Listen to AN INTERVIEW WITH ROSA PA

.         The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”  Rosa Parks said that because she refused to give up her seat for a white passenger. She also said that, because she wanted all people to be treated equally and have equal rights for every one.

 Rosa Parks was born in Tuskegee, Alabama. She was born on February 4, 1913.  Her father, James McCauley was a carpenter and a builder, her mother, Leona McCauley, was a teacher. Rosa’s grandmother Rose worked in the fields behind her house, also on the farms too.  Rosa’s grandfather Sylvester, was a slave. Rosa’s grandparents played an important part in her childhood. Her grandmother had taught her respect and honesty.  The school Rosa went to was segregated. The blacks had separate drinking fountains, class rooms, and separate teachers. At age 6, Rosa went to a tiny school room.  There was only one teacher to teach fifty students. Rosa wanted to be in school for blacks and whites.  She wanted blacks and whites to have equal rights.  When Rosa was 11 years old her school had closed down. Rosa’s education was important to her grandmother Leona and her mother.  Her mother got a second job so she could send Rosa to an all black girl school.  Rosa went to the private school, called Montgomery Industrial School, but students called it “Miss White’s School. “ Her favorite thing in school was sewing.  During her school years Rosa decided she wanted to be a nurse or a teacher.   When Rosa was in her late high school years,  her grandmother Rose got sick.  Rosa had to leave school to go home to care for her.  Rosa stayed home and nursed her.  Then Rosa’s mother became sick.  Rosa had to quit school. 

At age 18, she met Raymond Parks, who would change her life.  Raymond was a barber in Montgomery.  He asked Rosa to marry her on their second date.  They were married in December 1932.   Raymond parks helped Rosa achieve her dreams.  He encouraged her to go back to high school.  Rosas eared her diploma when she was twenty.  Raymond helped Rosa find two jobs as, helping people vote, or register. All the people who wanted to vote voted in Alabama. The voting rules were unfair.   As the years passed boy Rosa was a busy lady.  there you have it. All of the facts about Rosa adult hood and child hood.

RKS