Rosa Parks (1913-2005)

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an American civil rights activist. She is best known for her 1955 refusal to move from her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in defiance of Jim Crow racial segregation laws, which sparked the Montgomery bus boycott. She is sometimes known as the "mother of the civil rights movement".

Quotes

I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.
The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.
I knew someone had to take the first step and I made up my mind not to move.
Our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it.
My only concern was to get home after a hard day's work.
I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.
Have you ever been hurt and the place tries to heal a bit, and you just pull the scar off of it over and over again.
Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.
I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day, but I don't think there is anything such as complete happiness. It pains me that there is still a lot of Klan activity and racism. I think when you say you're happy, you have everything that you need and everything that you want, and nothing more to wish for. I haven't reached that stage yet.
Each person must live their life as a model for others.
Whatever my individual desires were to be free, I was not alone. There were many others who felt the same way.
It was not pre-arranged. It just happened that the driver made and demand and I just didn't feel like obeying his demand . . . I was quite tired after spending a full day working.
I have always been a timid person but my life has required me to be courageous.
I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear.