Rosa Parks is one of history’s most courageous and determined women. She is known as "the mother of the civil rights movement." This name is undoubtedly deserved as she inspired a boycott of Montgomery buses, which created the first step in demolishing segregation.

To me Rosa is a symbol of hope, change, and bravery. She has been intimidated, oppressed, and basically bullied by many whites all her life, yet she was determined not to tolerate the cruel treatment any longer.

Rosa Parks, a black seamstress, was only 42 when she took a stand against segregation. In the back of buses was a "colored" section. Black riders entered the front of the bus, paid the fee, exited the bus and re-entered the bus through the back door. If the white section filled and more white people wanted to ride, the blacks were expected to move further to the rear. If there was no room, the black riders were expected to stand or exit the bus. Rosa once had to walk home in the rain because the bus left before she could re-enter through the back door.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa boarded a bus. She seated herself in the colored section. Soon the bus filled and the bus driver asked her to give up her seat to a white man. Parks was tired of surrendering to the unjust system. She defied the bus driver, because she didn’t want to be deprived of the seat she had paid for. She was arrested and put in jail, but was released later that day. This intolerable treatment aroused anger in African Americans. They took a stand by boycotting busses for 381 days. They had to walk, take cabs, or carpool. It had a huge affect. The bus companies lost so much money that they could no longer afford segregation.

Rosa Parks changed history and millions of lives by simply refusing to give in. She stood strong by her decision and accepted the consequences. Her act inspires me to stand up for what is right no matter the consequences