ROSA PARKS –Alabama State Capitol Building, Montgomery, AL
Greetings to all distinguished public service workers, government officers, and the
wonderful citizens in attendance and reside in a city that is full of historic heritage where
freedom and equality was fought for, that is the city of Montgomery. I would like to express
sincere thanks to the governor of Alabama, Robert J. Bentley, and the Mayor of Montgomery,
Todd Strange, for accommodating us to honor and celebrate the anniversary of a historic and
monumental moment in American history. The life of a significant pioneer in the history of
Montgomery, Alabama during the civil rights movement. We gather here today to celebrate the
60th Anniversary of Rosa Parks’ refusal to move to the back of the bus.
Sixty years ago, a woman that was full of determination, courage, and a visionary, as she
dreamed of a better future for herself, her family, and America. With one decision to not give in
to injustice, she launched the missile for the civil rights movement, which would become historic
change for equality that would take place within this nation. It was a cold, wintery Thursday on
December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks refusal spoke directly in the face of adversity and said, I WON’T
GO BACK. A 42-year-old Rosa was commuting home from a long day of work at the
Montgomery Fair department store by bus. During this time, the Black residents of Montgomery
often avoided municipal buses if possible, as they found the Negroes move-to-the-back policy
very demeaning, as did Rosa. The darkness and grim clouds of in-justice, prejudice, and racial
inequality hovered over the state, but there was a heavy downpour of all these facets that flooded
the city of Montgomery.
Parks witnessed and experienced her share of atrocious counts of prejudice and
discrimination growing up in Alabama. The budding daughter of a Teacher had a love and
respect for education and learning, as she learned as a youth that it was the key to a successful
future. The African American plight during this time would be one of great struggle, fear,
sacrifice and oppression, yet their souls were comforted by their faith and hope for change. As a
NAACP member, the fact was that for change to take place, there would be a registration deposit
needed, one that no lavish compensation can replace, one that would cost an individual to
sacrifice and protest for their civil rights, one that would stand in the midst of danger for equality
and desegregation to abound within the land. One that could cost someone the ultimate sacrifice,
their own life.
Our founding fathers established in our nation’s law that all should have the right of life,
liberty, and pursuit of happiness. This is the belief that runs deep within every American’s heart,
this was the heartbeat, the very core of Rosa’s unrelenting determination for standing up for her
civil right, because she was an American. Being treated unfairly in her own town, her own state,
her own country, because of the color of her skin, and not based upon the content of her
character. To face the throbbing hurtful offense to one’s soul to have a passionate, undying love
for her own country, only to bear the uninviting reality to not have that same love reciprocated
back to be shown through protection and care.
Unlike many who were crippled by their fear of being arrested and thrown in jail, without
due diligence, fear of possibly losing their life, fear of their families being in danger, Rosa’s
courage persevered past her trepidations, as she did not panic. Her nonviolent, silent resist to
move to the back of the bus initiated a loud war cry against inequality that sparked the entire
civil rights leaders and community to commence to start a boycott against the bus system in
Alabama. She was not the first to refuse to give up her seat to a white person, but it was the first
time that it happened to someone that everyone knew, as she was apart of the NAACP
organization. Despite her notoriety, it was her courage and non-satisfaction that stood beside her
while being arrested. Her vision for freedom and a life without living in fear was worth the
protest for equality for her people. The future of America that she envisioned, is what we live
today amongst one another in peace, where justice can truly be for all. The stench of racism
permeated throughout the atmosphere of Montgomery, and filled in thick within the confines of
the bus that day. It was the raring necessity for change that was Rosa’s filter to breathe a new
caliber of oxygen, for she knew there was going to be a downpour. A downpour that would
cleanse the atmosphere of its racist pollutants in result from her resilience as it whispered with a
loud outcry, I WON’T GO BACK.
The legendary, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. learned of Rosa’s arrest, and urged to call a
rally meeting at his church. A huge crowd of people gathered together as their necessity for
change was urgent and their non-satisfaction of prejudice and inequality within Montgomery
could no longer be tolerated. Although, people were inspired by Rosa’s courageous action, they
were afraid. Dr. King influenced and encouraged them to believe that with the support of each
and every person, there can be change. There is something that they can do. They decided
despite the hardships they would face, without their means for transportation, they would boycott
the bus systems in Alabama. The result of those who participated in the boycott would cause the
city to lose a huge amount of revenue if they lost a great amount of transporters.
On the morning of December 5th, not everyone, but many people of color, including
supporters of other racial backgrounds, refused to ride the bus. They walked. They rode mules.
Those few people with cars acted as a shuttle service, taking others to work and wherever they
needed to go. Each participant in the boycott all had one common belief, that they WON’T GO
BACK to they way things used to be. Violence had ensued throughout the boycotting, but it
didn’t deter the boycotters or their leaders. Drama in Montgomery continued to gain attention
from the national and international press. Though they faced difficulties and some grew weary, at
the end of the 381 days of the boycott, change finally approached and knocked at inequality’s
door. On November 13, 1956, the United States Supreme Court ruled that Alabama's laws
requiring segregation on buses, requiring persons of color to ride in the back of the bus, and to
give up their seat in the colored section to a white person if the bus was crowded, were illegal. At
first, the Montgomery city government ignored the Supreme Court ruling. About a month later,
federal orders were given to the city and bus company officials to follow national law.
Sixty years later, we commemorate this historic moment in time to reflect upon “the
mother of the civil rights movement”, a woman who was courageous, determined, and a
visionary. Her courage stands tall as inspiration to all Americans, as we still face injustices and
prejudices against races and gender. We must support and stand together when our civil liberties
are taken away from any one of us. We must decide to say something, do something, for where
there is no justice for one, then it resonates that truly, there is no justice for all. Rosa Parks
refusal to move to the back of the bus spoke volumes. Her exemplary bravery showed us, that
she would not go back! Each one of us must proclaim in our hearts, though we might face
adversity, I WON’T GO BACK! I WON’T GO BACK until our fellow brothers and sisters are
treated fairly. I WON’T GO BACK until we all have equal opportunity, and I WON’T GO
BACK until there is true equality for all!! God Bless you all, and God Bless America!!