Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks became an icon of the civil rights movement. Her funeral services were held today in Detroit. I am watching some of it now on CSPAN. It's very touching... I hope to see the entire service soon.
I have a lot of thoughts about American History and the history of black people in America. I haven't sorted it all out in my head yet, but hopefully soon.
Rosa was a part of a movement. We talk about the movement and what she did. SOme think she was just tired, but she was the first black person to protest by refusing to give up her seat to a white man. As Cain Hope Felder said on NPR today, she had support. Black people united and boycotted public transportation. Martin Luther King became the spokes person for the movement. Many countless others were involved and committed to the struggle. The thing that amazes me is that it didn't happen that long ago. But it's easy to think and act like it did. 1955...
It's not 2000 BC. It was 50 years ago. My mom and dad were both born. My grandmother, who is still alive, was born the same year as Rosa (1913).
We talk about the acts of Rosa and the actions of those in the movement. What spirit permeated America to allow the need for a civil rights movement? What has happened to white supremacy? Why so much hatred towards people of color? In 50 years, what has happened the ideology of white supremacy? Did it evaporate? Or, since it's not cool to be overt did it simply go underground? (these are my thoughts)
We often say what we would do if we were living in those days, but what are we doing today. Each year, each day, each century is a "back in the day" day. Rosa committed an act of defiance when it cost many their most precious possession, their lives and the lives of their children. I find myself is similar situations today where I am faced with making the decision to "stand up" or "sit down" in small and big ways. What are we doing today to make our lives, our world, our country better? It doesn't have to be big or grand. It doesn't have to result in a historic movement such as the civil rights movement. But it should move us inside. We know inside when we've stood up or folded under pressure.
I know from personal experience that It's not easy to risk going against the grain. It's not easy to sit down when everyone else is standing up, or stand up when everyone else is siting down. Defiance. America is symbolically praising and honoring Rosa Parks for her acts of courage, but does America encourage it? I submit to you that the answer is no.
I remain hopefull.
to be continued...
I have a lot of thoughts about American History and the history of black people in America. I haven't sorted it all out in my head yet, but hopefully soon.
Rosa was a part of a movement. We talk about the movement and what she did. SOme think she was just tired, but she was the first black person to protest by refusing to give up her seat to a white man. As Cain Hope Felder said on NPR today, she had support. Black people united and boycotted public transportation. Martin Luther King became the spokes person for the movement. Many countless others were involved and committed to the struggle. The thing that amazes me is that it didn't happen that long ago. But it's easy to think and act like it did. 1955...
It's not 2000 BC. It was 50 years ago. My mom and dad were both born. My grandmother, who is still alive, was born the same year as Rosa (1913).
We talk about the acts of Rosa and the actions of those in the movement. What spirit permeated America to allow the need for a civil rights movement? What has happened to white supremacy? Why so much hatred towards people of color? In 50 years, what has happened the ideology of white supremacy? Did it evaporate? Or, since it's not cool to be overt did it simply go underground? (these are my thoughts)
We often say what we would do if we were living in those days, but what are we doing today. Each year, each day, each century is a "back in the day" day. Rosa committed an act of defiance when it cost many their most precious possession, their lives and the lives of their children. I find myself is similar situations today where I am faced with making the decision to "stand up" or "sit down" in small and big ways. What are we doing today to make our lives, our world, our country better? It doesn't have to be big or grand. It doesn't have to result in a historic movement such as the civil rights movement. But it should move us inside. We know inside when we've stood up or folded under pressure.
I know from personal experience that It's not easy to risk going against the grain. It's not easy to sit down when everyone else is standing up, or stand up when everyone else is siting down. Defiance. America is symbolically praising and honoring Rosa Parks for her acts of courage, but does America encourage it? I submit to you that the answer is no.
I remain hopefull.
to be continued...
posted by Blackgold at 6:52 PM
1 Comments:
I was able to watch all of the service. It was very moving. I particularly liked Sharptons remarks, as well as Farrakhan's. I thought Jesse Jackson did an excellent job of interpreting Mrs. Parks life. I was glad that he went out of his way to emphasize her activism, and how organizationally connected she was, prior to Dec 1, 1955.
People try to play her like she was just a tired, unaware,downtrodden, Southern Black woman. In reality, she was educated, a registered voter(after many obstacles)....the whole nine. She was conscious and aware in her defiance and the risk she was taking.
~Ms. A
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