The Civil Rights Movement owes a great deal to Rosa Parks

Often called the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement," Rosa Parks was a key figure in the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. Her bold disobedience and the resulting Montgomery Bus Boycott ignited the Civil Rights Movement through a wave of peaceful protests. Her legacy will live on as an example of how small acts of defiance can have a big impact on the fight for social justice and equality long after she is gone. By refusing to let up, Parks changed the trajectory of American history forever, proving that one person's actions can have far-reaching consequences.

In a single act of disobedience, Rosa Parks ignited a movement and altered the trajectory of American history. In 1955, she ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott by refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, an event that would go on to play a pivotal part in the Civil Rights Movement. The courageous act of resistance by Parks, who is often called the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement," exemplifies the power of individual action in the pursuit of justice and equality.

Change Agent Rosa Parks

On December 1, 1955, Parks made headlines when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in protest of the racist Jim Crow laws that were in effect in the South at the time. Although others had protested in a similar fashion before Parks, her imprisonment was what really galvanized the country and led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

The Boycott of Montgomery Buses

Montgomery's African-American community, led by a young Martin Luther King Jr., boycotted the bus system after Parks' imprisonment. The over a year long boycott was a tremendous act of peaceful opposition that severely harmed the city's public transportation system financially.

Nonviolent actions like the Montgomery Bus Boycott were successful and set a precedent for the rest of the Civil Rights Movement. Segregation on public buses was deemed unconstitutional as a result, sparking future civil rights movements.

Unlikely Head Honcho

Rosa Parks was an experienced activist who actively participated in her act of defiance. She was the NAACP chapter secretary in Montgomery, and she'd studied at the Highlander Folk School, which educated future activists and organizers. Because of her unassuming leadership and unwavering dedication to the cause of racial equality, Parks became an icon of the Civil Rights Movement and beyond.

Even after the bus boycott, Parks continued to fight for civil rights. She never stopped being an activist, contributing her voice to many issues and becoming an icon in the battle for racial equality. The two highest civilian awards in the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, were presented to her.