County Connection honors Ms. Rosa Parks’ defiance of racial segregation laws while riding a public bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. Her courage forever changed public transportation and the course of American history.
Note: You can find a commemorative sticker on each County Connection bus placed in honor of Rosa Parks, right in the area where she sat on that day in 1955.
About Rosa Parks
One of the pivotal moments in American civil rights history occurred on December 1, 1955, when Rosa Parks, a 42-year-old seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, refused to give up her bus seat to a White passenger on a segregated city bus. Her act of defiance led to her arrest and conviction for violating segregation laws. This sparked a powerful community response, culminating in the 381-day Montgomery Bus Boycott, which became a significant movement against racial segregation in the United States.
Parks’ courageous stand ultimately contributed to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to outlaw racial segregation on public buses in Alabama and propelled Martin Luther King, Jr. into the spotlight as a leader of the civil rights movement. Her actions inspired further nonviolent protests and spurred landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
To learn more about Rosa Parks, see additional resources below to learn more about how she challenged segregation laws and forever changed the course of history:
- Department of Transportation (Transportation Equity), Rosa Parks
- National Woman’s History Museum, Rosa Parks
- The Henry Ford Museum of Innovation, Rosa Parks
- The Gospel Coalition, Rosa Parks
Where was Rosa Parks seated?
Ms. Parks was not technically in the front of the bus but rather seated in a middle section situated behind the White-only designated seating. Municipal buses in Montgomery each had 36 seats. The first 10 seats were reserved for White passengers, and the last 10 seats, in the far back of the bus, were theoretically reserved for Black passengers. In the middle of the bus were 16 seats (where Ms. Parks’ was seated), first-come-first-serve, with the bus driver retaining the authority to rearrange seats so that Whites could be given priority. The two sections were often divided by a rope or a chain and could be moved (back) to accommodate more White passengers.
When the bus Ms. Parks was riding reached the front of the Empire Theater, several White passengers boarded. Driver James E. Blake (1912–2002) noticed a White man standing near the front and called out for the four Black passengers in Ms. Parks’ row to move to the back. Parks, however, refused to get up, sliding from the aisle seat to the window seat, which would have allowed for the White passenger to sit in any of the three seats in her row.
Parks looked the driver in the eye and responded with a, “No.” The driver called his supervisor, who advised him that after warning the passenger he had to exercise his power and put Parks off the bus. He then radioed the police, who sent officers and arrested Ms. Parks. > Read more about the events leading up the Ms. Parks being arrested, courtesy of The Gospel Coalition website.
Our Transit Hero series recognizes individuals who champion and enhance public transportation, ensuring it remains accessible and affordable for everyone. A hero doesn’t have to be famous and can come from anywhere—maybe it’s you! Explore our website for a list of more people who have contributed public transit. If you’d like to nominate someone or share your thoughts on our list, please contact our Marketing Department at marketing@cccta.org.