Rosa Parks: Rest In Peace
Robert Paul Reyes
October 31, 2005
The body of a hero lies in honor at the Capitol Rotunda. Tens of thousands of citizens, young and old, black and white, poor and wealthy, famous and unknown, wait for hours to pay their final respects. The president declares that flags will fly at half mast when this giant of history is interred.
Who is this mighty individual who inspires multitudes to brave the chill autumn air to pay homage, is it a former president, noted theologian, brilliant scientist, generous philanthropist or a famous actor?
This heart-felt tribute is for, Rosa Parks, a quiet seamstress, who tired after a long day at work, refused to give her seat on the bus to a white man.
Rosa Parks resolute stand (sit-down?) against racism changed history. The 382-day Montgomery, Ala, bus boycott, the rise of the Rev. Martin Luther King as a civil rights leader, the marches and demonstrations, the desegregation of not only buses in Alabama, but public accommodations in every part of the country -- all of these momentous and earth shattering developments were set in motion by a little woman with a big heart.
Sometimes fate chooses an eloquent, fiery and courageous man like the Rev. King to change the tide of history, but sometimes it selects an unassuming, quiet and humble "little person", who does the right thing at the right time.
Because Rosa Parks did "the right thing at the right time" in the racially intolerant year of 1955, a minority such as yours truly, can aspire to, and succeed as a newspaper columnist, or anything else he aspires to be.
Because Rosa Parks refused to be treated like a second-class citizen, millions of African Americans, Hispanics and other minorities enjoy the opportunity to live out the American dream.
I'm not a Pollyanna, I realize there is much that still needs to be done in the area of racial equality, but all of us owe a debt of gratitude to Rosa Parks.
Who is this mighty individual who inspires multitudes to brave the chill autumn air to pay homage, is it a former president, noted theologian, brilliant scientist, generous philanthropist or a famous actor?
This heart-felt tribute is for, Rosa Parks, a quiet seamstress, who tired after a long day at work, refused to give her seat on the bus to a white man.
Rosa Parks resolute stand (sit-down?) against racism changed history. The 382-day Montgomery, Ala, bus boycott, the rise of the Rev. Martin Luther King as a civil rights leader, the marches and demonstrations, the desegregation of not only buses in Alabama, but public accommodations in every part of the country -- all of these momentous and earth shattering developments were set in motion by a little woman with a big heart.
Sometimes fate chooses an eloquent, fiery and courageous man like the Rev. King to change the tide of history, but sometimes it selects an unassuming, quiet and humble "little person", who does the right thing at the right time.
Because Rosa Parks did "the right thing at the right time" in the racially intolerant year of 1955, a minority such as yours truly, can aspire to, and succeed as a newspaper columnist, or anything else he aspires to be.
Because Rosa Parks refused to be treated like a second-class citizen, millions of African Americans, Hispanics and other minorities enjoy the opportunity to live out the American dream.
I'm not a Pollyanna, I realize there is much that still needs to be done in the area of racial equality, but all of us owe a debt of gratitude to Rosa Parks.
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