Day of Courage: Rosa Parks

Inside this bus on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, a soft-spoken African-American seamstress, refused to give up her seat to a white man, breaking existing segregation laws. The flawless character and quiet strength she exhibited successfully ignited action in others. For this, many believe Rosa Parks's act was the event that sparked the Civil Rights movement.

Rosa Parks's December 1, 1955, refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus led to such successful public action that many consider her act to be the spark that ignited the Civil Rights movement. Yvonne Wells, a self-taught artist and retired schoolteacher, created this pictorial quilt without using patterns or templates.

Simple, courageous actions that change society will inspire others. In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus to a white man. Her action helped transform race relations in America. Fourteen years later, Curt Flood challenged Major League Baseball's "reserve clause," and transformed owner-player relations in team sports. In 1994, Rosa Parks signed this baseball for Flood.

Civil Rights pioneer Rosa Parks visited Greenfield Village with a group of students during a "Freedom Tour" sponsored by the Raymond and Rosa Parks Foundation. She posed here in the Mattox House, the 1930s Georgia home of an African-American family, after she spoke to students. That day, many youngsters who recognized her from school lessons also rushed to greet her.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her courageous act of protest was considered the spark that ignited the Civil Rights movement. For decades, Martin Luther King Jr.'s fame overshadowed hers. But by the time of this button, Parks was beginning to receive long-overdue recognition.

Five years after her courageous action, Rosa Parks had fallen on hard times. Editors of this July 14, 1960 issue of Jet reminded its readers about this heroic woman and informed them about her current plight. During the Civil Rights era, Jet was a popular African-American weekly magazine which covered news about black politicians, entertainers, civil rights figures and average citizens.

Rosa Parks's December 1, 1955, refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus led to such successful public action that many consider her act to be the spark that ignited the Civil Rights movement. The Baytown Singers, a group of folk-singing southern California college students, immortalized her story in song.

Rosa Parks's December 1, 1955, refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus led to such successful public action that many consider her act to be the spark that ignited the Civil Rights movement. This limited-edition bronze medal replicates the Congressional Gold Medal that was awarded to Rosa Parks in 1999.

Rosa Parks's December 1, 1955, refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus led to such successful public action that many consider her act to be the spark that ignited the Civil Rights movement. Sarah's Attic, Inc., creator of this commemorative bust, has offered products that reflect love, respect, and dignity.