Rosa Parks

Definition

Rosa Parks was an American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Analogy

Think of Rosa Parks as a spark that starts a wildfire. Her refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott and fueled the larger Civil Rights Movement.

Related terms

Montgomery Bus Boycott: A political and social protest against racial segregation on public transportation in Montgomery, Alabama, sparked by Rosa Park's arrest.

NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People): The organization where Rosa Parks served as secretary, which played a key role during the Civil Rights Movement advocating for African American rights.

Jim Crow Laws: These were state and local laws enforcing racial segregation in Southern United States. Rosa Parks' act of defiance was directly challenging these laws.