The Beauty Myth

The Beauty Myth

Rosa MacCauley began her phenomenal life on February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her mother was a schoolteacher and taught Rosa at home until age 11. Her father, who was a carpenter and a builder, left the family because he wanted to travel, but his wife wanted a permanent home. (Guest History Month 1) As a little girl, Rosa McCauley was afraid to go to sleep at night. She has several memories of white people who rode horses burning crosses and scaring black people. These people that Rosa described in her memories were members of the group known as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). (Parks 30)

Education for blacks was not easy to come by at this time. Schools were segregated when Rosa was a little girl, but Rosa's mother wanted her to be "special." She saved money for years for Rosa's schooling. When Rosa was nineteen years old, she fell in love with a man by the name of Raymond Parks. They were married and Rosa's name, Rosa McCauley, changed to Rosa Parks. Three years after her and Raymond were married Rosa finished high school. After accomplishing this she felt special, just as her mother had wanted. (Women's History Encyclopedia 1)

Rosa then went on to Shaw College where she earned an honorary degree. She worked as a seamstress and a housekeeper, and was active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Montgomery Voters League. The Voters League was a group that helped black citizens pass many tests which would enable them to register as voters. In 1943 Rosa was elected the position of Secretary of the NAACP Montgomery Chapter. (Bennett 609)

During the next twelve years Rosa began gaining great respect in the black community. She continued to be actively involved in the NAACP and continued as a seamstress. The segregation laws during this time were just about "driving Rosa crazy." (Parks 35) Although there were many laws separating blacks and whites, Rosa stood up for what she believed in. She walked up the stairs of a building rather than riding in an elevator marked "blacks only." She would go home thirsty instead of drinking from the "colored only" water fountain. (Guest Rosa Parks 2)