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Rosa Parks is born
Rosa Parks was born on February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, AL to James Cauley, carpenter and Leona McCauley, a teacher. After her parents separated she grew up on a farm just outside of Montgomery, AL with her mother, brother, and her maternal grandparents (www.rosaparks.org). -
Rosa marries Raymond Parks
Rosa McCauley married Raymond Parks, a member of the NAACP. The NAACP was an organization that worked to improve the rights of African Americans in the United States. Raymond urged Rosa to finish her studies and get her high school diploma (www.rosaparks.org). -
Rosa Parks becomes actively involved in the NAACP
Rosa first learned of the NAACP from her husband, Raymond Parks. Rosa volunteered to be the secretary to the President of the Montgomery Chapter of the NAACP. The NAACP worked to bring attention to the unfair treatment of African Americans in the United States (www.biography.com). -
Rosa refused to give up her seat
After a long day at work at the Montgomery Fair Department Store, Rosa boarded a bus for home and took a seat in the area designated for "colored passengers". When the bus filled up the driver asked four African American passengers to give up their seat for white passengers, Rosa refused to do so and was arrested (www.biography.com) -
Montgomery Bus Boycott Begins
In response to Rosa Park's arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white person, the local chapter of the NAACP organized a boycott of the buses in Montgomery, AL. All African Americans were asked to stay off the buses. The boycott lasted for 382 days and is considered one of the largest and most successful mass movements against racial segregation in history (www.rosaparks.org). -
Montgomery Improvement Association is formed
As a result of the early success of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, it was determined that a new organization with strong leadership was needed to continue. The Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA) was formed and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was chosen as its leader. The MIA believed that Rosa Park's case provided an excellent opportunity to take further action to create real change in Montgomery (www.biography.com) -
Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development is founded
Rosa along with her friend, Elaine Eason Steele, founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development. The Institute runs the "Pathways to Freedom" bus tours that introduce young people to important civil rights and Underground Railroad sites in the country. The Institute tries to motivate youth to reach their highest potential and build practical day-to-day living skills (www.rosaparks.org). -
Rosa Parks Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Bill Clinton awarded Rosa Parks the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given by the Executive Branch of the U.S. government. She was given this award for her efforts to bring equality for all Americans and due to her pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement (www.biography.com). -
Rosa Parks Dies
Rosa Parks died on October 24, 2005. She was a very well-known figure of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. She dedicated her life to helping to improve the treatment of African Americans in the United States (www.biography.com).
