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Rosa Parks: My Story
Rosa Parks is best known for the day she refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus, sparking the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott. Yet there is much more to her story than this one act of defiance. In this straightforward, compelling autobiography, Rosa Parks talks candidly about the civil rights movement and her active role in it. Her dedication is inspiring; her story is unforgettable.
"The simplicity and candor of this courageous woman's voice makes these compelling events even more moving and dramatic."-- Publishers Weekly , starred review
"The simplicity and candor of this courageous woman's voice makes these compelling events even more moving and dramatic."-- Publishers Weekly , starred review
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1948
About the author
Rosa Parks
32 books119 followersRosa Louise McCauley Parks was an African American civil rights activist whom the U.S. Congress later called the "Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement."
On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks, age 42, refused to obey bus driver James Blake's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. Her action was not the first of its kind: Irene Morgan, in 1946, and Sarah Louise Keys, in 1955, had won rulings before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Interstate Commerce Commission respectively in the area of interstate bus travel. Nine months before Parks refused to give up her seat, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to move from her seat on the same bus system. But unlike these previous individual actions of civil disobedience, Parks's action sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Parks's act of defiance became an important symbol of the modern Civil Rights Movement and Parks became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation. She organized and collaborated with civil rights leaders, including boycott leader Martin Luther King, Jr., helping to launch him to national prominence in the civil rights movement.
At the time of her action, Parks was secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and had recently attended the Highlander Folk School, a Tennessee center for workers' rights and racial equality. Nonetheless, she took her action as a private citizen "tired of giving in". Although widely honored in later years for her action, she also suffered for it, losing her job as a seamstress in a local department store. Eventually, she moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she found similar work. From 1965 to 1988 she served as secretary and receptionist to African-American U.S. Representative John Conyers. After retirement from this position, she wrote an autobiography and lived a largely private life in Detroit. In her final years she suffered from dementia and became embroiled in a lawsuit filed on her behalf against American hip-hop duo OutKast.
Parks eventually received many honors ranging from the 1979 Spingarn Medal to the Congressional Gold Medal, a posthumous statue in the United States Capitol's National Statuary Hall. Her death in 2005 was a major story in the United States' leading newspapers. She was granted the posthumous honor of lying in honor at the Capitol Rotunda.
On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks, age 42, refused to obey bus driver James Blake's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. Her action was not the first of its kind: Irene Morgan, in 1946, and Sarah Louise Keys, in 1955, had won rulings before the U.S. Supreme Court and the Interstate Commerce Commission respectively in the area of interstate bus travel. Nine months before Parks refused to give up her seat, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to move from her seat on the same bus system. But unlike these previous individual actions of civil disobedience, Parks's action sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Parks's act of defiance became an important symbol of the modern Civil Rights Movement and Parks became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation. She organized and collaborated with civil rights leaders, including boycott leader Martin Luther King, Jr., helping to launch him to national prominence in the civil rights movement.
At the time of her action, Parks was secretary of the Montgomery chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and had recently attended the Highlander Folk School, a Tennessee center for workers' rights and racial equality. Nonetheless, she took her action as a private citizen "tired of giving in". Although widely honored in later years for her action, she also suffered for it, losing her job as a seamstress in a local department store. Eventually, she moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she found similar work. From 1965 to 1988 she served as secretary and receptionist to African-American U.S. Representative John Conyers. After retirement from this position, she wrote an autobiography and lived a largely private life in Detroit. In her final years she suffered from dementia and became embroiled in a lawsuit filed on her behalf against American hip-hop duo OutKast.
Parks eventually received many honors ranging from the 1979 Spingarn Medal to the Congressional Gold Medal, a posthumous statue in the United States Capitol's National Statuary Hall. Her death in 2005 was a major story in the United States' leading newspapers. She was granted the posthumous honor of lying in honor at the Capitol Rotunda.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews
July 2, 2019
“People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. I was not tired physically, or no more than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me being old. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”
What I thought I knew about Rosa Parks wasn’t completely accurate. This is a short book, but full of facts.
What I thought I knew about Rosa Parks wasn’t completely accurate. This is a short book, but full of facts.
January 7, 2022
Se vi interessa il periodo storico relativo alle lotte per diritti civili negli Stati Uniti, dovete senza dubbio leggere questa breve biografia di Rosa Parks, una donna "comune", con una vita normale, come tante altre donne avevano all'epoca, che – quasi suo malgrado - è diventata una vera e propria icona del movimento per i diritti civili. Il racconto scorre bene, non si perde in particolari inutili alla narrazione e si dipana tra episodi significativi della vita della Parks, con particolare enfasi su quel rifiuto di alzarsi (non per affermare un proprio diritto ma perchè "quella sera ero particolarmente stanca" racconterà poi Rosa) che tanto ha influito sulle vite di migliaia di persone.
***
If you are interested in the historical period relating to civil rights fights in the United States, you must undoubtedly read this short biography of Rosa Parks, an "ordinary" woman with a normal life, like so many other women had at the time, who - almost in spite of herself - has become a true icon of the civil rights movement. The story flows well, does not get lost in useless details to the narrative and unfolds between significant episodes in Parks' life, with particular emphasis on that refusal to stand up (not to affirm a right of her own, but because "that evening I was particularly tired" Rosa will tell. ) which has greatly affected the lives of thousands of people.
***
If you are interested in the historical period relating to civil rights fights in the United States, you must undoubtedly read this short biography of Rosa Parks, an "ordinary" woman with a normal life, like so many other women had at the time, who - almost in spite of herself - has become a true icon of the civil rights movement. The story flows well, does not get lost in useless details to the narrative and unfolds between significant episodes in Parks' life, with particular emphasis on that refusal to stand up (not to affirm a right of her own, but because "that evening I was particularly tired" Rosa will tell. ) which has greatly affected the lives of thousands of people.
January 23, 2021
La leí gracias a la recomendación de Neus, y le estoy muy agradecida es mi primera lectura del año de 5 estrellas sin dudarlo, es una biografía pura y dura que la absorbes, que ves todo, y te das cuenta de las cosas, de todo lo que paso y te hace reflexionar de lo que pasa ahora, estas lecturas hay que leerlas siempre
June 23, 2020
This is a short book where Rosa Parks recounts her life in a plain and straight-forward way, and about the deeply ingrained racism that black people suffered. I've been meaning to read this book for a very long time because of her important role in the black civil-rights movement and the fight against segregation, and was pleasantly surprised to see my local library carried it (as their selection of books in general, and PoC books in particular, is very limited). I'm happy I finally got to read it, since my history lessons in school and university barely just mentioned her.
March 12, 2017
"Every one living together in peace and harmony and love... that's the goal that we seek, and I think that the more people there are who reach that state of mind, the better we will all be"
August 30, 2023
Rosa Parks: My Story, co-authored by Rosa Parks and Jim Haskins, captivated me as a historical memoir enthusiast. Immersing myself in the life of this Civil Rights Movement icon was truly eye-opening, profoundly impacting African Americans' lives. Parks' candid narrative, recounting her brave bus seat resistance, inspired with undeniable strength.
While the book provided a valuable perspective, I longed for a more cohesive narrative, hindering my personal connection. Further exploration of Parks' life, emotions, and sacrifices was needed. Her courage echoes, yet deeper emotional insight would've enhanced the read. Despite this, her pivotal role in shaping history cannot be overstated. This firsthand account is a must-read, illuminating a relentless fight against injustice.
Read the detailed review here - Books Charming
While the book provided a valuable perspective, I longed for a more cohesive narrative, hindering my personal connection. Further exploration of Parks' life, emotions, and sacrifices was needed. Her courage echoes, yet deeper emotional insight would've enhanced the read. Despite this, her pivotal role in shaping history cannot be overstated. This firsthand account is a must-read, illuminating a relentless fight against injustice.
Read the detailed review here - Books Charming
Read
January 30, 2013Interesting look at the emerging Civil Rights movement from one of its primary actors. I had to do a little checking on Wikipedia since some of the names and places were unfamiliar to me. But I enjoyed hearing Rosa Parks' version of the story. Her narrative style is simple, given her limited educational opportunities. She comes across as a woman humbled and grateful to have played a part in history but at the same time, content to give credit to others and stay out of the spotlight except when it would help a worthy cause.
February 8, 2023
So good! And I learned so much that I didn't know!
October 23, 2021
Sedikit sebanyak memberitahu kita tentang peristiwa penting yang memicu kepada perubahan dasar pemisahan kaum di Amerika. Sesudah Lincoln menghapuskan perhambaan, salah satu kesan besarnya adalah pemisahan kaum iaitu antara kulit hitam dan putih. Kesannya tidak sekadar terhadap jasmani tetapi juga sosiologi. Rosa Parks menceritakan bagaimana kehidupannya sejak kecil dan pengaruh datuknya yang memberikannya sarwa pandang berani, sehinggalah kepada tercetusnya kejadian penting di dalam bas itu.
July 18, 2008
Read this while I was doing research for my short story, "Conan Vs. Rosa Parks." Went to the Henry Ford Museum the following week and actually sat on the Cleveland Ave. bus in the same seat she sat in.
March 10, 2008
i learned that in this book rosa parks did not only stick up for her rights and beliefs, but for her people to.
June 22, 2020
No es un producto literario, es más documental. Tiene belleza, está bien escrito y sigo aprendiendo sobre la prosa en inglés; el valor de este libro es más testimonial que artístico. Dicho eso, conocer la vida de Rosa Parks es indispensable para comprender el movimiento por los derechos civiles de la gente negra en Estados Unidos. No es que Rosa se haya levantado un día y haya dicho: no voy a dar mi asiento a una persona blanca. No fue una tincada. O sí, fue un gesto espontáneo, enmarcado en una vida de lucha. Existían organizaciones en los años 50 que congregaban activistas negros. Tenían armas, se reunían en secreto. Recibían amenazas, la policía les encarcelaba por luchar. Me da la misma sensación de guerrilla latinoamericana, de dictadura chilena. Rosa conoció a Luther King y a Malcolm X y estaba viva cuando los asesinaron, en los 60. No entiendo este país. No entiendo por qué se resalta el origen mestizo de los negros (Afro-Americans) y no el origen mestizo de los caucásicos (¿European-Americans?). Rosa cuenta algo que aprendí viviendo en Estados Unidos: que los irlandeses también llegaron a Estados Unidos como esclavos. "They were white, but they were not free" explica Rosa. La supremacía blanca es lo peor. Sus mujeres no son más bellas, sus hombres no son más fuertes. Es algo en nuestras cabezas y en nuestros corazones, que nos empuja a comportarnos así. Basta. Ayer hablaba con unas amigas sobre el racismo en Estados Unidos y les decía que siento lo mismo que con el feminismo: es un problema estructural, que cada cierto tiempo tiene estallidos de revuelta y llamado al cambio, a la revolución. Cuando la paz o la quietud parecen reinar, no es que el problema haya desaparecido, es que la rebeldía se ha replegado, para descansar —quizá— y surgir con fuerza cuando sea necesario. Como el mar, la política se mueve como las olas del mar. Una amiga gringa me decía que todos los días asesinan a negros como asesinaron a George Floyd. Que la enmienda de las armas no aplica para los negros. Que hay un montón de cosas que los blancos se reservan para sí como derechos exclusivos. Incluso los derechos más indolentes, como la tenencia de armas. Leí en Beloved, de Toni Morrison, que antes de la guerra de secesión, cuando un negro se malcomportaba a ojos de un blanco o de su dueño, no solo le azotaban y le daban castigos corporales dolorosos; si no que les cazaban. Había hombres armados que se dedicaban a cazar negros malportados. ¿Qué es eso si no un paco? Raza y clase están imbricadísimos en este país, en el mundo. Para bien o para mal, al ser despojados de sus idiomas nativos, los negros aprendieron inglés y se convirtieron en ingleses al hablarlo. Se enfrentan como pares a sus ex esclavistas. La comunidad latina o china no corre la misma suerte. Y en este enjambre de pueblos buscando la hermandad, siento que acá en Estados Unidos, al menos los negros ya han peleado bastante para existir y ser libres. Me alegro mucho por su triunfo, pero me duele el alma por la deuda de mis pares latinos.
Algunas frases que subrayé:
"In those days, over in Europe, poor white people were sometimes indentured servants".
"Black slaves were usually not allowed to keep their names, but were given new names by their owners".
"Most southern women, black or white, didn't go beyond grammar school in those days".
"We went to different schools and different churches and different libraries".
"He had eyes that were kind of slanted (...) [and] was a light-brown-skinned".
"[In schoolhouses] older boys were responsible for wood".
"My mother told me stories the old people had told her about slavery times".
"There were no school buses for black children".
"The Ku Klux Klan was burning churches, beating up and killing people".
"Our family put all the cotton we picked together in one pile".
"What would you all white folks do if you didn't have us niggers to work for you?".
"To pay the tuition I would dust the desks, sweep the floor".
"There were no public high schools for blacks in Montgomery".
"I didn't even finish school until after I was married".
"Whites accused anybody who was working for black people of being a communist".
"I had a high school diploma, but I could only get jobs that didn't need a high school diploma".
"There was no way you could make segregation decent or nice".
"We did not wish to continue being treated as second-class citizens".
"Black teachers were paid more poorly than white".
"When she complained about the rudeness of the bus drivers, they said that was a fact of life".
"I had no idea what the result was going to be".
"I was found guilty of violating the segregation laws".
"I do not like to form in my mind an idea that I don't have any proof of".
"He called the leaders of the boycott a bunch of Negro radicals".
"He was accused of being drunk and disorderly, and the police shot him dead".
"White people didn't want black veterans to wear their uniforms".
"There were also no female speakers on the program, the one where Dr. King gave his famous 'I have a dream'".
"Dr. King used to say that black people should receive brutality with love".
"If a law was changed, it might not change hearts".
Y no olvidar que Rosa Parks fue secretaria del NAACP. O como yo lo sentí: el OCAC de los derechos civiles. Gracias a mí misma por recoger este libro de una pila en la calle.
Algunas frases que subrayé:
"In those days, over in Europe, poor white people were sometimes indentured servants".
"Black slaves were usually not allowed to keep their names, but were given new names by their owners".
"Most southern women, black or white, didn't go beyond grammar school in those days".
"We went to different schools and different churches and different libraries".
"He had eyes that were kind of slanted (...) [and] was a light-brown-skinned".
"[In schoolhouses] older boys were responsible for wood".
"My mother told me stories the old people had told her about slavery times".
"There were no school buses for black children".
"The Ku Klux Klan was burning churches, beating up and killing people".
"Our family put all the cotton we picked together in one pile".
"What would you all white folks do if you didn't have us niggers to work for you?".
"To pay the tuition I would dust the desks, sweep the floor".
"There were no public high schools for blacks in Montgomery".
"I didn't even finish school until after I was married".
"Whites accused anybody who was working for black people of being a communist".
"I had a high school diploma, but I could only get jobs that didn't need a high school diploma".
"There was no way you could make segregation decent or nice".
"We did not wish to continue being treated as second-class citizens".
"Black teachers were paid more poorly than white".
"When she complained about the rudeness of the bus drivers, they said that was a fact of life".
"I had no idea what the result was going to be".
"I was found guilty of violating the segregation laws".
"I do not like to form in my mind an idea that I don't have any proof of".
"He called the leaders of the boycott a bunch of Negro radicals".
"He was accused of being drunk and disorderly, and the police shot him dead".
"White people didn't want black veterans to wear their uniforms".
"There were also no female speakers on the program, the one where Dr. King gave his famous 'I have a dream'".
"Dr. King used to say that black people should receive brutality with love".
"If a law was changed, it might not change hearts".
Y no olvidar que Rosa Parks fue secretaria del NAACP. O como yo lo sentí: el OCAC de los derechos civiles. Gracias a mí misma por recoger este libro de una pila en la calle.
July 24, 2020
¡Qué maravilla de libro! Obviamente esto no es ficción, ni es una novela autobiográfica. Es una biografía pura y dura sobre Rosa Parks contada por ella misma. Y es maravillosa. Es uno de esos libros en los que la primera persona no sólo se entiende, sino que se aplaude y agradece. Una maravilla sentir que de alguna manera es la propia Rosa Parks la que te está contando en una tarde tranquila todo esto. Impresionante.
Llegué a este libro porque el otro que había cogido sobre el personaje histórico no me estaba llegando, ¡y que buena idea! Creo sin lugar a dudas que ésta ha sido la mejor lectura del #BlackHistoryMonth pero de lejos. Si bien es cierto que yo ya conocía muchos de los hechos que aquí se narran y obviamente conocía a Rosa Parks, saber más desde su punto de vista y su propia palabra... me ha encantado. Es un libro con el que he llorado. Un libro que me ha removido por dentro y me ha dado rabia y dolor. Un libro que te dice, una vez más, la cantidad de mierda que han tenido que soportar, y siguen soportando, los negros en USA, y como el resto del mundo no sólo lo permitimos sino que encima tenemos a ese país como referencia. ¿Referencia en qué? ¿En racismo? ¿En explotación? ¿En miseria? Ni siquiera me sirve la excusa del sueño americnao, porque el sueño americano es para los hombres blancos cishetero de clase media. Una absoluta vergüenza.
Aquí, de primera mano, y con algunas anécdotas... se nos narra la vida entera de Rosa Parks. Dónde nació, como se crío, cómo eran sus abuelos, sus padres, su infancia, su matrimonio... Cómo fue vivir en la IIGM en Estados Unidos. Como fue ser negro y haber defendido a tu país en la vieja Europa y luego tener que lidiar con que te trataran aún peor que cuando te habías ido. Cómo era esa segregación absurda, racista y absolutamente denigrante que se establecía a todos los niveles. Como mucha gente era partícipe de manera directa o indirecta, y como muchos hacían cosas "en contra" a veces incluso por el más puro egoísmo y sin tener ningún remordimiento, ni ideal.
Me ha matado el mmento en que en plena huelga de autobuses, cuando los negros -que eran la mayoría de los que cogían esos buses- se negaban a cogerlos para ir a trabajar, por lo que pusieron a las empresas contra las cuerdas, eran las propias amas de casa blancas las que con su coche personal llevaban a sus criadas e incluso a algún marido a trabajar. Y no era por deferencia. No era porque quisieran apoyarles y vieran que eso era horrible. NO. Era porque alguien tenía que ir a sus casas a fregar, limpiar y cuidar de los niños. Puro egoísmo. Me ha dado más ganas aún de leer Criadas y señoras, y creo que lo haré el próximo mes, con todo esto tan fresco.
Me ha encantado también la parte en que habla de Martin Luther King y sus ideas tan idealistas, especialmente la parte en que hablando con Malcolm X, al que también conoció, ambos comentan que no están de acuerdo con las palabras del reverendo, en las que decía -tal cual jesucristo- que había que perdonar a los blancos porque no sabían lo que hacían.
Amén con eso. El hombre blanco siempre ha sido muy consciente de toda la mierda racista que ha hecho. Es más, todos esos miembros del KKK saben perfectamente que ideología defienden y qué quieren hacer, no es ignorancia, no es pasotismo, es algo hecho a conciencia. Y poco ayuda a la minoría negra -no tan minoría en muchos estados sureños- a seguir bajo el yugo de un poder preestablecido que en 2020 poco ha hecho por cambiar.
Es un libro necesario. Es duro. Es historia. Te remueve por dentro, te desquicia, te rompe.. pero tampoco te enseña nada nuevo si sabes de estas historias, solo es una más de tantas. Pero lo vale. Vale muchísimo la pena y lo recomiendo encarecidamente.
Llegué a este libro porque el otro que había cogido sobre el personaje histórico no me estaba llegando, ¡y que buena idea! Creo sin lugar a dudas que ésta ha sido la mejor lectura del #BlackHistoryMonth pero de lejos. Si bien es cierto que yo ya conocía muchos de los hechos que aquí se narran y obviamente conocía a Rosa Parks, saber más desde su punto de vista y su propia palabra... me ha encantado. Es un libro con el que he llorado. Un libro que me ha removido por dentro y me ha dado rabia y dolor. Un libro que te dice, una vez más, la cantidad de mierda que han tenido que soportar, y siguen soportando, los negros en USA, y como el resto del mundo no sólo lo permitimos sino que encima tenemos a ese país como referencia. ¿Referencia en qué? ¿En racismo? ¿En explotación? ¿En miseria? Ni siquiera me sirve la excusa del sueño americnao, porque el sueño americano es para los hombres blancos cishetero de clase media. Una absoluta vergüenza.
Aquí, de primera mano, y con algunas anécdotas... se nos narra la vida entera de Rosa Parks. Dónde nació, como se crío, cómo eran sus abuelos, sus padres, su infancia, su matrimonio... Cómo fue vivir en la IIGM en Estados Unidos. Como fue ser negro y haber defendido a tu país en la vieja Europa y luego tener que lidiar con que te trataran aún peor que cuando te habías ido. Cómo era esa segregación absurda, racista y absolutamente denigrante que se establecía a todos los niveles. Como mucha gente era partícipe de manera directa o indirecta, y como muchos hacían cosas "en contra" a veces incluso por el más puro egoísmo y sin tener ningún remordimiento, ni ideal.
Me ha matado el mmento en que en plena huelga de autobuses, cuando los negros -que eran la mayoría de los que cogían esos buses- se negaban a cogerlos para ir a trabajar, por lo que pusieron a las empresas contra las cuerdas, eran las propias amas de casa blancas las que con su coche personal llevaban a sus criadas e incluso a algún marido a trabajar. Y no era por deferencia. No era porque quisieran apoyarles y vieran que eso era horrible. NO. Era porque alguien tenía que ir a sus casas a fregar, limpiar y cuidar de los niños. Puro egoísmo. Me ha dado más ganas aún de leer Criadas y señoras, y creo que lo haré el próximo mes, con todo esto tan fresco.
Me ha encantado también la parte en que habla de Martin Luther King y sus ideas tan idealistas, especialmente la parte en que hablando con Malcolm X, al que también conoció, ambos comentan que no están de acuerdo con las palabras del reverendo, en las que decía -tal cual jesucristo- que había que perdonar a los blancos porque no sabían lo que hacían.
Amén con eso. El hombre blanco siempre ha sido muy consciente de toda la mierda racista que ha hecho. Es más, todos esos miembros del KKK saben perfectamente que ideología defienden y qué quieren hacer, no es ignorancia, no es pasotismo, es algo hecho a conciencia. Y poco ayuda a la minoría negra -no tan minoría en muchos estados sureños- a seguir bajo el yugo de un poder preestablecido que en 2020 poco ha hecho por cambiar.
Es un libro necesario. Es duro. Es historia. Te remueve por dentro, te desquicia, te rompe.. pero tampoco te enseña nada nuevo si sabes de estas historias, solo es una más de tantas. Pero lo vale. Vale muchísimo la pena y lo recomiendo encarecidamente.
July 9, 2020
Un libro muy necesario, es breve y está escrito de forma muy amena.
No está recargado de información, se centra en darnos a conocer el carácter de Rosa Parks y aspectos centrales de su vida.
Me ha permitido conocer casos, personas y mucha de la historia del inicio de la lucha de los derechos civiles en EUA.
No está recargado de información, se centra en darnos a conocer el carácter de Rosa Parks y aspectos centrales de su vida.
Me ha permitido conocer casos, personas y mucha de la historia del inicio de la lucha de los derechos civiles en EUA.
October 9, 2022
“De lo único que estaba cansada era de rendirme.”
June 17, 2022
What a quietly stunning woman is Rosa Parks. I enjoyed understanding her choices and approach to life more deeply through this autobiographical work. Two different parts of this story really stood out to me. One was the time she spent at Miss White's School (technically called the Montgomery Industrial School). Alice L. White spent her life trying to make certain that young black women in Alabama received as much education as possible. I appreciated what Mrs. Parks said about her time there:
"What I learned best at Miss White's school was that I was a person with dignity and self-respect, and I should not set my sights lower than anybody else just because I was black. We were taught to be ambitious and to believe that we could do what we wanted in life. This was not something I learned just at Miss White's school. I had learned it from my grandparents and my mother too. But what I had learned at home was reinforced by the teachers I had at Miss White's school."
But the moment when Mrs. Parks really shone for me was when she was taken to jail, after being arrested off the bus and her response to one of her fellow cellmates.
"This woman wanted to know if there was anything she could do, and I said, 'If you have a cup, I could drink a little water.' She had a dark metal mug hanging above the toilet, and she caught a little water from the tap, and I took two swallows of that. She then started telling me about her problems. I became interested in her story and wondered how I could assist her."
Now, Rosa Parks had problems aplenty of her own in that moment but she immediately began to formulate a plan for how she should help this other person. And she did manage to help her once she was released from jail. That is an attitude I would like to cultivate in myself. That no matter what I may be struggling with, I am always wondering how I can assist someone else.
Great story about a great lady.
"What I learned best at Miss White's school was that I was a person with dignity and self-respect, and I should not set my sights lower than anybody else just because I was black. We were taught to be ambitious and to believe that we could do what we wanted in life. This was not something I learned just at Miss White's school. I had learned it from my grandparents and my mother too. But what I had learned at home was reinforced by the teachers I had at Miss White's school."
But the moment when Mrs. Parks really shone for me was when she was taken to jail, after being arrested off the bus and her response to one of her fellow cellmates.
"This woman wanted to know if there was anything she could do, and I said, 'If you have a cup, I could drink a little water.' She had a dark metal mug hanging above the toilet, and she caught a little water from the tap, and I took two swallows of that. She then started telling me about her problems. I became interested in her story and wondered how I could assist her."
Now, Rosa Parks had problems aplenty of her own in that moment but she immediately began to formulate a plan for how she should help this other person. And she did manage to help her once she was released from jail. That is an attitude I would like to cultivate in myself. That no matter what I may be struggling with, I am always wondering how I can assist someone else.
Great story about a great lady.
April 2, 2008
This book was an autobiography on American Hero, Rosa Parks(208 pages). I enjoyed reading this book so much because it it taught me and showed me how bad racist people could be back in the day. If one "colored" person would try to say anything to another "white" person they could get themselves hung or in jail. Rosa Parks learned to live through many hard times. This book will teach anyone who reads it to be thankful for what they have to this day and how poeple should threat others fair. Now many look up to Rosa Parks because she was determind to end segragation and did suceed. x
♥Vasilia Hangemanole
♥Vasilia Hangemanole
March 3, 2016
Rosa Parks is a strong women who fights for what she believes in. I loved reading this book because women who fight for themselves and are strong, powerful, and encouraging are very inspiring to me. Because Rosa Parks is such an inspirational person I think everyone should read this book. Overall i think if you're looking for a book about equal rights and equality and what people did to earn equality, this is the book for you. I also recommend this to people that like to learn about segregation.
April 29, 2021
This book is amazing. Rosa recounts her life in her own plain and simple words. It feels completely authentic and she will admit when she cannot remember certain aspects or if her narrative doesn’t line up with someone else’s. She introduces us to many black and white activists who’s names we would not otherwise know. She gives credit where credit is due! Her story is so deeply connected with what we learn about racism in schools but half of it isn’t even true
February 22, 2021
La historia de Rosa Parks es indudablemente esperanzadora y didáctica, pero el libro en sí, la manera en que está contado, me ha dejado bastante fría. No profundiza ni está escrita con nada parecido a un estilo literario, por lo que poco me ha aportado que no hubiera podido aprender en Wikipedia. Una pena.
Read
August 21, 2020Lecture très intéressante pour dépasser l’image de Rosa Parks comme d’une figure accidentelle du mouvement pour les droits civiques. Je recommande ! (Pas de note parce que ça ne se fait pas de noter la vie des gens.)
December 14, 2022
What an amazing woman! I am so inspired by everyday people making a difference. I love that her example was a quiet one.
I loved hearing her points of view.
I loved hearing her points of view.
August 15, 2020
⚠️** THIS BOOK USES WORDS AND DESCRIPTIONS DEEMED INAPPROPRIATE TODAY **⚠️
I will be using BIPOC in this review as I don't feel it is appropriate to use 'black' on it's own as a descriptive term. I feel using BIPOC is more accurate.
I read this book in order to find out more about Rosa but in her words as I'd heard so much variety about her story and wanted to find out for myself. I wrote so many notes about the contents of this book, so I will try and summarise my review.
I learned a lot from this book and found the description and details of life from Rosa's perspective to be very insightful and shocking at the same time. It has really highlighted how much I think I know and am aware of with regards to racism, supremacy and attitudes to BIPOC people. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants an insight into how things were and what changes were made. It will certainly help to gain an understanding of some of the challenges faced, and what attitudes and behaviours have been utilised to stay alive in a hostile environment where you are judged purely by your skin colour.
Further details and thoughts about the book are below:
This book is Rosa Parks autobiography and is told in her words. Its honest, and very insightful as she discusses what life was like living in Montgomery, Alabama while she was growing up and trying to navigate her way through life in segregated America where white supremacy was still ingrained.
Rosa makes reference to her great-grandparents who were slaves until the end of slavery in 1865 and how her grandparents and parents would educate her on the correct way to behave around white people, and how to keep a low profile. You can see in the book how she finds it hard at times to follow her parents and community's advice at times, and wants to break out of the segregation.
There were not many schools in Montgomery, and those that did exist did so because they were built by the BIPOC community and had to fund and run it themselves. Schools for white people were funded by public funding and were maintained by the state so there were more of them and they were predominantly for white communities. Rosa strives to get an education and to complete her studies despite interruptions caused by family health. Health services were also less available.
It was not unheard of for buildings and properties in BIPOC communities to be damaged or destroyed by white people. This was normal... Rosa mentions how when she was asked how she managed to live with that kind of fear, but that was the only way she knew.
One thing I found very interesting was how in the South, white people were treated by the white community if they mixed with the BIPOC community. They would be shunned and labelled Communist, even though there was little or no evidence to support this. White school teachers would be shunned, but now they are honoured or held in high esteem. How things have changed...
Rosa describes how she met her husband, Raymond, and how he was a member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) and how they worked hard to try and represent people who faced racial discrimination. She also describes how BIPOC communities have to deal with the police and not drawing attention to themselves, and how the KKK would be very active in racial hatred and persecution.
Rosa also talks about the Black Muslims and how they preached white hatred, which went against the teachings of Islam, and so they were shunned by Muslims who are non-racist. Some who were part of this extreme sect did convert to 'true' Islam to escape the prejudice and to change their ways, but they had to remain quiet so not to draw attention to themselves and be a victim themselves. We're talking about the 1960's here!
Rosa did not plan to be the one to start the petition for BIPOC rights to seating on buses, rather she just didn't want to be disrespected anymore. Others had tried before to refuse to give up their seat to make a point of highlighting the injustice of it all, but these had been unsuccessful and ignored.
The boycott toward the buses was planned as BIPOC passengers accounted for two thirds of passengers, so to get this many passengers to not use the buses would cause major problems as it was these passengers who faced the most amount of discrimination and violence. The boycotts were picked up in other states around the U.S which did cause unrest as it was still generally deemed unacceptable for BIPOC communities to have many rights, let alone the same rights as white people.
Through this book, you see how more rights are granted to BIPOC people and communities, but it is really made clear at how hard these victories are so hard won, and often only done through severe compromise. One example is when after the boycott of the buses, one of the requests was that the buses be split into thirds, so the first 10 seats are for whites, the rear 10 for BIPOC and the middle set are taken on a first-come-first-serve basis, so its more equal. This was deemed unacceptable by white people and so was not enforced until much, much later, and only through law as segregation on buses in Montgomery was deemed 'unconstitutional'.
I found a couple of other things that I found interesting to note:
○Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. attended some of the NAACP meetings and was inspired by them to try and find a way to bring about integration (his preferred method was non-violence, which was not deemed the best idea by some in BIPOC communities)
○Rosa was not on the front rows of the bus when she refused to move, but was on the front row of the coloured section. White people could override BIPOC passengers even if they were in the coloured section. They had to move back, or get off and take the next bus, thereby giving priority to the white passengers.
○ White people used everything they had, including misinformation to undo what the BIPOC communities were trying to achieve. Common misconceptions were that they were all violent (some were, yes, but not all), and that they were communist.
○The poinsettia is named after the Poinsettia family who were slave owners.
One thing I have noticed from reading this book, is that (certainty in America) while advances to greater equality for the BIPOC community have been made, there is still a great deal of suppression and supremacy in action, and a lot of resistance still.
I will be using BIPOC in this review as I don't feel it is appropriate to use 'black' on it's own as a descriptive term. I feel using BIPOC is more accurate.
I read this book in order to find out more about Rosa but in her words as I'd heard so much variety about her story and wanted to find out for myself. I wrote so many notes about the contents of this book, so I will try and summarise my review.
I learned a lot from this book and found the description and details of life from Rosa's perspective to be very insightful and shocking at the same time. It has really highlighted how much I think I know and am aware of with regards to racism, supremacy and attitudes to BIPOC people. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants an insight into how things were and what changes were made. It will certainly help to gain an understanding of some of the challenges faced, and what attitudes and behaviours have been utilised to stay alive in a hostile environment where you are judged purely by your skin colour.
Further details and thoughts about the book are below:
This book is Rosa Parks autobiography and is told in her words. Its honest, and very insightful as she discusses what life was like living in Montgomery, Alabama while she was growing up and trying to navigate her way through life in segregated America where white supremacy was still ingrained.
Rosa makes reference to her great-grandparents who were slaves until the end of slavery in 1865 and how her grandparents and parents would educate her on the correct way to behave around white people, and how to keep a low profile. You can see in the book how she finds it hard at times to follow her parents and community's advice at times, and wants to break out of the segregation.
There were not many schools in Montgomery, and those that did exist did so because they were built by the BIPOC community and had to fund and run it themselves. Schools for white people were funded by public funding and were maintained by the state so there were more of them and they were predominantly for white communities. Rosa strives to get an education and to complete her studies despite interruptions caused by family health. Health services were also less available.
It was not unheard of for buildings and properties in BIPOC communities to be damaged or destroyed by white people. This was normal... Rosa mentions how when she was asked how she managed to live with that kind of fear, but that was the only way she knew.
One thing I found very interesting was how in the South, white people were treated by the white community if they mixed with the BIPOC community. They would be shunned and labelled Communist, even though there was little or no evidence to support this. White school teachers would be shunned, but now they are honoured or held in high esteem. How things have changed...
Rosa describes how she met her husband, Raymond, and how he was a member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People) and how they worked hard to try and represent people who faced racial discrimination. She also describes how BIPOC communities have to deal with the police and not drawing attention to themselves, and how the KKK would be very active in racial hatred and persecution.
Rosa also talks about the Black Muslims and how they preached white hatred, which went against the teachings of Islam, and so they were shunned by Muslims who are non-racist. Some who were part of this extreme sect did convert to 'true' Islam to escape the prejudice and to change their ways, but they had to remain quiet so not to draw attention to themselves and be a victim themselves. We're talking about the 1960's here!
Rosa did not plan to be the one to start the petition for BIPOC rights to seating on buses, rather she just didn't want to be disrespected anymore. Others had tried before to refuse to give up their seat to make a point of highlighting the injustice of it all, but these had been unsuccessful and ignored.
The boycott toward the buses was planned as BIPOC passengers accounted for two thirds of passengers, so to get this many passengers to not use the buses would cause major problems as it was these passengers who faced the most amount of discrimination and violence. The boycotts were picked up in other states around the U.S which did cause unrest as it was still generally deemed unacceptable for BIPOC communities to have many rights, let alone the same rights as white people.
Through this book, you see how more rights are granted to BIPOC people and communities, but it is really made clear at how hard these victories are so hard won, and often only done through severe compromise. One example is when after the boycott of the buses, one of the requests was that the buses be split into thirds, so the first 10 seats are for whites, the rear 10 for BIPOC and the middle set are taken on a first-come-first-serve basis, so its more equal. This was deemed unacceptable by white people and so was not enforced until much, much later, and only through law as segregation on buses in Montgomery was deemed 'unconstitutional'.
I found a couple of other things that I found interesting to note:
○Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. attended some of the NAACP meetings and was inspired by them to try and find a way to bring about integration (his preferred method was non-violence, which was not deemed the best idea by some in BIPOC communities)
○Rosa was not on the front rows of the bus when she refused to move, but was on the front row of the coloured section. White people could override BIPOC passengers even if they were in the coloured section. They had to move back, or get off and take the next bus, thereby giving priority to the white passengers.
○ White people used everything they had, including misinformation to undo what the BIPOC communities were trying to achieve. Common misconceptions were that they were all violent (some were, yes, but not all), and that they were communist.
○The poinsettia is named after the Poinsettia family who were slave owners.
One thing I have noticed from reading this book, is that (certainty in America) while advances to greater equality for the BIPOC community have been made, there is still a great deal of suppression and supremacy in action, and a lot of resistance still.
October 19, 2019
1st December 1955, Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks, a black woman, refused to give up her seat to a white man. She wasn't the first one to do so, and so the usual procedure was well followed: the driver stopped the bus, called the police, she was arrested, spent a night in jail, and went to court the next day to be sentenced to paid a fine. End of the story...
… Beginning of History.
Rosa Parks was indeed a member of the NAACP. She was also, as a Baptist Christian, member of a strong church community unafraid to campaign on various issues affecting then black people. The two movements will combine to support her; and it will trigger the whole Civil Right Movement that would ultimately transform the segregationist USA.
Where to seat, if at all, in buses? It will take one year of clashes, pressures, and violence before racial segregation in public transport to be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court... and for Rosa Parks to become a whole symbol of political freedom.
This autobiography is at the image of such a courageous lady: simple, humble, yet dignified and truly brave. A lesson in humanity.
… Beginning of History.
Rosa Parks was indeed a member of the NAACP. She was also, as a Baptist Christian, member of a strong church community unafraid to campaign on various issues affecting then black people. The two movements will combine to support her; and it will trigger the whole Civil Right Movement that would ultimately transform the segregationist USA.
Where to seat, if at all, in buses? It will take one year of clashes, pressures, and violence before racial segregation in public transport to be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court... and for Rosa Parks to become a whole symbol of political freedom.
This autobiography is at the image of such a courageous lady: simple, humble, yet dignified and truly brave. A lesson in humanity.
November 15, 2020
The epitome of all that is good even when the world feels bad.
February 3, 2017
Book review #5
Book :Rosa Parks My Story
Author: Rosa Parks with Jim Haskins
The book Rosa Parks My story was very inspirational, and well written. Rosa parks had a great way of saying what she wanted to say in a different way. She explained her emotions about everything so well that at times I felt the same emotions as her.
The point of view in this biography was Rosa Parks obviously its her book. She has a very complex way of telling her experiences for example. “ I’m in jail. See if Parks will come here and get me out”. She had a whole different experience when it came to racism. She stood up for her self at times because everyone else was to scared to. Rosa had a lot of courage and bravery when she told the bus driver no. Rosa was not such a public speaker but she did grow a lot through the book.
The theme in this book is to me a lot about bravery and not giving up when you set a goal for yourself. She wanted to make a change and luckily did. She taught us all lessons of bravery and courage. “ “No.” he said “Well, I’m going to have to arrested.” I said “You may do that.” These were the only words we had said to each other. “Rosa wast in NAACP for awhile trying to help find justice for the African Americans who get put in to jail for no good reason.
I thought this book was very touching and inspirational her story is very beautiful. Her complex way of writing was amazing and well written. I hope you will read this book and enjoy it as much as I did. I really enjoyed reading this and I hope you will too.
Book :Rosa Parks My Story
Author: Rosa Parks with Jim Haskins
The book Rosa Parks My story was very inspirational, and well written. Rosa parks had a great way of saying what she wanted to say in a different way. She explained her emotions about everything so well that at times I felt the same emotions as her.
The point of view in this biography was Rosa Parks obviously its her book. She has a very complex way of telling her experiences for example. “ I’m in jail. See if Parks will come here and get me out”. She had a whole different experience when it came to racism. She stood up for her self at times because everyone else was to scared to. Rosa had a lot of courage and bravery when she told the bus driver no. Rosa was not such a public speaker but she did grow a lot through the book.
The theme in this book is to me a lot about bravery and not giving up when you set a goal for yourself. She wanted to make a change and luckily did. She taught us all lessons of bravery and courage. “ “No.” he said “Well, I’m going to have to arrested.” I said “You may do that.” These were the only words we had said to each other. “Rosa wast in NAACP for awhile trying to help find justice for the African Americans who get put in to jail for no good reason.
I thought this book was very touching and inspirational her story is very beautiful. Her complex way of writing was amazing and well written. I hope you will read this book and enjoy it as much as I did. I really enjoyed reading this and I hope you will too.
January 14, 2009
Rosa Parks: My Story by Rosa Parks.Main people are Rosa Parks, Marten Luther King JR the event was in Alabama 1950's. In this book the conflict was that immergration and it happened on the bus and a white man came on and she didn't give up her seat to the man and the driver call the police and the police sent her to jail for not giving up her seat. In this is a self Biogrphy This woman is my hero she was so brave not to give up her seat to a white person and she know that she would get in trouble but that did not stop her form doing the brave thing she said and did. I pay all my respect to her and what she stands for in this book, this is a great book you have to read you will be blown a way how it was so different back then now it is so different back then blacks and whites couldn't be together just think how we can be friends with any one you chose to be friends with they coulden't be seen together at all that was there law that blacks and whites could not be friends, in school, or seen in public together.
May 1, 2014
I enjoyed this book greatly. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in civil rights or the time period of the 1960s. This made me really understand how hard it was for people who weren't accepted growing up. her story has really inspired me on a whole new level. Seriously, a great book, I suggest reading for yourself.
April 26, 2012
I now admire Rosa Parks even more, and have a much deeper respect for her. She was courageous and a very strong (also proud) inspirational women. You must read to understand her bravery. Please the movie si no where close to demonstrate what she had gone through.
January 27, 2021
Such a powerful story, and hard to believe these events were not so long ago. There was so much I didn't know about Rosa Parks since her story gets simplified in textbooks. I enjoyed hearing about the other incredible things she accomplished that get overlooked by her refusal to give up her seat.
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