Rosa Parks is widely known as the African American activist in the Civil Rights Movement who, by refusing to give up her seat in a public bus to a white passenger, became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation. The following Rosa Parks quotes are proof of her commitment to the cause.
Parks was not the first one to be arrested for civil disobedience, but she continued to fight the battle and became “the first lady of civil rights” and “the mother of the freedom movement”.
She never had an easy life, but after her rise to fame things turned out to be even more challenging. Both Rosa and her husband were fired after her arrest and were forced to leave Montgomery. In those times, it was hard for an activists to find steady work. But even if she was financially struggling and knew the amount of work she had to undertake to achieve racial equality, Parks never lost her faith and enthusiasm.
During the Movement she collaborated with civil rights leaders like E.D. Nixon and Martin Luther King Jr. Even after her retirement, Parks continued to say that the fight for justice is far from over and that there is so much more that can be done. And right she was!
Coming from a determined woman with a strong sense of justice, here are 23 Rosa Parks quotes to teach you how to stand your ground and never give up on what’s right.
I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.
Each person must live their life as a model for others.
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?
You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.
The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.
Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.
I had given up my seat before, but this day, I was especially tired. Tired from my work as a seamstress, and tired from the ache in my heart.
There is just so much hurt, disappointment, and oppression one can take… The line between reason and madness grows thinner.
I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free… so other people would be also free.
Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.
God has always given me the strength to say what is right.
As far back as I can remember, I knew there was something wrong with our way of life when people could be mistreated because of the color of their skin.
Time begins the healing process of wounds cut deeply by oppression. We soothe ourselves with the salve of attempted indifference.
Differences of race, nationality or religion should not be used to deny any human being citizenship rights or privileges. Life is to be lived to its fullest so that death is just another chapter. Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.
Whatever my individual desires were to be free, I was not alone. There were many others who felt the same way.
At the time I was arrested I had no idea it would turn into this. It was just a day like any other day. The only thing that made it significant was that the masses of the people joined in.
I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom.
Integrating that bus wouldn’t mean more equality. Even when there was segregation, there was plenty of integration in the South, but it was for the benefit and convenience of the white person, not us. So it is not just the integration.
I think the American Dream should be to have a good life, and to live well, and to be a good citizen. I think that should apply to all of us.
People need to free their minds of racial prejudice and believe in equality for all and freedom regardless of race.
If I have to face something, I do so no matter what. I have never had any desire to give up. I did not feel that giving up would be a way to become a free person.
I am 83 years old, and I have come to realize that there is always more in life to learn.
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