Rosa Parks
Feb 4, 1913 - Oct.24,2005
As I think of Rosa Parks a few words come to mind. Strength, Courage, Self Worth, Determination, Independant. But the main word that I think of is very simple....Woman. I have been fortuante enough to never have to be descriminated against because of my color. I have been fortunate enough to never have to be told or made to feel that I am not valued in society. I have always been fortunate enough to walk with my head high and know that my life is what I can make of it and nothing can hold me back. Something unfortunatley Mrs Parks at the time did not have the luxery of. But even though I can't identify on a personal level with Rosa Parks based on skin color. I can however identify with her as a woman.
When I think of Rosa Parks many years ago before my time sitting on that bus in Montgomery, Alabama . I think of a woman who was tired of being humilated. And finally decided to say enough is enough! I can hardly imagine what she must have felt like. The courage it must have taken. In Dec 1955 one brave act by one unkown woman sparked a huge boycott which not only pushed the fight for civil rights but also paved the path for a leader to arise Dr Martin Luther King. Mrs Parks was no longer an unkown seamstress but the face of civil rights the face of hope and a voice for people who only desired to be treated equal. Although Im sure she had no idea any of that was about to unfold when she with all the dignity and courage a woman could possibly posses refused to give up her seat!
As I think of Rosa Parks Im forced to look at my own life. Where is my strength? Where is my courage? What do I care about? Even though I have been fortuante to not have to endure what she and many others had to. I have been unfortuante in the fact I don't seem to have the heart and the drive she had. As I watched her funeral I thought to myself how wonderful it must be to know you have made a mark in history. To know that what you have done in life really mattered. That you not only inspired presidents and prominent people like that but also the common man and woman. That you inspired people to take a look at themsleves and find a better person inside.
Even if we all can't make a mark in the history of our nation and be known world wide. We can still make our mark within our own communties. Within our homes and in our familes. We can still try to inspire our daughters and sons alike to always look in themselves and search for a better person. To go out and stand up for what you believe and dont ever settle for second best. I hope that I can make my children know that no matter what obstacles they face with determination and strength they can conquer them. And who knows maybe one day they will be the next spark.
parks
