Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks

          Rosa Parks earned the name “the mother of the modern-day civil rights movement” for her bravery and determination. Rosa Parks achieved many rewards for her bravery and determination. She was introduced to the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) by her husband “Raymond Parks.” Rosa had a lifelong membership in the African Methodist Church. Rosa became an inspiration to many people with her act on a Montgomery bus in 1955. Rosa was a very determined woman and very dedicated to helping colored people get equal rights between everyone. Rosa was one of the reasons that the Montgomery Bus boycott began. 

         When Rosa was younger she grew up around Racial Segregation. Rosa was born on February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Rosa Parks original name was Rosa Louise “Lee” McCauley. From age two to eleven she was raised on a farm in Pine Level, Alabama with her mother and maternal grandparents. Rosa had a lifelong membership with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. When Rosa was in high school she had to drop out to take care of her grandmother who wan’t in good health. In 1932, Rosa Parks married to Raymond Parks who later introduced her to the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.) In 1955, Rosa enrolled in a workshop at the Highlander Folk School in Monteagle, Tennessee. 

          Rosa was well known for her act on a Montgomery bus in 1955. Rosa was on her way home from work when three white men walked on the bus. The bus driver demanded that three blacks give up there seats, and Rosa was determined to stay in the spot that she had chosen. When Rosa didn’t move for the white man the bus driver went to the back of the bus and demanded that Rosa give up her seat now. Rosa has told the bus driver that her feet hurt and she was very tired and she wouldn’t move. He told Rosa that he would call the police and her only response was “you may.” Furious the bus driver called the police the bus driver gave her another chance to move she didn’t move a muscle. When the police showed up they put Rosa in hand-cuffs and took her to jail. When this happened it sparked many black people to start the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955. Many black’s refused to ride the bus places and either walked or rode in cars. In 1957, Rosa Parks lost her job at the department store. Rosa became a youth worker in Detroit, Michigan. 

            Rosa received many rewards for her act of braveness and determination on the bus in 1955.  Rosa earned the recognition as “mother of the civil-rights revolution.” In 1999, the U.S. Congress awarded her the Congressional Gold Metal (the highest civilian award.) Rosa became a sought-after speaker nationally and continued to help many young children and adults. Rosa also received an Presidential metal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton in 1996. Rosa earned many rewards and was very proud to have received them.

              Rosa Parks was an inspiration to many people and won the heart of many with her act of braveness. If it wasn't for her act of braveness on the bus in 1955 the world might not be what it is today. Rosa sparked many young kids to fight for equal rights. Rosa is an inspiration to me and many other’s around the world.

Work Cited

         - “Parks, Rosa.” web.a.ebscohost.com. Current Biography (Bio Ref Bank). 2006. 4/28/16

• “Parks, Rosa.” http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail. Hutchinson Encyclopedia of Biography. 2000. 4/ 28/ 16
• “Rosa Parks: Bus Boycott”. History Channel. Video
• “Rosa, Parks: Bet you didn’t know”. History Channel. Video 

Bonnie and Clyde By: Izabel Kleinberg

 Bonnie and Clyde

Young lovers with a desire to rob the innocent. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, found a common interest of robbing and braking the law in each other. In the spring time of life they began to have an impact on not just the 20th century but the world as a whole. As some noted them as crazy, young, childish, and stupid kids who just wanted trouble, others define them as a juvenile couple in love that like a bit of fun in their lives. 

In the early life Bonnie and Clyde didn’t have it easy, it was during the great depression when everything began to fall out for them and their families. Around this time it was very hard to find a job that could support themselves, let alone their families. Bonnie had one sibling, her sister who looked up to her and needed for her to provide for her because her mother couldn’t. Clyde also had a brother who influenced him in a negative way, while he had a love for music and wanted to become a musician his brother started him off on a way of stealing cars. When Bonnie was just turning 16 she got married to a man named Roy Thornton, a fellow classmate. Although this didn't work out because Roy was later than imprisoned for robbery in 1929. Clyde was never married to a human, as though some thought this was because he was in love with crime. When Clyde and Bonnie met, Bonnie was not divorced and all though their love for each other flourished she never did get a separation with her former husband Roy. So as they began to create crime together this is where it all started, in their early lives. 

Bonnie was a young married woman that was determined. When Clyde was locked up behind bars she was determined to make sure he wasn’t stuck in there, so she smuggled a gun into him which helped his escape from prison. She was also very recklessly in love with Clyde she would do anytime to keep him by her side. Although somethings got in the way of each other she always found a way to make sure in the end that they would be reunited. The best thing about Bonnie was she was a little bit dangerous but was always smart about how and who she played her cards with. Clyde on the other hand was risk-taking and reckless, sometimes when there was a risk of being exposed he would have to decide at gun point. Other times he would capture people who could give him away and later on let them go. In some ways Clyde was uncaring, he gave up his dream and passion of music to rob and kill, this put his family in danger and anyone else he cared about, most of all Bonnie. Bonnie had the decision to leave him and move on with her life but their bond seemed to be inextricable. Together the couple was impetuous but loyal to the only family they had back in Texas. They were determined as the “most glamorous outlaws.”

The two had many accomplishments and achievements together. The biggest one out of them all was be able to see their families through all the attention attracted to them. Even though with them being in trouble and putting their lives at risk they weren’t going to let their families be unseen for the rest of their lives. Sometimes things got in the way but that wouldn’t stop them from making their dull and lesser value life from being a full and exciting one. They ran the world together, braking each other out of jail, escaping the police together, falling in love, making memories. Between all of these things the day came where they would have to soon give up these lives, but they didn't go down without a fight. One night they were trying to escape apprehension in a stolen Ford near Louisiana. Police were already on the look out for the couple, as they drove down the rode going 85 miles per hour before they were ambushed by officers with heavy guns and armor. There was no chance of survival for the two, while starting memories together they died together, but all great things may come to an end.

They didn’t just influence the 1900’s they are influencing the 20th century right now. In this time we learn about the past. They taught us that if you are risk-taking sometimes it will get you somewhere you wanna be. Clyde’s dream was to become a musician but he gave that up to be with Bonnie and rob the world of its dignity. This influences us that true love may be out there but you have to be willing to try and be adventurous. Although the couple was reckless they always made time for their families because it was the most important thing to them, that proves that in the roughest times you will need family and friends so don’t push them away even if it seems easier to do that. Passion is the most I envy about them, they are so passionate. Make the most out of the little which is what they did, they may have been creating crimes but they did with inclination.  They show their feelings, maybe not as most couples do because they do it through crime but this proves that everyone is a little different in may ways. 

Young lovers with the desire to rob the innocent. Bonnie and Clyde are memorized by fans all over the world. Showing love for each other throughout stealing and having misdemeanors is a different way that proves that maybe between all this hate and blurred darkness of the world there is some color that shines through, you just have to be willing to search for it.