Ridin ’ Wit Rosa

1. Ridin’ Wit Rosa Brett Bielewicz Amy Kean Jocelyn Main Liz Tebb Nicole Wert

2. Ridin’ Wit Rosa (Based on the theme song to Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) Now this is a story all about how A lil black lady turned the world upside down And I'd like to take a minute just sit down tight I'll tell you how I she became the face of the civil right fight In Montgomery Alabama one December day A lady named Rosa couldn’t have her way Chillin' on the bus just keeping quiet too And minding her own business, this was nothin new When a mean bus driver, who was up to no good Started makin' trouble as he always would He said get up right now and Mrs Parks said no He said, "You're breaking the law and I’m callin the popo." The police came quick and the cuffs came out Rosa Parks was arrested without even a shout If anything I knew that this was only the start And I knew that Mrs. Parks had played a big old part She.. was... bailed outta jail just later that day All thanks to E.D. Nixon and Dr. M-L-K To the Supreme Court they’d give it go To settle this all, and make segregation no mo.

3. December 5, 1955 The Big Bus Boycott 1943 Rosa becomes secretary of the NAACP 1943 The Backdoor Boycott December 21, 1956 Boycotters return to buses December 5, 1955 First trial is held, and Parks is found guilty December 1955 Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. team up as the faces of the Civil Rights Movement November 13, 1956 The Segregation Elimination 1955 Sittin’ For Civil Rights

4. The Backdoor Boycott • Rosa Parks pays her bus fare, but rather than entering from the “black backdoor” she continued through the white section. • Bus driver raised his hand in an attempt to hit her and demanded Mrs. Parks get off the bus and re-enter through the backdoor. • Parks refuses to re-enter and at the same time makes a pact never to get on again with him as the driver. • That day, Rosa walked home in the rain.

5. It was after Mrs. Parks said no, that she was removed from the bus and arrested. This is a map of where Rosa Parks was seated when bus driver, James Blake asked her to stand.

6. Sittin’ For Civil Rights • December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks is seated on the bus in the black section. • One white man needed a seat, thus causing the bus driver to insist 4 blacks all stand in order to accommodate the one white. • Mrs. Parks slid to the window leaving an open seat next to her. • The same bus driver from her first encounter demanded she get up, or he would have her arrested. • Mrs. Parks calmly answered “You may do that.”

7. Police reinforcement came and Mrs. Parks was handcuffed and arrested. • Mrs. Parks was bailed out of jail by her longtime friend and employer E.D. Nixon. • With Rosa’s unquestionable good and clean history as a citizen, Mr. Nixon decided she was the long awaited and much needed case for equality.

9. The Big Bus Boycott • A group of civil rights supporters gathered in Reverend Robert Gaetz’ church to discuss the potential of a boycott. • With overwhelming support it was decided that no black would use the bus until segregation no longer limited them. • Blacks walked as far as 10 miles a day. • Many cabs and supporters would willingly drive blacks to their destination free of charge.

10. Many churches collected money to purchase cars to use for transporting blacks to and from work---they called these Rolling Churches. • Many radio stations would announce where and when blacks could get picked up. • Community dances were held to raise money for the boycott. • Racism and segregation peaked during this time period.

12. The Segregation Elimination • November 13, 1956- Supreme Court ruled that segregation on buses was unconstitutional. • After 381 days of walking, the boycott had come to an end. • December 21, 1956- all blacks returned to the buses. • Mrs. Parks entered the bus, passing that same bus driver who had her arrested. She proudly took her seat.

14. Citizens Take Action Edgar Daniel Nixon (July 12, 1899 – February 25, 1987) E.D. Nixon was an Africa American Lawyer who also served as President of the local chapter of the N.A.A.C.P in Montgomery Alabama. E.D. Nixon long searched to find an end to segregation. When he heard of the incident regarding Mrs. Rosa Parks, he had finally found his ideal case. With Mrs. Parks outstanding reputation as an obedient citizen, he knew she would be the best chance that African Americans had for change. E.D. Nixon organized the now famous Bus Boycott, and contacted Dr. Martin Luther King to team with himself and Mrs. Rosa Parks as the coalition for a Civil Rights Movement. E.D. Nixon was by Parks’ side through every court case, and every hardship. The victory for Rosa Parks, was a victory for African Americans, and ultimately a personally long awaited victory for himself. E.D. Nixon, one of the founding fathers of the Civil Rights Movement and died proudly at the age of 87.

16. Glossary of Terms • Boycott – To refuse to participate with or buy. • NAACP – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People • Segregation- Separating blacks from whites. • U.S. Supreme Court – The highest level court of America

17. About The Authors Brett Bielewicz, Amy Kean, Jocelyn Main, Liz Tebb, & Nicole Wert are current student at The Pennsylvania State University. They are pre-service second grade teachers studying to be Elementary Education leaders of America. The project was done to fulfill a course requirement as established by the Social Studies Education 430W.

18. Resources • “Mighty Times: The Legacy of Rosa Parks” – 2002 • http://rosaparks.nfshost.com/index.html • http://rosaparks.org/bio.html • http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/45a/448.html