Rosa Parks Biography

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will refuse to do something that I can do.” -Helen Keller. December 1st , 1955 is dated by many historians as the beginning of the modern civil rights movement in the United States. It was a lonely act of defiance that began a movement that ended legal segregation in America. This act was made by the one, and only Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks is as one of the greatest women in history. Without her bravery, determination, and courageous acts during the terrible time of discrimination against the African-American race, our society would be distraught. Rosa's Parks made a mark on the history of the United States, that will never fade or be forgotten. Rosa Parks was born as, Rosa Louise McCauley, on February 4th 1913 in Tuskegee Alabama. Her father, James McCauley was a carpenter, and her mother, Leona McCauley was a teacher. She grew up with her younger brother, Sylvester Parks. At age two Rosa moved to her grandparents farm in Pine Level Alabama, with her mother, and brother. Rosa's father was no longer present in her life. Her entire childhood was spent living on that farm. During her younger years Rosa was always sick, as a result of this, she never really grew much. Having grown up in Montgomery, Rosa developed strong roots in the African Methodist Episcopal Church early on. She did not attend school until she was eleven years old, prior to attending school, her mother, Leona, home schooled her. Rosa took various vocation and academic courses at the Industrial School for Girls in Montgomery. The school's philosophy of self worth was consistent with her mother's advice to “take advantage of the opportunity, no matter what they were.” (http://www.achievement.org/autodo/printmaker/parObio) She began laboratory school as a secondary education, but never completed it because she was forced to drop out to take care of her sick grandmother.