Adulthood and Marriage

After leaving school, Rosa Parks did not immediately return to her studies. Instead, she worked at a shirt factory in Montgomery. In 1932, she married Raymond Parks, a barber who was an active member of the NAACP. Raymond financially supported Rosa while she completed her high school education.

Definition: NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a civil rights organization formed in 1909 to advance justice for African Americans.

Parks became increasingly involved in civil rights issues, joining the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP. From 1943 to 1957, she served as the chapter's youth leader and also worked as a secretary to NAACP President E.D. Nixon.

Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement

Rosa Parks, born Rosa Louise McCauley on February 4, 1913, in Tuskegee, Alabama, became a pivotal figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. This presentation explores her life, activism, and the significant impact she had on the fight for racial equality in the United States.

Highlight: Rosa Parks is often referred to as "The First Lady of Civil Rights" and "The Mother of the Freedom Movement" by the United States Congress.

Quote: "Rosa Parks. The First Lady of Civil Rights and the Mother of the Freedom Movement." - The United States Congress

Early Life and Family

Rosa Parks experienced racial discrimination from a young age. As a small child, she suffered from poor health, particularly chronic tonsillitis. Her parents separated when she was young, leading her to move to Pine Level, Montgomery County, where she grew up on a farm with her grandparents.

Example: Parks' grandparents were formerly enslaved people and strong advocates for racial equality, which likely influenced her future activism.

Parks attended rural schools until the age of 11 and later attended a laboratory school. However, she had to drop out to take care of her grandmother. Despite coming from a poor family, education was highly valued in her household.