“The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”
Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on an Alabama bus was inspired by her strong sense of dignity, her hunger for equality and her desire for freedom.
In the Deep South of 1950s USA, it was an everyday thing for a colored person to be asked to stand up and give his or her seat to a white person on the bus.
Rosa Parks made the bold decision to stand up for her rights and beliefs by staying sitting down.
This was all the more impressive as she was not only black, but a woman – two words synonymous with “powerless” at the time.
Yet this one action helped lead to a change in the bus rules, not only allowing anyone to sit wherever they wanted, but making it possible for black people to apply for jobs as drivers. Most importantly, it was another significant step in the journey towards the Civil Rights act of 1964.
Rosa Parks is a true example of how one bold action can lead to a great change. This is why she is my inspirational woman of the week.