How Rosa Parks Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

A detailed timeline of the impact and legacy of Rosa Parks across different fields.

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

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.

1972: Receiving the Rosa Parks Freedom Award

In 1972, Rosa Parks received the Rosa Parks Freedom Award from the SCLC.

1976: Detroit's 12th street renamed "Rosa Parks Boulevard"

In 1976, at the behest of her friend Louise Tappes, Detroit's 12th street was renamed "Rosa Parks Boulevard".

1979: Visit to Black Panther School

1979: Featured in Supersisters trading card set

In 1979, Rosa Parks was featured on one of the cards in the Supersisters trading card set, card no. 27.

1980: Visit to Black Panther School

1983: Induction into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame

In 1983, Rosa Parks was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.

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.

1991: Bronze sculpture displayed at National Portrait Gallery

In 1991, a bronze sculpture of Rosa Parks was displayed at the National Portrait Gallery.

1993: Induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame

In 1993, Rosa Parks was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

1996: Receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom

In 1996, Rosa Parks received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Bill Clinton.

1997: Michigan designates February 4 as Rosa Parks Day

In 1997, Michigan designated February 4 as Rosa Parks Day.

1999: Cameo appearance on Touched by an Angel

In 1999, Rosa Parks filmed a cameo appearance for the television series Touched by an Angel.

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1999: Receiving the Congressional Gold Medal and Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival Freedom Award

In 1999, Rosa Parks was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and was honored with the Windsor–Detroit International Freedom Festival Freedom Award. Time also named her one of the 20 most influential figures of the 20th century.

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: Portrayal in the film 'Boycott'

In 2001, Rosa Parks was played by Iris Little-Thomas in the film 'Boycott', directed by Clark Johnson.

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2002: Portrayal in 'The Rosa Parks Story'

In 2002, Angela Bassett played Rosa Parks in the biopic 'The Rosa Parks Story', directed by Julie Dash.

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2002: Parks's apartment placed on National Register of Historic Places

In 2002, Rosa Parks's apartment in Montgomery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2003: Bus on which Parks refused to move placed on display at The Henry Ford museum

In 2003, the bus on which Rosa Parks refused to move was restored with funding from the Save America's Treasures program and placed on display at The Henry Ford museum.

October 24, 2005: Rosa Parks' Death

October 24, 2005 marks the day of Rosa Parks's death. She was an American civil rights activist known for her role in the Montgomery bus boycott.

October 29, 2005: Approval of resolution allowing remains to lie in state

On October 29, 2005, Concurrent Resolution 61 was approved, allowing Rosa Parks's remains to lie in state at the United States Capitol rotunda.

2005: Memorial Services and Honors

After her death in 2005, Rosa Parks was honored with public viewings and memorial services in multiple cities, including lying in state at the United States Capitol rotunda. She also received numerous awards and honors.

2005: Authorization of Parks statue in National Statuary Hall

In 2005, after Rosa Parks's death, President Bush signed H.R. 4145, authorizing a statue of Parks to be placed in the National Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol.

2006: Renaming of Hempstead Transit Center

In 2006, Nassau County, New York County Executive Tom Suozzi announced that the Hempstead Transit Center would be renamed the Rosa Parks Hempstead Transit Center in Rosa Parks's honor.

2009: Naming of Rosa Parks Station and opening of Rosa Parks Transit Center

In 2009, the Portland Boulevard station of the Los Angeles County MetroRail system was officially named Rosa Parks Station, and the Rosa Parks Transit Center opened in downtown Detroit.

2010: Naming of Asteroid 284996 Rosaparks

In 2010, the asteroid 284996 Rosaparks, discovered by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, was named in Rosa Parks's memory.

February 4, 2013: Centennial Anniversary of Rosa Parks's Birth

On February 4, 2013, Obama proclaimed February 4, 2013, as the "100th Anniversary of the Birth of Rosa Parks", calling "upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate service, community, and education programs to honor Rosa Parks's enduring legacy".

2013: Unveiling of statue in National Statuary Hall

In 2013, a statue of Rosa Parks was unveiled in the National Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol, with President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner in attendance.

2014: Statue dedication at Essex Government Complex

In 2014, a statue of Rosa Parks was dedicated at the Essex Government Complex in Newark, New Jersey.

2015: Opening of Rosa Parks station in Paris, France

In 2015, Rosa Parks station opened in Paris, France.

2015: Publication of 'The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks'

In 2015, Theoharis published her biography, 'The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks', arguing that the popular narrative of Rosa Parks obscures her lifelong radical activism.

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks

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January 4, 2016: Lawsuit Review

On January 4, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reviewed a lawsuit by the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development against Target, regarding the use of Rosa Parks's name and likeness in merchandise. The court ruled that the use was permissible under Michigan law due to its historical context within the Civil Rights Movement.

2016: Gary Tyler's Release

In 2016, Gary Tyler, whom Rosa Parks had advocated for, was freed after 41 years in prison.

2016: Relocation of former residence to Germany

In 2016, Rosa Parks's former residence in Detroit was threatened with demolition, and a Berlin-based American artist, Ryan Mendoza, arranged to have the house disassembled, moved to his garden in Germany, and partly restored and converted into a museum honoring Parks.

2018: Return of house to the United States and unveiling of sculpture at Georgia Tech

In 2018, Rosa Parks's house was moved back to the United States and eventually exhibited at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Continuing the Conversation, a public sculpture of Parks, was unveiled on the main campus of Georgia Tech.

2018: Release of 'Rosa' episode of Doctor Who

In 2018, the episode 'Rosa' of the science-fiction television series 'Doctor Who', which centered on Rosa Parks, was released and received positively.

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