"No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in." ~Rosa Parks
Synopsis: In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. This seemingly small act triggered civil rights protests across America and earned Rosa Parks the title "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement."
My review:
I am old enough to know who Rosa Parks was and what she did for the civil rights movement. Admittedly, being of the white race, her contribution to the country would not affect me as it has others. Or has it?
Indeed, it has!
This book tells her story beginning from when she was a child living on a farm with her brother. She had been taught that even though she was black, she was somebody that deserved respect. She was mostly safe living there but not far from her lived racist people who wanted nothing but her and her family dead.
The book (spoiler) mentions a story, that she wrote about in her later memoir, about her walking on the sidewalk. A young white boy skated by and deliberately pushed her off the sidewalk. She pushed back! His mother said she could get arrested for doing that. Rosa told the mother she did not deserve that as she was hurting nobody. Rosa stood up!
This was just an early mention of what Rosa would eventually be known for. However, she really never meant to be the icon she is today. She was only wanting equal rights among all people, something she had learned for herself and listening to other civil rights leaders that she has met with. The quote above is how the book ends because many, like me, thought she did it because she was tired from work. No, she was tired of being mistreated!
Did you know she was not the first to get arrested from sitting in the front of the bus? It's true, but she is the one that became the face for women and civil rights in general. The book highlights many civil rights actions and leaders who helped to gain many rights for black Americans. These are little side pages that further explains things for children. It is a nice plus to the book.
I liked that the book also told about her later life as she continued to fight for equal rights and especially for voting right to be better and easier. It tells of her awards and honors from colleges to American Presidents. The book also mentions her funeral, a surprise too.
She is quite the heroine in my mind! This book is a winner for me and yes, I learned things I did not know and all the better for it. Although I read this book celebrating Rosa Parks Day, I highly recommended for all children any day!
~Michelle
Disclosure: I borrowed a copy of this book from my local library. The views here are 100% my own and may differ from yours.
5 stars
