yr13_ia_2007_ray_d

=D. Analysis= Rosa Parks is frequently portrayed as an iconic figure with claims that she sparked the Civil Rights Movement. Still historically important, the event serves to portray the impact of one individual's actions. The story encourages children to appreciate the value of standing up for their beliefs and the positive impact this has. This story, and others similar, remains told today to better the outlook of children and their understanding of the world around them. Nowadays, the Boycott is still relevant. Evidently racism is still present today but in a different and perhaps less publicised sense. The Bus Boycott acts an example of how one can stand up for their beliefs in a manner which will impact society for decades to follow.

Ideas expressed concerning Rosa Parks’ actions suggest that they were entirely spontaneous. The notion that “It had been a long hard day and she was tired” [1] is a common interpretation. This implies that that day was different to others as Rosa Parks was more tired than usual thus put less thought into her actions. In Rosa Parks’s book, she describes herself as “Tired of seeing the bad treatment and disrespect of children, women, and men just because of the colour of their skin. ... I was just plain tired." [2] Although similar in the use of the word ‘tired’ they differ in implications. ‘United States Past to Present’ implies that Rosa Parks was physically tired from a long day at work, whereas Rosa Parks describes herself as being tired of the situation, a feeling which perhaps had built up over a long period of time.

Martin Luther King Jr’s autobiography corroborates with Rosa Parks' actions being spontaneous. “On December 1st 1955, Mrs Rosa Parks refused to move when she was asked to get up and move back by the bus operator.” [3] The source goes on to illustrate Rosa Park’s character, describing the nature of her actions as “a quiet, calm, dignified manner, so characteristic of the radiant personality of Mrs Parks”. [4] Martin Luther King Jr gives a sense of Rosa Parks’ character showing that she was not rude and insulting but merely ‘sat down’ for what she believed in. He explicitly states that “No, she was not planted there by the NAACP or any other organisation; she was planted there by here sense of dignity and self-respect” [5] which categorically portrays her actions as spontaneous.

Contrarily, there are arguments suggesting that Rosa Parks’ actions were orchestrated as part of a wider campaign. Rosa Parks’ position as secretary of the NAACP and her childhood beliefs are evidence of her dissatisfaction with inequality between the races. Due to this it is arguable that she had strong motivation to change the system and had sufficient means to do so. “Rosa Parks is sometimes described as someone who almost accidentally became part of the civil rights movement. ... She had been a youth adviser and secretary for the Montgomery NAACP ... where both African Americans and white Americans were trained to be active participants in the labour movement.” [6]

Additionally, the seat which Rosa Parks sat in attracts debate; if she chose to sit in the white section this could be considered deliberately provocative. “Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in the white section of the bus.” [7] According to Herbert Kohl in ‘She Would Not Be Moved’ Rosa Parks sat in the front row of the coloured section which she was perfectly within her rights to do so. He also states that “this was not the first time she had refused to move” showing the action to be less spontaneous and a thought out action due to built up anger at the situation. This implies that the policeman was justified in arresting Rosa Parks as she was breaking the law by not sitting in the black section and that she was effectively doing something wrong.

The reasons behind these differences are essentially due to the target audiences of each source. The clashes of Rosa Parks’ own words are with informative stories for children. Ignoring Rosa Parks’ life as a protestor is to “turn an organised struggle for freedom into a personal act of frustration.” [8] Appreciating the varying depictions of the Montgomery Bus Boycott allows us to consider the emphasis put on stories with a moral value told to children and how they resemble the truth.

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[1] Karen McAuley et al., The United States Past to Present, Teacher’s Edition, Grade 5 (Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath and Company, 1987), p 405 (She Would Not Be Moved, p 65) [2] Quiet Strength, Rosa Parks with Gregory J. Reed p 17 [3] The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr, Edited by Clayborne Carson, p 50 [4] The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr, Edited by Clayborne Carson, p 50 [5] The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr, Edited by Clayborne Carson, p 51 [6] Wayne E. King, United States History (Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service, 2001), Teacher’s edition, p 557 [7] Leonard C. Wood et al., America : Its People and Values, Teacher’s Edition, Junior High (1985), p721 [8] She Would Not Be Moved, Herbert Kohl, p 20