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 activist, is renowned for her pivotal role in the civil rights movement. Her courageous refusal to relinquish her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus to a white passenger, in defiance of segregationist Jim Crow laws, ignited the Montgomery bus boycott. This act of defiance earned her the title "mother of the civil rights movement," solidifying her legacy as a symbol of resistance against racial injustice and a catalyst for change.

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 SCLC established the Rosa Parks Freedom Award in honor of her contributions to the civil rights movement.

1979: Supersisters Trading Card

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

1987: 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 aimed to develop youth leaders' capabilities in advancing civil rights initiatives and offered "Pathways to Freedom" bus tours, which introduced young people to important civil rights and Underground Railroad sites throughout the country.

1991: Bronze sculpture displayed at National Portrait Gallery

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

1993: Inducted into National Women's Hall of Fame

In 1993, Rosa Parks was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame, with her statue being displayed in the National Statuary Hall.

1997: Michigan designated February 4 as Rosa Parks Day

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

1999: Awarded Congressional Gold Medal

In 1999, Rosa Parks was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal with unanimous Senate approval despite opposition in the House from Representative Ron Paul. Also in 1999, she was honored with the Windsor–Detroit International Freedom Festival Freedom Award, and Time 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, at the cost of $10 million, Troy University opened the Rosa Parks Library and Museum at the site of Rosa Parks's arrest.

2001: Character played by Iris Little-Thomas in 'Boycott'

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

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2002: Subject of 'The Rosa Parks Story'

In 2002, Rosa Parks was the subject of the biopic The Rosa Parks Story, directed by Julie Dash, where she was played by Angela Bassett.

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2002: Apartment placed on the National Register of Historic Places

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

2003: Bus where Parks refused to move was restored

In 2003, the bus where 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

On October 24, 2005, Rosa Parks passed away. She was an American activist in the civil rights movement, most known for her role in the Montgomery bus boycott.

October 29, 2005: Senate approves resolution allowing Parks's remains to lie in state

On October 29, 2005, the Senate approved Concurrent Resolution 61, introduced by Representative Conyers, allowing Rosa Parks's remains to lie in state at the United States Capitol rotunda from October 30 to October 31.

2005: President Bush authorized a statue of Parks to be placed in the National Statuary Hall

In 2005, President Bush signed H.R. 4145, which authorized a statue of Rosa 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 Parks's honor.

2009: Rosa Parks Station named in Los Angeles and Transit Center opened in Detroit

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 at the intersection of Cass and Michigan avenues.

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 4, 2013: 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Rosa Parks

On February 4, 2013, Obama proclaimed February 4 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". The Henry Ford museum designated February 4, 2013, as a "National Day of Courage". Also on February 4, the United States Postal Service unveiled a postage stamp in Parks's honor.

Others born on this day/year

2013: Statue of Rosa Parks unveiled in National Statuary Hall

In 2013, a statue sculpted by Eugene Daub and Rob Firmin, which depicted Rosa Parks on the day of her arrest, was unveiled in the National Statuary Hall, with Obama and House Speaker John Boehner in attendance.

2014: Statue dedicated at Essex Government Complex in Newark, New Jersey

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, France

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

2015: Theoharis publishes "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 as a "quiet" and "accidental" figure obscures her lifelong radical activism and political philosophy.

The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks

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2016: Gary Tyler Freed After 41 Years

In 2016, Gary Tyler, whom Rosa Parks advocated for, was freed after spending 41 years in prison for a wrongful conviction.

2016: Former residence in Detroit threatened with demolition

In 2016, Rosa Parks's former residence in Detroit was threatened with demolition. 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: Former residence moved back to US and sculpture unveiled at Georgia Tech

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.

2018: Episode of Doctor Who centered on Parks

In 2018, the episode "Rosa" of the science-fiction television series Doctor Who, centered on Rosa Parks, as portrayed by Vinette Robinson. The episode was received positively.

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2019: Barbie Doll Release

In 2019, Mattel released a Barbie doll in Rosa Parks's likeness as part of their "Inspiring Women" series.

2019: Statue unveiled in Montgomery

In 2019, another statue of Rosa Parks was unveiled in Montgomery.

2021: Bust added to Oval Office

In 2021, a bust of Rosa Parks was added to the Oval Office when Joe Biden began his presidency.

2022: Documentary The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks released on Peacock

In 2022, the documentary The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, the first full-length documentary about Parks, was released on Peacock. The documentary, directed by Johanna Hamilton and Yoruba Richen, was inspired by Theoharis's biography of the same name.