Rosa Louise Parks

Rosa Louise Parks Lesson

Pioneer of Civil Rights

All About Rosa Louise Parks

Rosa Louise McCauley was born February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. She was raised by her mother, Leona Edward McCauley, on her grandparents' farm at Pine Level, a small community outside Montgomery. Rosa received her primary education in a segregated rural school. In 1924 she enrolled at the private Montgomery Industrial School for Girls, known as "Miss White's school" after its principal and cofounder, Alice L. White. All the students were African Americans, and all the teachers were white women from the North.

As a teenager she attended Booker T. Washington Junior High School in Montgomery, and participated in a high school program at State Teachers College (now Alabama State University). In December 1932 she married Raymond Parks, a 29-year old barber. She helped support the family by sewing and doing other jobs.

Rosa became increasingly committed to racial justice as she and her husband joined the campaign to save the "Scottsboro boys" in 1931. She made her first attempt to register to vote in 1943 but did not succeed until her third try in 1945. She also had her first dispute with a local bus driver when she tried to defy a rule that required blacks to board buses from the back door. On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama Rosa was riding home from work on the Cleveland Avenue bus line when she refused to give up her place in the front row of the "colored section" to a white man who could find no seat in the section reserved for whites. Her action led to the Montgomery bus boycott when Rosa was arrested, jailed and eventually convicted of violating segregation laws. The boycott (refusal of the black community to ride the bus line) lasted for more than a year.

Mrs. Rosa Parks will be honored in a celebration this year (February 2003) for her birthday for her contributions to the civil rights movement.

All About Mrs. Rosa Louise Parks

Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Husband
Primary School
Junior High School
Husband's Occupation

Rosa Louise Parks Word phrase

segregated Booker T. Washington racial	boycott civil rights Tuskegee	white work vote
Rosa Parks, born Rosa Louise McCauley was born in , Alabama. Rosa received her primary education in a rural school. All teachers in "Miss White's school" were women from the North. As a teenager, she attended Junior High School. Rosa became increasingly committed to justice. She made her first attempt to register to in 1943. She protested segregation laws in the US. On December 1, 1955 Rosa was riding home from when she refused to give up her seat to a white man. Her arrest for this led to a bus which lasted over a year. Rosa is a pivotal figure in the fight for .

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Click in the circle to choose yes or no for the question	Yes	No
1. Rosa attended school with other white children.
2. Rosa was born in Montgomery, Alabama.
3. Rosa married in December 1932.
4. Rosa attended Booker T. Washington Jr. High School.
5. Rosa's primary school was known as "Miss White's school".
6. Rosa married Parker Raymond.
7. Rosa was able to vote in 1943.
8. The "colored" section was at the front of the bus.