Your post made Rosa Parks so much more of a real person and brought her to life, thank you!
It was especially interesting to read, though, that she was not the first to refuse to give up her seat. While the narrative has been shaped around this one heroic woman, there were many Rosa Parks at the time! And there are many out there now who will never be recognized.
Such an inspiring post, Jillian. Here in the UK, we are taught about Rosa, but not as extensively as she clearly deserves. Your comments about her childhood reminded me of Maya Angelou's experiences as a child in 'I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings'.
What an amazing woman. She has always fascinated and inspired me. I talked to my students about her when I was a teacher, and they were fascinated and inspired as well. I always think of her a reluctant revolutionary. And what a prolific note-taker! Some of the notes you feature remind of how I, and I daresay many others, keep notes today: in tabulated form in a document table or a spreadsheet. It's interesting to read about this today, because yesterday I was reading about Frederick Douglass. Great post, thank you.
Among a wide variety of paper products flowing into a household, I grew up with those same date books, thin pharmacy bags, and small generic notebooks.
Amazing to see Rosa Parks using the same items to make history. Thank you for shining some light on this!
A note of clarification: within the US Capitol, it’s apparently a really big deal to distinguish Lying in State (government) from Lying in Honor (non-government people), making this mark of respect for Mrs Parks all the more special.
Excellent article today! You're absolutely right from the very beginning: the women of History often get lost to the times and the male scope. Rosa Parks was mentioned in my K-12 education but she was done so with very little enthusiasm, I'm not sure we were ever told Rosa Parks was in the famous MLK Jr march photo. Thank you for teaching us
I have so much admiration for Rosa Parks. As you share, MLK wrote about her in his autobiography and I gained much insight from that. I was struck here to read here that she struggled with insomnia. Likewise, I was struck to learn that MLK also struggled with insomnia and anxiety. It's so easy to believe that these social activists have skill sets the rest of us lack, but they don''t. Deep gratitude. As always with all your posts, I was so touched to see her handwriting; goes right to my heart.
From her auspicious note-taking start--the repurposed pages in a cheesy datebook, fan mail and pharmacy bags--to activist and legend, Rosa was a powerhouse. The way you weave facts through notebook entries brings history to light!
The power of good writing is it can make us examine our beliefs. Thanks. Loved the details you chose to highlight. I am a bit of a history addict. There are so many that sacrificied and as Rosa describes, the journey is far from over. Recently read a book about Isaac Woodard. It seems with each GRUDGING step forward, there is always an accompanying backlash that moves us ever slightly backward again. A lot of anonymous sacrifice seems to have been present for now 150+ years since the Civil War and each step is treated as "entitlement" rather than "acceptance" and putting a jaded past behind.
When my children were young, I explained to them that I (supposedly enlightened and aware) worked in an office in the early 1980s and was SURROUNDED by men (and some women) that were raised in an environment of segregated water fountains which was still quite common. The reality is anyone working in the environment for the next 30 years would likely answer to someone with a very different view of the world. I often consider that as a person of now 60 years, businesses in America likely still reflect that upbringing. It informs me why we are still engaged to change our world nearly 165 years after the end of the Civil War and nearly 250 years after the founding of the nation.
My last bit of opinion. In 2008 we elected Barack Obama and people of all stripes "celebrated" in hopes this was a sign of change. In reality, by 2010 a massive movement of resistance, marked by lots of ugly thinking emerged and we called it "The Tea Party". What is reality? We now have a signficant minority of one party full of 2010 graduates to Congress accruing seniority and sharing their very crude ideas forward. It is not unreasonable to believe these men and women will be in positions of leadership and mindshare in our country till 2050. The durability of hate and resistance to change lasts a long time. Until our important institutions can say no more, the challenges remain. As a young man, I thought these ideas were in their final stages, today I realize they remain with us and will long outlive me.
It is really hard to feel I am accomplishing something when nothing or nutting is changing, ... NO LOL !
For example, getting 100 subscribers when a month ago I had 0, while two months ago I had thousands below 0 .... sorry, I am a bit perplexed, by hope, by wonder, by the whole concept.
The problem with democracy is the same as with dictatorship, my boat, my rules, obey or obey, or else. Society or humanity has not evolved much, there are still wars.
The good thing is that my totalitarian instant classic posts get spread like Covid, LOL ! I am trending on social media ....
Well, trending, if you, my dear readers, pass it along, altogether now ! Here is a little appetizer !
Your post made Rosa Parks so much more of a real person and brought her to life, thank you!
It was especially interesting to read, though, that she was not the first to refuse to give up her seat. While the narrative has been shaped around this one heroic woman, there were many Rosa Parks at the time! And there are many out there now who will never be recognized.
Such an inspiring post, Jillian. Here in the UK, we are taught about Rosa, but not as extensively as she clearly deserves. Your comments about her childhood reminded me of Maya Angelou's experiences as a child in 'I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings'.
What an amazing woman. She has always fascinated and inspired me. I talked to my students about her when I was a teacher, and they were fascinated and inspired as well. I always think of her a reluctant revolutionary. And what a prolific note-taker! Some of the notes you feature remind of how I, and I daresay many others, keep notes today: in tabulated form in a document table or a spreadsheet. It's interesting to read about this today, because yesterday I was reading about Frederick Douglass. Great post, thank you.
Among a wide variety of paper products flowing into a household, I grew up with those same date books, thin pharmacy bags, and small generic notebooks.
Amazing to see Rosa Parks using the same items to make history. Thank you for shining some light on this!
A note of clarification: within the US Capitol, it’s apparently a really big deal to distinguish Lying in State (government) from Lying in Honor (non-government people), making this mark of respect for Mrs Parks all the more special.
Excellent article today! You're absolutely right from the very beginning: the women of History often get lost to the times and the male scope. Rosa Parks was mentioned in my K-12 education but she was done so with very little enthusiasm, I'm not sure we were ever told Rosa Parks was in the famous MLK Jr march photo. Thank you for teaching us
The pharmacy bag scan is really moving, all that time and she was still fighting.
Amazing woman and I loved the floral date book holding such important information. Great piece, Jillian
I have so much admiration for Rosa Parks. As you share, MLK wrote about her in his autobiography and I gained much insight from that. I was struck here to read here that she struggled with insomnia. Likewise, I was struck to learn that MLK also struggled with insomnia and anxiety. It's so easy to believe that these social activists have skill sets the rest of us lack, but they don''t. Deep gratitude. As always with all your posts, I was so touched to see her handwriting; goes right to my heart.
From her auspicious note-taking start--the repurposed pages in a cheesy datebook, fan mail and pharmacy bags--to activist and legend, Rosa was a powerhouse. The way you weave facts through notebook entries brings history to light!
Wonderful write you. Very interesting Post.
Amazing post - so inspiring! I've learned so much - thank you.
The power of good writing is it can make us examine our beliefs. Thanks. Loved the details you chose to highlight. I am a bit of a history addict. There are so many that sacrificied and as Rosa describes, the journey is far from over. Recently read a book about Isaac Woodard. It seems with each GRUDGING step forward, there is always an accompanying backlash that moves us ever slightly backward again. A lot of anonymous sacrifice seems to have been present for now 150+ years since the Civil War and each step is treated as "entitlement" rather than "acceptance" and putting a jaded past behind.
When my children were young, I explained to them that I (supposedly enlightened and aware) worked in an office in the early 1980s and was SURROUNDED by men (and some women) that were raised in an environment of segregated water fountains which was still quite common. The reality is anyone working in the environment for the next 30 years would likely answer to someone with a very different view of the world. I often consider that as a person of now 60 years, businesses in America likely still reflect that upbringing. It informs me why we are still engaged to change our world nearly 165 years after the end of the Civil War and nearly 250 years after the founding of the nation.
My last bit of opinion. In 2008 we elected Barack Obama and people of all stripes "celebrated" in hopes this was a sign of change. In reality, by 2010 a massive movement of resistance, marked by lots of ugly thinking emerged and we called it "The Tea Party". What is reality? We now have a signficant minority of one party full of 2010 graduates to Congress accruing seniority and sharing their very crude ideas forward. It is not unreasonable to believe these men and women will be in positions of leadership and mindshare in our country till 2050. The durability of hate and resistance to change lasts a long time. Until our important institutions can say no more, the challenges remain. As a young man, I thought these ideas were in their final stages, today I realize they remain with us and will long outlive me.
Agreed!
You make me see Rosa in me, roses, thorns ....
It is really hard to feel I am accomplishing something when nothing or nutting is changing, ... NO LOL !
For example, getting 100 subscribers when a month ago I had 0, while two months ago I had thousands below 0 .... sorry, I am a bit perplexed, by hope, by wonder, by the whole concept.
The problem with democracy is the same as with dictatorship, my boat, my rules, obey or obey, or else. Society or humanity has not evolved much, there are still wars.
The good thing is that my totalitarian instant classic posts get spread like Covid, LOL ! I am trending on social media ....
Well, trending, if you, my dear readers, pass it along, altogether now ! Here is a little appetizer !
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/at-the-gates-of-hell
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/nutzie-u-crane-z-sob-pow-x-planed
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/in-a-heartbeat-so-heart-breaking
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/the-fugue-operation-redline
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/the-lords-prayer-there-is-more
You are most welcome!