Civil Rights Historical Investigation

2023 Words5 Pages

Question: In what ways did Rosa Parks’ background and situation lead to a largely successful boycott, while other, similar resistances did not?

Part A: Plan of Investigation:

Rosa Parks was not the first African American to resist segregation on public transportation, but the effect her resistance had on American history dwarfs that of the others. This historical investigation explores the reasons behind Parks’ success and on the other hand, why similar acts of resistance did not have the same effect. To answer this, it is important to understand Parks’ life before the incident, in addition to what kind of image the NAACP was looking to portray through the icon of this major movement. To further discern the factors affecting her outcome, several similar cases are examined. This investigation primarily utilizes secondary sources from the Internet, such as “Standing Up for Freedom,” published by the Academy of Achievement, which details the life of Rosa Parks before her resistance on the bus. In addition, Margot Adler’s article “Before Rosa Parks, There Was Claudette Colvin,” is heavily referenced in this investigation and explores the accounts of people like Parks, who resisted on public transportation.

Part B: Summary of Evidence
Several links to advocacy for racial equality are evident in Parks’ childhood and background. It was her own mother’s advice to take advantage of every opportunity that came along, as she knew they were not extremely abundant. Unfortunately, Parks’ background was not all about inspiring, motherly advice. As stated in an interview, she often overheard Klu Klux Klan activities such as lynching and burning down the houses of African Americans at night. Understandably, she was fearful that she would be...

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... Web. May 25 2014.

Cannizzaro, Andrew. “Rosa Parks: Before the Bus.” Bio. Grimm, Laura. Biography. Feb 4 2014.
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Hakim, Joy. “Homer Plessy.” Public Broadcasting Service. PBS. n.d. Web. May 25 2014.

“NAACP History: Rosa Parks.” NAACP. NAACP. n.d. Web. May 25 2014.

“Our Mission” NAACP. NAACP. n.d. Web. May 25 2014.

Whittaker, Matthew C. Icons of Black America: Breaking Barriers and Crossing Boundaries. Vol.
2. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2011. 689. Print.

“Welcome to the NAACP.” NAACP. NAACP. n.d. Web. May 25 2014.

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