Rosa and Malcolm:Changing History, Changing Lives

A detailed Summary of Rosa and Malcolm:Changing History, Changing Lives

Rosa Parks' act of defiance triggered a bus

boycott that became a landmark in the civil rights

struggles of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her place

in history is firmly secured, the legendary Rosa Parks

continues to lead by example and deserves a special

On one dark December day in 1955, Mrs.

Parks' only intent was to get home after a long day of

work as a seamstress. It was an "established rule" in

the American south (at that time) that

African-American riders had to sit at the back of the

bus. African-American riders were also expected to

surrender their seat to a white bus rider if it was

needed. When a white man got on the bus and the

driver ordered the black people in her row in the

"colored section" to move to the rear, she reflected on

the songs of freedom her mother sang to her, the

lessons gleaned from the Bible and her belief that

people should stand up for things that are right and

challenge those that are wrong. She gathered her

faith, her quiet strength and determination and

decided that it was time to make a stand. Her

subsequent arrest and boycott became a powerful

symbol of peaceful resistance for the civil rights

In court, Mrs. Parks was ordered to pay a

and citizenship, we salute Rosa L. Parks, one of

oppression of blacks in America. He continued to fight for

may have been possible if Mrs. Parks did not

and Louise Little, rose to become one of the most dynamic

Malcolm began reading a variety of literature made available to

in a complete turnaround in Malcolm's views on both his

practicing what she preaches with integrity, caring

those conditions. He stressed the importance of not perpetuating

From the time of his release from prison, in 1952,

is still uncomfortable with all the credit given her for

Approximate Word count = 832
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History

join now Save Paper

Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

"Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
Jack M.
"With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
Brian P.
"I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
Sara J.
"I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
Rachel W.
"I love this site!!!"
Marie N.