1956, Mary Louise Smith, Claudette Colvin, Aurelia Browder, and Susie McDonald were the plaintiffs in the lawsuit Browder v. Gayle.

August 1957: Move to Detroit

In August 1957, due to economic insecurity, safety concerns, and divisions within the MIA leadership, Rosa Parks left Montgomery and moved to Detroit, where her brother and cousins lived. The MIA, embarrassed by her decision, provided her with a $500 "going-away present".

1957: Jeremiah Reeves Executed

In 1957, Jeremiah Reeves, whom Rosa Parks had supported, was executed.

1957: Relocation to Detroit

In 1957, due to financial hardship and health problems stemming from her involvement in the bus boycott, Rosa Parks relocated to Detroit, Michigan.

1959: Loss of Apartment

In 1959, Rosa Parks and her family lost their apartment and moved into a meeting hall for the Progressive Civic League (PCL), where Rosa managed the treasury at the PCL's credit union and Raymond served as the meeting hall's caretaker.

1960: Health Problems and Financial Debt

In 1960, Rosa Parks's health deteriorated, requiring multiple surgeries. She and her family incurred significant debt due to unpaid medical bills. She received donations from the MIA and PCL, and the Black press began to write about her financial difficulties.

1961: Employment and Relocation to Virginia Park

In 1961, after her health improved and she found employment at Stockton Sewing Company, Rosa Parks and her family moved to Detroit's Virginia Park neighborhood. Raymond also secured employment at a local barber shop.

1962: SCLC Convention Attendance

In 1962, Rosa Parks attended the SCLC convention in Birmingham, Alabama.

August 1963: March on Washington Participation

In August 1963, Rosa Parks traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the March on Washington. She was honored alongside other prominent women in the civil rights struggle during the event's "Tribute to Women" segment.

1964: Role in John Conyers's Campaign

In 1964, Rosa Parks played a crucial role in John Conyers's congressional campaign. She persuaded Martin Luther King Jr. to endorse Conyers, boosting his profile. After Conyers was elected, he hired her as a secretary and receptionist for his congressional office in Detroit.

1965: Selma to Montgomery Marches

In 1965, Rosa Parks attended the Selma to Montgomery marches and supported the Lowndes County Freedom Organization and the Freedom Now Party.

1967: Views on Gradualism

In 1967, Rosa Parks stated in an interview that she did not believe in gradualism regarding civil rights improvements.

1968: Black Power Movement Participation

In 1968, Rosa Parks took part in the Black power movement, attending the Philadelphia Black power conference.

1972: National Black Political Convention

In 1972, Rosa Parks continued to support the Black power movement by attending the National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana.

July 1975: Joanne Little Defense Committee

In July 1975, Rosa Parks played a key role in the establishment of the Detroit chapter of the Joanne Little Defense Committee.

1979: Visit to Black Panther School

1980: Visit to Black Panther School

1981: Support for 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: Support for Jesse Jackson's Presidential Campaign

In 1984, Rosa Parks supported Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign.

1985: NAACP Detroit Chapter Election

In 1985, Rosa Parks and Joe Madison unsuccessfully ran for president and vice president of the NAACP's Detroit chapter.

1987: Co-founding the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development

In 1987, Rosa Parks co-founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development with Elaine Eason Steele to develop youth leaders' capabilities in advancing civil rights initiatives. The institute also offered "Pathways to Freedom" bus tours, introducing young people to important civil rights and Underground Railroad sites.

1987: Founded Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute

In 1987, Rosa Parks co-founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development with Elaine Eason Steele.

1988: Jesse Jackson's Presidential Campaign

In 1988, Rosa Parks supported Jesse Jackson's presidential campaign and spoke on his behalf at the Democratic National Convention.

1990: Speech calling for the release of Nelson Mandela

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. Joseph Skipper broke into her home, assaulted her and stole $103.

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 alongside Jesse Jackson and Queen Mother Moore.

1995: Participation in the Million Man March

In 1995, at the invitation of Louis Farrakhan, Rosa Parks participated in the Million Man March alongside Moore, Betty Shabazz, Dorothy Height, and Maya Angelou.

2000: Opening of the Rosa Parks Library and Museum

In 2000, Troy University opened the Rosa Parks Library and Museum at the site of Parks's arrest at the cost of $10 million.

2001: Signing open letter against military response after September 11 attacks

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: Receiving eviction notice

In 2002, Rosa Parks received an eviction notice from her apartment for non-payment of rent due to age-related decline. Her rent was later paid through collections.

2004: Landlord forgiving back rent

In 2004, after Rosa Parks's impending eviction was publicized, her landlord forgave the back rent and allowed her to live rent-free in the building for the remainder of her life.