It goes without saying that history has evolved over the course of time and it will forever be changing. With this in mind, it is an idea that is hard to conceptualize. History. When does it begin? How is it defined? What constitutes as a moment in history? Looking back, these questions seem like they would be easily answered, but for the people you and I consider history makers, I often wonder what they were thinking in that moment in time. The term, as it is used today, ‘history in the making,’ is used loosely, and could be argued as simply being a cliché. It may be looked back on by future generations as that, or it could be a figment of imagination that was not considered monumental enough to hold such a lasting impact. For Rosa Parks, notorious for refusing to give up her seat on the bus, her efforts as being “the first lady of civil rights” or “the mother of the freedom movement,” were not for recognition, nor to earn a spotlight in history; rather, they were merely to gain the respect and dignity all people deserved as human beings. Her intentions were genuine and her priority was on the well-being and equal treatment of the people. Her firm stance in this fight for equal rights was a pivotal moment for not only Blacks, but for women as well. Rosa Parks was bold for the time period, and her actions spoke volumes. She was powerful and continued to stand firm in her beliefs regardless of the punishment that fell upon her. The reason for posing these questions is not to question the intentions of history or argue the significance of times in history. I am interested in the thought process of these profound civil rights leaders. Their humbleness is striking, and their character is selfless. Their contributions to history were never meant to be recognized as such. The only recognition they ever hoped for was universal recognition of being accepted, valued, and appreciated. Rosa Parks, along with others, probably never imagined their efforts being talked about in history class or given a whole month to award their accomplishments. This was not the purpose for making a change. They saw a need, addressed the need, and acted on the need. It is possible for any of us to do the same, but for reasons unknown to me, we turn a blind eye and deaf ear to the matter and believe we are too small to do something about it. While the Civil Rights Movement was going on, Rosa Parks showed great perseverance. She was not going to let others dictate what she could and could not do compared to her White superiors. It had gone on long enough, and she took it upon herself to stand up for herself and others. Giving into the beliefs of others was something she was not willing to accept, and knew she had to do something. Now is the time when we must take a stand for rights and make our voices heard loud and clear. Enough is enough. Our voices have been silenced for too long, and we must stand up for those who have been forced to sit in the back of the bus, so to speak. Rosa Parks did not give up, so we cannot sit back and think everything is going to be okay when nothing is being done. Take a stand, make a change, and be part of history in the making. Stay Curious, Kayla ©Inquisitive Perspectives 2016
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