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Cleora Ohar Mrs. Laurencot Nonfiction Essay

__ Rosa Parks: My Story __, by Rosa Parks with Jim Haskins has many key points, but the main idea is to stand for what you believe in. Rosa Parks tells all about her struggles as a black woman as well as her triumphs. Even though she was arrested for her action on the bus, the fact that she was standing up for her rights justified her decision. This all happened at a time where civil rights were not fair or just. Rosa Parks demonstrates to us what it was like to be treated unfairly by the law and some white people due to segregation.

Born on February 14, 1913 and raised by her grandparents, Rosa Parks lived in a world where black children only went to school five months out o the year. "I was glad that I did not live in slavery times. But I knew that conditions of life for my family and me were in some ways not much better than during slavery"(pg. 28). Rosa Parks clearly states her opinion about her time verses slavery times. While black people did not have the same lives as during the time of slavery, they were still treated crudely. Black and white people had separate facilities. Blacks could not use any white facilities. Their schools, bathrooms, etc., were not as pleasant as the whites. Rosa Parks states that it took her awhile to discover that there was "no difference in taste and color between the white's water and theirs" (pg. 46). In our society today, some black people are still treated in an unjust manner. They are still being called names and in a worse case scenario, physically harmed (beaten, punched, etc.). However, most of these situations are not happening on a big scale like they were during Rosa Parks' lifetime. During the 1980s, when my mom was teaching in Georgia, segregation was against the law. Unfortunately, it was still occurring. White people down south were still segregating the blacks. It is perceptible that segregation has taken a long time to resolve itself.

Many of the positive things going on today with the black community were influenced by the civil rights movement, which Rosa Parks was an integral part of. Imagine this, if she had not refused her seat for a white man on the bus on December 1, 1955, black people would not have the rights they do now. Even though she was standing up for what she believed in, she was still arrested for refusing to give up the seat. Little did she know that her action would influence African American history greatly. She is part of the reason that black people can share public facilities such as bathrooms, movie theaters, stores, etc. Back then, black people would go to separate school, restrooms, etc, that were not as good quality as the white facilities. White people treated black people with ignominious manner. Some were called vulgar names such as the "n" word and other nasty ones. Rosa Parks along with other people of her race, were restricted in their rights when it came to voting which was due to segregation. "If we do not like the way they represent us, we can vote for someone else" (pg. 71). Rosa Parks illustrates the importance of voting. She felt that by making it convoluted for black people to vote, they are denied the freedom to help the government. Rosa Parks tried three times to become a registered voter.

Rosa Parks changed the face of our history, culture, society, etc. She demonstrated what is to be a great leader no mater what people think and regardless of how difficult the barriers may be. Rosa Parks showed that perseverance is one of the many keys to success. If you never give up, maybe you can change the face of our history, culture, and society, just like she did.

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