The other day my five year old rushed up to me as I walked in the door and said "Hey Dad, Rosa Parks died. Did you know that?" While I did know this I was certainly impressed that he did. I asked him if he knew what she did to make her famous he replied "she wouldn't get up on the bus". Smart kid. His next sentence contained three words I never thought I would hear from a five year old, civil rights movement. I am pleased to know that his teacher is teaching him something besides shapes and colors. His comments, and obvious enthusiasm, set me off on a course of reflection(which I am prone to).
The topic of civil rights, or racism for that matter, does not come up much in my house. To my knowledge my children have not encountered it personally. My oldest is nine and my wife and I like to address some issues as they come up vs a planned discussion. It is a non-issue primarily because my family is fairly diverse. Within my immediate circle of firends and family I have plenty of economic, religious, racial and sexual diversity. I have a black family that lives next door with whom my kids play frequently; I have a lesbian couple on the other side of my house; I have two gay cousins; an interracial marriage on my wifes' side; and her family is Jewish while mine is Protestant. And I am an atheist much to the dismay of both families. Plenty of diversity. My children have never asked me why somebody is "different" from them. I am encouraged by this.
This is largely due to the fact that I preach tolerance to my children based upon behavior and courtesy. My personal philosophy is that regardless of race, ethnicity, color or orientation my only stipulation for tolerating you is whether you are an asshole or not. I am in sales and it is no surprise that my Black and Hispanic customers relate very well to me. They know that I look through their skin color, accents, clothes and mannerisms and look at their character. This stems from my childhood. While I was not sheltered I just lived in a town where there were no black families. When I finally met a black kid I recall that he worried about it more than I did. This would lead to many discussions of racism from his own pespective and I distinctly remember his story about the first time anyone called him a "nigger". It made a lasting impression on me. I also remember the time my new college buddy John Silverman actually asked me if I knew he was Jewish. I said " well, the precious metal in your last name gave it away". He looked at me in disbelief and then I laughed at him. "Are you serious?" I asked him. It turns out that some people didn't want to be his friend because he was a jew.
So inspired by my son's remarks about Rosa Parks I did a little homework on her and found that I really only knew the basics of her life and her legacy. I will not recall the story because we all know it. But I will point out some things that I did not know that are very significant to her legacy.
The refusal to relinquish her seat was in itself a planned event. The reverend MLK had chosen the Montgomerey bus system as the focus of the first big protest. But the person or the means were as yet unplanned. The events that unfolded for Rosa were actually ironic. Twelve years earlier she had been asked to remove herself from a designated section that served as a middle ground. If there were no white passengers on that bus who wanted to sit there a black could occupy it. But if a white wanted it, the law stated that a black passenger had to relinquish it. Well Rosa had been thrown off this bus because she wouldn't move. She was very upset with the driver because there were plenty of other seats. She vowed to never ride this driver's bus again. And she didn't for twelve years. But one day, the planned protest of the montgomery bus system in her mind, she was tired and did not notice that she had boarded that same driver's bus. As it turned out, she was the chosen one. And we know the rest of the story.
The ensuing Montgomery Bus Boycott was a very impressive show of solidarity. Not only did every black in the city refuse to ride the buses (nearly bankrupting the system),some walked as much as 7 miles to work. There were no exceptions, every one stood by their message. But most impressive was the implementation of a non-violent mind set. MLK's legacy is this notion. He encouraged peaceful, respectful protest that would support what is right with an element of credibility. And this may be why the Supreme Court upheld the lower courts' decision to make the Montgomery buses integrated. Of course this was, with the exception of Brown vs. Board the cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement. At least for the rest of the country. And the driving force was a small, quiet, incredibly modest seamstress.
Did the publicity change her? Did her notoriety alter her way of carrying herself? No it did not. She became the soft spoken voice of tolerance and equal rights for everyone. She was an activist until her dying day for the rights of anyone "who was not living as a free person". Her requests of public appearances were never denied. Many a rally attendee would see Rosa's diminutive, spectacled countenance preaching tolerance, dignity and non-violence. Her staunchest supporter and biggest influence was the reverend Martin Luther King Jr. She stayed on his message of non-violence, personal integrity, humility and basic equality that should serve as a reminder to those who call themselves her proteges. While the Black Panthers urged revolution through militarism; While Jesse "the rhymemaster" Jackson made a mockery of the movement with his politics of pandering; While the "right reverend' Al Sharpton painted everyone but himself, the fat buffoon that he is, as racist while he is clearly the most racist among his circle; And while Louis Farrakhan and his secular- humanist bow-tied militia preached subversion, propaganda and blatant hatred under the facade of the Nation of Islam to his Million Man March, Rosa Parks insisted that people show a little respect for themselves and insist on what is right. They all showcased her but failed to honor her by understanding her".
After all, what kind of man, white or black, asks a woman to get out of her seat? Rosa, you never raised your voice in anger. For that I hope you find the best seat on the bus for your next journey.