Let Me Know if You Have Any More Questions
Interview with Rosa Parks
 | |
| Rosa Parks, the "Mother of the Ceremonious Rights Movement," visited the Scholastic website in January and February 1997 to answer questions from students. During this monthlong project, students learned how Mrs. Parks sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott past not giving up her autobus seat to a white passenger in 1955. And how, as a result of that brave act, in 1956 the Supreme Court ruled segregation on buses was illegal. Rosa Parks died on October 25, 2005 at age 92. |  |
Below are Rosa Parks's answers to questions from students.
Life Before Civil Rights
Rosa Parks' Part in Civil Rights
Civil Rights Today
Other Questions
Life Before Civil Rights
How exercise you lot feel most the mode black Americans used to exist treated?
I e'er felt badly because our people were not treated fairly. We should have been free and given the same opportunities others had.
How did it feel non to have ceremonious rights?
Of course it felt like we should all be free people and nosotros should have the same rights as other people. In the South, at that time, in that location was legally enforced segregation. At that place were places black people couldn't go, and rights nosotros did non have. This was not acceptable to me. A lot of other people didn't disobey the rules because they didn't want to go into trouble. I was willing to go arrested — it was worth the consequences.
When you were footling, did yous empathize that black people weren't treated adequately?
When I was a young child I couldn't understand why black people weren't treated adequately. But when I did learn about it, I didn't feel very good about it.
How practice you feel about the people who treated you and then unfairly?
I don't think well of people who are prejudiced against people because of race. The simply manner for prejudiced people to modify is for them to decide for themselves that all man beings should exist treated fairly. Nosotros can't forcefulness them to call back that style.
Were you allowed to acquire to read when you lot were piffling?
Well, yes. I was built-in fifty years later on slavery, in 1913. I was allowed to read. My mother, who was a teacher, taught me when I was a very immature kid.
The first school I attended was a pocket-size building that went from first to sixth class. There was i teacher for all of the students. At that place could be anywhere from 50 to lx students of all dissimilar ages. From v or half dozen years old to in their teens. We went to school five months out of the twelvemonth. The rest of the time young people would exist bachelor to work on the farm. The parents had to buy whatever the student used. Often, if your family couldn't beget information technology, you had no access to books, pencils, whatever. Notwithstanding, often the children would share. I liked to read all sorts of stories, like fairy tales — Little Red Riding Hood, Mother Goose. I read very often.
Back to summit
Rosa Parks' Role in Ceremonious Rights
What made yous decide on December 1, 1955, non to get upwards from your seat?
That particular day that I decided was not the first time I had trouble with that particular driver. He evicted me before, because I would not go around to the back door after I was already onto the coach. The evening that I boarded the bus, and noticed that he was the same driver, I decided to become on anyway. I did non sit down at the very front of the bus; I took a seat with a man who was next to the window -- the first seat that was allowed for "colored" people to sit in. We were not disturbed until we reached the 3rd stop after I boarded the omnibus. At this signal a few white people boarded the autobus, and 1 white man was left standing. When the driver noticed him standing, he spoke to us (the man and two women beyond the alley) and told us to let the man have the seat. The other 3 all stood up. But the commuter saw me nonetheless sitting there. He said would I stand up, and I said, "No, I will not." So he said, "I'll have you arrested." And I told him he could do that. So he didn't move the bus any farther. Several black people left the coach.
2 policemen got on the autobus in a couple of minutes. The commuter told the constabulary that I would non stand up. The policeman walked downwardly and asked me why I didn't stand upward, and I said I didn't retrieve I should stand up up. "Why do you lot push button us around?" I asked him. And he said, "I don't know. But the constabulary is the law and you are under arrest." Every bit soon as he said that I stood upwards, the three of u.s.a. left the bus together.
Ane of them picked up my purse, the other picked up my shopping handbag. And we left the autobus together. It was the first fourth dimension I'd had that particular affair happen. I was determined that I allow it be known that I did not want to exist treated in this manner. The policemen had their team machine waiting, they gave me my bag and bag, and they opened the back door of the police automobile for me to enter.
Did you think your actions would take such a far-reaching effect on the Civil Rights movement?
I didn't have whatsoever idea just what my deportment would bring virtually. At the time I was arrested I didn't know how the community would react. I was glad that they did take the action that they did by staying off the coach.
What was information technology like walking all those miles when the passenger vehicle boycott was going on?
We were fortunate enough to have a carpool organized to option people upward and give them rides. Of course, many people walked and sometimes I did as well. I was willing to walk rather than go dorsum to the buses under those unfair atmospheric condition.
Very shortly after the boycott began, I was dismissed from my chore every bit a seamstress at a department store. I worked at dwelling doing sewing and typing. I don't know why I was dismissed from the task, only I think it was considering I was arrested.
What did your family think about what happened?
After I was in jail I had the opportunity to call abode and speak to my female parent. The get-go matter she asked me was if they had attacked me, beat me. That'south what they used to do to people. I said no, that I hadn't been hurt, merely I was in jail. She gave the telephone to my husband and he said he would be there shortly and would get me out of jail.
There was a man who had come to my house who knew I had been arrested. He told my husband he'd give him a ride to the jail. Concurrently, Mr. E.D. Nixon, one of the leaders of the NAACP, had heard most my beingness arrested from a friend of mine. He called to see if I was at the jail. The people at the jail wouldn't tell him I was there. And so Mr. Nixon got in touch with a white lawyer named Clifford Durr. Mr. Durr called the jail, and they told him that I was there. Mr. Nixon had to pick upward Mr. Durr before he could come become me. Mr. Durr's wife insisted on going also, considering she and I were skillful friends. Mr. Nixon helped release me from jail.
Were you scared to do such a brave thing?
No, actually I had no fear at that particular fourth dimension. I was very determined to let it be known how it felt to be treated in that manner — discriminated against. I was thinking mostly about how inconvenienced I was — stopping me from going home and doing my piece of work — something I had non expected. When I did realize, I faced it, and it was quite a claiming to be arrested. I did non really know what would happen. I didn't feel especially frightened. I felt more annoyed than frightened.
Did you know that y'all were going to jail if you didn't surrender your seat?
Well, I knew I was going to jail when the driver said he was going to have me arrested. I didn't feel expert near going to jail, but I was willing to become to allow information technology exist known that under this type of segregation, black people had endured too much for too long.
How did y'all feel when yous were asked to requite upwards your seat?
I didn't feel very proficient almost being told to stand upward and not have a seat. I felt I had a correct to stay where I was. That was why I told the commuter I was not going to stand up. I believed that he would arrest me. I did information technology considering I wanted this detail driver to know that we were being treated unfairly every bit individuals and every bit a people.
What were your feelings when you were able to sit in the front of the omnibus for the first time?
I was glad that the type of treatment — legally enforced segregation — on the buses was over...had come to an end. It was something rather special. However, when I knew the boycott was over, and that we didn't have to be mistreated on the bus anymore, that was a much better feeling than I had when we were existence mistreated.
How do you feel about being called the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement"?
I accept the title quite well. I appreciate the fact that people feel that fashion virtually me. I don't know who started calling me that.
Back to elevation
Ceremonious Rights Today
What one lesson would you like to exit with students?
I always encourage children to stay in school, get good grades, and to believe in themselves. Of course they should take care of their health and continue themselves from sure things that would be detrimental to them either physically or mentally. They should be certain to get the best education that they tin can and cull careers that they tin can exist progressive in as they go into their adulthood. In our Pathways to Freedom Found and our Constitute for Cocky Development, we take young people on trips and give them opportunities to run into many ceremonious rights leaders. We teach them to exist good citizens and exercise what they can do to help other people as they get successful themselves. I urge children to accept a spiritual awareness in their lives. If children work towards a positive goal in life, it volition help them be successful when they go adults.
What do you recollect nonetheless needs to be done in regards to civil rights?
People need to free their minds of racial prejudice and believe in equality for all and freedom regardless of race. Nosotros need much more teaching — especially those who are bigoted. We need every bit much financial security as nosotros tin go. I think it would exist a good thing if all people were treated equally and justly and not be discriminated against because of race or faith or anything that makes them unlike from others.
Do yous recollect the relationships between the different races are where they should be today?
There is withal as much racism among some people. Information technology notwithstanding exists, simply we are not under the legally enforced segregation that we used to be. There are yet people who are prejudiced because of race. The Rosa and Raymond Parks Constitute accepts people of whatsoever race. We don't discriminate against anyone. Nosotros teach people to reach their highest potential. I set examples by the way I lead my life.
What is your life like now? Are y'all still fighting for civil rights?
I am nevertheless a supporter of civil and homo rights. I attend programs and I participate in the organization that I adult, the Rosa and Raymond Parks Establish for Self-Development. Raymond Parks is my belatedly husband. He was interested in civil rights himself.
Are there still people who treat y'all unfairly?
Yep. In 1994 a human being entered my home and beat and robbed me. I was badly hurt and felt sad. It wasn't racial. He just bankrupt into my house. He was on drugs and booze. He was arrested and is serving a sentence. I was not the only person he robbed and attacked. He robbed and mistreated older people and women. I recovered from the attack and went on with what I have to exercise.
Dorsum to height
Other Questions
Have you always faced something that you idea you lot couldn't stand up upwardly to?
I can't retrieve of anything. Usually, if I have to face something, I practise so no matter what the consequences might be. I never had any desire to give up. I did not experience that giving up would exist a way to become a free person. That's the way I still feel. Past standing upwards to something we still don't ever bear upon change correct abroad. Fifty-fifty when we are brave and have courage, modify still doesn't come most for a long fourth dimension.
Would you have continued schoolhouse if you didn't accept to take care of your mom and grandmom?
Yes. My grandmother was ill and I had to stop school to look later on her. After she died my mother became ill and I did have to stay out of schoolhouse. I finished high schoolhouse after I was married and living in the city.
Did you lot ever see the Ku Klux Klan?
No, I never saw the Klansmen. Simply I did know that they had gone through the customs and mistreated people and drove them from their homes. I saw the results of what had happened. I exercise remember a swain who was found lying dead in the woods and nobody saw who had done it.
How did you feel when Martin Luther Male monarch, Jr. was killed?
It was a very devastating feeling. I felt very badly that he had been assassinated. I grieved very much nigh his expiry.
Back to top
Many students expressed their gratitude to Ms. Parks.
Our second grade classes learned about y'all from the Scholastic Web site and by reading some biographies as part of our "People Who Make a Difference" unit in social studies. Students then wrote statements telling how they felt nigh you, and some of their comments are posted below.
- Rosa Parks is a brave person.
- Rosa Parks helped change the world for black people.
- Rosa Parks is important because she helped Martin Luther King, Jr. free black people.
- Rosa Parks was brave to get on the passenger vehicle and sit in the front.
- Rosa Parks is an of import person because she fought for ceremonious rights.
- Rosa Parks believed in freedom and she believed that we should all be treated the same.
- Rosa Parks is a wonderful person because she believes in human rights.
- Rosa Parks — a special person to usa!
— Brenda Johnson'due south 2nd grade class
Give thanks yous for making our countries and states costless.
— Yessinia P.
I thank you for what yous inverse in our world.
— Daniela
We admire you lot very much and hope to encounter you some 24-hour interval. We hope we tin can achieve something equally great as what you did.
— Collin Southward. and Madison L.
I think that nigh anybody is thankful for what you did!
— Samantha S.
We thanks for what yous have done because nosotros wouldn't have some of the friends we have today.
— Mrs. Lord's 4th grade class
Thank you for bringing freedom to our world.
— Mrs. Stafford's third class
Source: https://teacher.scholastic.com/rosa/interview.htm
Post a Comment for "Let Me Know if You Have Any More Questions"