The American Vision: Modern Times © 2008

"Rosa Parks"

Introduction
On a December evening in 1956, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery city bus to a white passenger. She was tired, she said, but not from working all day as a seamstress. She was tired of the segregation laws that humiliated and restricted African Americans like herself. Parks' decision was the catalyst that united a growing civil rights movement and brought national attention to African Americans' struggle for citizens' rights. This Web site profiles Parks as one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century. Visit this site to find out what gave Parks the courage to challenge the constitutionality of segregation and how her actions impacted the civil rights movement.

Destination Title: TIME 100: Rosa Parks

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Directions
Start at the Time 100: Rosa Parks Web site.

• Read the profile on "Page 1." Continue to "Page 2" and "Page 3" by clicking on the links at the bottom of the first page.
• Browse through the site, taking notes as you go.

1			Describe the segregation laws that governed Montgomery public buses.
2			What personal qualities helped Parks withstand public scrutiny when she challenged segregation laws?
3			How did the African American citizens of Montgomery respond to a call for a bus boycott?
4			What happened to Parks after her arrest?
5			Imagine that Parks is speaking in your city, and you have been selected to introduce her to the audience. Write an introductory speech that describes her accomplishments, her qualities, and the impact she made on the civil rights movement. Then, present your introduction to the class.