Rosa Parks

What would you do if someone told you to give up your seat because of the color of your skin? On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a calm and tired seamstress named Rosa Parks answered, "No." She refused to move from her bus seat for a white passenger. That quiet, brave choice became a spark that lit a big change across the country.

Rosa Parks (1913-2005) lived during the era of segregation, when laws and everyday rules kept Black and white people apart. She was more than one bus rider - she was active in her community and a member of the NAACP, a group that worked for equal rights. The single most important thing she did was use peaceful courage to refuse an unfair rule. Her action showed people they could stand up to injustice.

Rosa's refusal helped start the Montgomery Bus Boycott - a 381-day protest where thousands chose to walk, carpool, or find other ways to get around instead of riding segregated buses. The boycott succeeded in winning a court ruling that ended legal segregation on city buses. Rosa Parks' quiet stand inspired the Civil Rights Movement, led to new laws, and reminded the world that one person's brave choice can change many lives. Today, schools and museums teach her story so kids like you learn about fairness and courage.