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, an American civil rights activist, is renowned for her courageous act in 1955 when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. This act of defiance against the Jim Crow segregation laws ignited the Montgomery bus boycott, a pivotal event in the Civil Rights Movement. Often called the 'mother of the civil rights movement,' Parks's bravery and commitment to equality helped catalyze widespread efforts to end racial segregation and discrimination in the United States, making her a significant figure in American history.

Sections (6)

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

1963: SCLC Established Rosa Parks Freedom Award

In 1963, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) established the Rosa Parks Freedom Award.

1976: Detroit's 12th Street Renamed Rosa Parks Boulevard

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

1979: Featured in Supersisters Trading Card Set

In 1979, Rosa Parks was featured as card no. 27 in the Supersisters trading card set.

1987: Co-founded Institute for Self Development

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

1987: Parks co-founded 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. The institute aims to develop youth leaders' capabilities in advancing civil rights initiatives.

1991: Bronze Sculpture Displayed at National Portrait Gallery

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

1997: Michigan Designated February 4 as Rosa Parks Day

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

April 1998: Los Angeles Metro Rail Station Renamed in Parks's Honor

In April 1998, the Los Angeles Metro Rail station at the intersection of what is now the A and C Lines was renamed in Rosa Parks's honor.

1999: Awarded 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: Troy University Opened the Rosa Parks Library and Museum

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

2001: Portrayed in Film "Boycott"

In 2001, Iris Little-Thomas portrayed Rosa Parks in the film "Boycott", directed by Clark Johnson.

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2002: Portrayed in "The Rosa Parks Story"

In 2002, Angela Bassett portrayed 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

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 29, 2005: Approval of Concurrent Resolution 61

On October 29, 2005, Concurrent Resolution 61 was approved, which allowed Rosa Parks's remains to lie in state at the United States Capitol rotunda from October 30 to 31.

2005: Posthumous honors and memorial services

After Rosa Parks's death in 2005, she was honored with public viewings and memorial services in Montgomery, Washington, D.C., and Detroit. She received numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a Congressional Gold Medal, and was the first Black American to be memorialized in the National Statuary Hall.

2005: Authorization of Statue in National Statuary Hall

Following Rosa Parks's death in 2005, President Bush signed H.R. 4145, which authorized a statue of Parks to be placed in the National Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol. Parks was the first Black American to receive this honor.

2006: Hempstead Transit Center Renamed in Parks's Honor

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: Rosa Parks Station and Rosa Parks Transit Center Opened

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: Asteroid Named in Parks's Memory

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

February 1, 2013: Obama Called for Service to Honor Legacy

On February 1, 2013, President Obama called "upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate service, community, and education programs to honor Rosa Parks's enduring legacy" for the 100th anniversary of her birthday.

February 4, 2013: Designation as a National Day of Courage and Unveiling of Postage Stamp

On February 4, 2013, The Henry Ford Museum designated the day as a "National Day of Courage", and the United States Postal Service unveiled a postage stamp in Rosa Parks's honor.

2013: Unveiling of Statue in National Statuary Hall

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

2014: Statue Dedicated at Essex Government Complex

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

2015: Rosa Parks Station Opened in Paris

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 Parks as a "quiet" and "accidental" figure obscured her lifelong radical activism and political philosophy.

January 4, 2016: Lawsuit Review by United States Court of Appeals

On January 4, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reviewed a lawsuit between the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development and Target, regarding the alleged infringement of Rosa Parks's rights to her name and likeness. The lawsuit concerned Target's sale of merchandise using her name. The court ruled in favor of Target, stating the use of Rosa Parks's name in items such as books, movies, and plaques was protected by Michigan's qualified privilege as they are essential to chronicling the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

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2016: Gary Tyler Freed after 41 Years

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

2016: Former Residence Moved to Germany for Preservation

In 2016, Rosa Parks's former residence in Detroit, threatened with demolition, was disassembled and moved to Germany by artist Ryan Mendoza for preservation and conversion into a museum.

2018: Portrayed in Doctor Who Episode "Rosa"

In 2018, Rosa Parks was portrayed by Vinette Robinson in the Doctor Who episode "Rosa", which was received positively.

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2018: Former Residence Moved Back to the US and Public Sculpture Unveiled

In 2018, Rosa Parks's former residence was moved back to the United States, and Continuing the Conversation, a public sculpture of Parks, was unveiled on the main campus of Georgia Tech.