One of the unique features of American history is that it is full of periods of enormous importance that are filled with struggle and movements. In the 20th century, the period that was most critical in American history was the period of the civil rights movement that kickstarted in the 1960s. The civil rights movement was an array of movements that sought an end of oppression for African Americas, end of segregation, racial equality, gender equality, an extension of rights to the LGBTQ community, end of American involvement in the Vietnam war, and a host of other issues. Fundamentally, the civil rights movement was engendered to realize the values on which the edifice of the American revolution was erected which entailed,” liberty, equality, and democracy”. More often than not, discussion on the civil rights era overlooks the role of women and their contribution. The essay will focus on the mother of the movement, known as Rosa Park.
Her complete name was Rosa Louise McCauley Park. She was born in February 1913 and died in October 2005. Rosa park gained prominence when he repudiated the to leave her seat for the white man on a public bus. The refusal precipitated the Montgomery bus boycott of 1955-56, which ignited the civil rights movement in America. Owing to this factor, Rosa Park is known as the mother of the civil rights movement. As the civil rights movement is a watershed moment in America’s history, therefore Rosa Park has assumed a significant position as a leader and hero in America’s history. She was an intelligent, brave, and courageous leader. As an African American who has personally experienced and understood the agony and pain of being black, she effectively fought not only for the rights of the black community but for the broader principles of equality, liberty, and freedom. She was not only the leader of black Americans but also the leader of every man in America who valued liberty, democracy, and equality.
Her mission started with the famous Montgomery bus incident. Her refusal to give the seat to a white man kick-started her struggle and she was arrested. Initially, her mission was to end the racial segregation that was haunting black Americans since the 18th century. Her repudiation sparked countrywide boycotts that resulted in a decree by the court to put a full stop to racial inequality and segregation.No doubt this was a significant win, but this was not an end in itself. She lost her retail establishment employment and her better half was terminated after his supervisor restricted him to discuss his significant other or their lawful case. These challenges made her more determined and brave. This was the start of his mission. With the passage of time her mission widened. She became a voice for the right of immigrants and voting rights.
Another main goal of Rosa parks was emancipation and egalitarianism for women in America. As secretary of the NAACP, she explored the incidents of wild sexual brutality against Black ladies. She has the duty of gathering evidence of Black ladies and young ladies facing problems in the workplaces, social spaces, and other places. For a long time, she made national and public alliances, supported public media openings, and encouraged Black ladies to "stand up" in the battle against sexual savagery. Even though her commitment to the advancement of Black individuals is chiefly ascribed to her declining to move to the rear of the transport, her genuine work and its effect on the humankind of Black ladies and young ladies despite clear sexual savagery isn't generally talked about. So she was the embodiment of women’s rights. Her mission can be summed up in her own words: “I am leaving this legacy to all of you … to bring peace, justice, equality, love and a fulfillment of what our lives should be. Without vision, the people will perish, and without courage and inspiration, dreams will die – the dream of freedom and peace”.
Akin to every leader, Rosa Park has also left deep impacts on American society. the vital turning point for the Mother of American Civil Rights likewise exhibited the human inclination to smother, limit, or in any case smother the limit of others to change their conditions, and to increase the value of their networks or conditions. Much of the time, this marvel is accidental, however tragically, there are occasions where unfairness is purposeful. Rosa Parks' demonstration of disobedience gives is unmistakable proof of the idea of strength prevailing over lousy form. Her refusal to react to the authority of different travelers, the transport driver and police yielded foreseen outcomes. Tolerating the undesirable condition of detainment in protection from proceeded with disappointment, she empowered the cycle for change to be authorized. The intensity of strength isn't generally unsurprising, yet for the most part unavoidable. The typical consequence of industriousness is an achievement. These essential exercises offer significant ideal models for the present youth. As youngster’s natural social, political, and monetary conditions developed by past ages, they should likewise get intelligence. The vital crossroads of Rosa Parks's life showed the value and duty, everything being equal. We gain from her experience that where we are and what we do say something; our reactions to the conventional can incite the uncommon; the consequence of determination is an achievement; and that our achievements are conceivable as a result of individuals who care. We can and should have any kind of effect on the improvement of the human condition
Rosa Park has left a legacy that will continue to encourage the coming generations of America. Parks' activism was interconnected with a common exertion by various Montgomery ladies to challenge the city's set of experiences of sexual just as racial savagery, demonstrating her individual decision was a piece of something a lot more extensive. In any case, Parks' biography moreover causes us to perceive that one second both as the result of numerous impacts that carried her to that Montgomery transport and as a component of a deep-rooted obligation to equity and uniformity that would last another 50 great years. Parks' determination on December 1, 1955, was for sure one of those particular minutes that prompted a change in America. However, Parks lived a life of persuasive activism, roused by networks from the AME church to the NAACP, and zeroed in on endeavors from lodging separation to illegitimate detainment to teaching the up and coming age of activists. The most ideal approach to honor Rosa Parks is to implement each phase of her motivating American story.
Ros park has contributed to ending the entrenched and prevailing racially-biased norms. Her struggle encouraged the people to stove for equality and liberty. Moreover, the rise of Rosa as a leader transformed the prejudiced norms prevailing in society against women. She acted as a role model for women to rise and challenge the biased gendered norms. Her rise also changed the retrogressive ideas prevailing in the society, especially related to women. Her struggle was a role model for women around the world. Apart from these impacts, her greatest impact was on the skewed psyche entrenched in America. Her endeavors changed the way Americans think. She altered the xenophobic mindset and put forth the vision that all humans are equal and should be treated as such. So it can be said she transformed the basic mindset that was the root cause of racism and inequality.
References:- “Arrest Record For Rosa Parks.” The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute
- “Arrest Record For Rosa Parks.” The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute
- “Image 2 of Rosa Parks Papers: Family Papers, 1900-2005; Letters to and from Rosa Parks; Parks, Raymond A. (husband); 1957.”
- “Image 14 of Rosa Parks Papers: Writings, Notes, and Statements, 1956-1998; Drafts of early writings; Accounts of her arrest and the subsequent boycott, as well as general reflections on race relations in the South, 1956-circa 1958, undated; Folder 2.”
- “NAACP.” https://vault.fbi.gov/NAACP.
- “Image 28 of Rosa Parks Papers: Writings, Notes, and Statements, 1956-1998; Drafts of early writings; Accounts of her arrest and the subsequent boycott, as well as general reflections on race relations in the South, 1956-circa 1958, undated; Folder 2.”
- “Leadership & Legacy of Rosa Parks.”
- “Rosa Parks Collection Video.”