ROSA PARKS

THESIS

• PARKS PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT,
• A PROTEST THAT WAS CRITICAL TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
• BECAUSE IT HELPED END LEGAL SEGREGATION AND IGNITE THE
• CAREERS OF IMPORTANT/INFLUENTIAL CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.

WHAT WAS THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT?

• Movement that peaked in the 1950s & 60s
• Equal access and opportunities for African Americans
• Helped fight segregation
• Gained equal rights for black people

BLACK HISTORY

• After emancipation of the slaves in 1863 many Americans were still prejudiced
• This prejudice lead to mistreatment of many African Americans
• After WWII, blacks started gaining more rights
• 1948-Truman desegregates armed forces; "To Secure These Rights" is released
• The idea of racial equality jump started the civil rights movement

ROSA PARKS

• Civil rights activist
• Respected member of Montgomery African American Community
• Secretary of NAACP (National Association for Advancement of Colored People)
• Her involement with these associations most likely gave her the courage to act out

DECEMBER 1ST 1955

• Parks gets on a crowded Montgomery Bus
• Sits down and is later asked by James Blake to move
• Parks refuses
• Arrested and fined for the simple action of saying "no"

THE BUS BOYCOTT

• Members of the black community are outraged by the injustice
• Meeting at Dexter Avenue Baptist church
• The meeting was a success
• The MIA (montgomery improvement association) is formed with MLK as the president
• Organized a bus boycott for December 5th, just days after the arrest

DECEMBER 5TH 1955

• Nearly every black person in montgomery stayed off buses
• Recieved much attention from media
• So successful it was decided that the boycott would continue until certain demands were met
• Movement lasted over a year

DEDICATION TO CAUSE

• Carpool system formed
• Some had to walk for miles
• Resulted in even harsher treatment for blacks
• King and ED nixons homes were bombed

SUCCESS!

• 1956-Browder vs Gale rules segregation unconstitutional
• Everyone in the nation could now ride the bus as equals
• One step closer to equal rights
• Inspirational to all
• Parks becomes a hero for starting the movement

KING

• MLK career was jumpstared as a result of boycott
• Went on to establish Southern Christian Leadership Conference
• Became an extremely successful speaker
• Critical figure during the civil rights movement

PARKS IS A HERO

• Parks started the bus boycott, a critical movement in the 1950s
• Unknowingly started a boycott to end legal segregation
• Mother of civil rights movement
• Helped ignite MLK career
• One of the first steps to equal rights, and ending mistreatment of blacks

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