Historical & Current Events dictionary
Rosa Parks Day
[ roh-zuh pahrks dey ]
What is Rosa Parks Day?
Rosa Parks Day is a holiday in celebration of the life and achievements of Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks.
Rosa Parks is widely considered one of the icons of the Civil Rights movement in the U.S. She is remembered for her act of protest that involved refusing to give up her seat to white passengers on a bus, but she became a leader in the movement.
Rosa Parks Day is celebrated in several states, including California, Ohio, Alabama, Missouri, Oregon, and Tennessee. There have been proposals for the day to be made into a federal holiday.
⚡️When is Rosa Parks Day?
The date of Rosa Parks Day varies by location. In some places, including California and Missouri, it is observed on February 4 (her birthday). In other places, including Alabama, Ohio, Oregon, and Tennessee, it is observed on December 1 (the date of her famous protest and arrest in 1955).
Where does Rosa Parks Day come from?
On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was seated on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, when the driver demanded that she move to make room for white passengers—a common practice at the time supported by racist segregation laws. Parks refused and was arrested. Her act of protest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, considered a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. Parks continued to be a leader for Civil Rights. The Supreme Court eventually declared that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional.
Adoption of a holiday known as Rosa Parks Day began in the early 2000s. It was first observed in California in 2000. It was first officially recognized in Ohio in 2005.
Examples of Rosa Parks Day
Who uses Rosa Parks Day?
Did you know … ?
- Rosa Parks is sometimes depicted as having refused to give up her seat because she was old and tired. She was 42 at the time of her protest.
What are other words used in discussion of Rosa Parks Day?
Note
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