Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005) was a civil rights activist best known for igniting the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. Her refusal to give up her seat to a white passenger made her a symbol of resistance against segregation, earning her the title "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement".
Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, Parks grew up in a segregated society. She became active in the NAACP in 1943, investigating racial injustices. On December 1, 1955, she refused to yield her seat on a Montgomery bus, leading to her arrest. The subsequent 381-day bus boycott, led by Martin Luther King Jr., resulted in a Supreme Court ruling declaring bus segregation unconstitutional.
Despite her role in history, Parks faced severe backlash, losing her job and receiving threats. She relocated to Detroit in 1957, working for Congressman John Conyers and continuing her activism. She later co-founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development, mentoring young activists.
Parks received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal. Upon her death in 2005, she became the first woman to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol. Her courage and legacy continue to inspire generations.