Bus Boycott by Rosa Parks and the start of the US Civil Rights Movement, report by Fiona and Kay-Li

Bus Boycott by Rosa Parks and the start of the US Civil Rights movement Our revolution was that of Rosa Parks’ Bus Boycott. Rosa Parks, an African American, was just an elderly seamstress when she was faced with the decision that changed the world as we know it. On a color-segregated bus of Montgomery, she was ordered to give up her seat to a white man, considered superior over her in 1955. But Rosa Parks refused to be treated unfairly by him, because they both paid the same bus fare as passengers.

1. What methods did the group(s) use to express their frustrations and ultimately lead to a revolution?

Although it was fairly obvious how unjustly African Americans were being treated at the time, no one had the courage to speak out about it, until Rosa Parks stood up to her racist oppressors. Just the simple act of keeping her bus seat gave other African American lower classmen the inspiration to start freedom movements and really put an effort into convincing people we’re all equal. On top of that, seeing an old lady being thrown into jail for how she was made a lot of people aware of black-white situation.

2. How is your revolution similar and/or different to one of the revolutions previously studied?

Compared to the American Revolution, Rosa Parks’ Revolution was similar because the protestors in each scenario felt obligated to rebel due to the fact that their groups were being treated unjustly (in the case of the American Revolution, Americans were required to pay tax while not allowed to have a voice in their own government, while in Rosa Parks’ bus boycott, Rosa Parks stood up to authority to express her disapproval toward African Americans being heavily discriminated against, even decades after slavery was abolished). However, in contrast, the American Revolution started with the help of hundreds of righteous Americans rising up against their oppressors, while Rosa Parks’ bus boycott started with the decision of one elderly woman to act.

3. What was the eventual outcome of the revolution, and did the nation/people become better due to the revolution?

In the short run, this revolution desegregated the buses of Montgomery and eventually the whole of USA. However, this uprising caused a much larger effect on America. Once the buses were desegregated, people started questioning why this couldn’t happen for the rest of the daily articles of life that were also tainted with racism, like the children’s schools, for instance, or even the drinking fountains. Soon enough, discrimination was frowned upon rather than encouraged, like it had been for many generations before. This is better for the black people of America because of all the rights they now have acknowledged to them, as well as a better example for the world, America being one of the greater superpowers. Most importantly, however, this is better for the children of America, free to learn uncorrupted by different perspectives of color, and free to access the same opportunities, and succeed or fail as people, undefined by skin.  

4. Was the revolution justified? Would other methods have worked?

I believe this revolution was justified because it is never right to treat human beings according to how they look. This discrimination was nationwide and reinforced by law, and it was about time that fact changed. Although I like the non-violent approach Rosa used to revolt, other more violent methods would probably have worked as well, though it would have left a bad impression for Americans to perceive for a while. Aside from avoiding the deaths, injuries, and unnecessary imprisonments, the fact that African Americans succeeded in the insurgency without violence made it an overall positive revolution, shaming the racist Americans in the process.

5. Briefly state whether or not your revolution follows Crane Brinton’s Stages of Revolution.

Our revolution fits some of the stages of revolution, like stage two: “The Rising Fever,” because once Rosa Parks expressed how she felt towards this whole situation of racism, most of the African American population (considered lower classmen at the time) did the same. This was done by boycotting all segregated buses. However, this revolution doesn’t fit most of the other stages of revolution. Unlike in many other revolutions, most African Americans didn’t question the discrimination going on, maybe for fear of getting beaten, maybe from not knowing any better or simply not caring, or maybe even from taking into consideration all the work past generations of their race had done to get them where they are now, gratitude, perhaps. As for the other stages, this revolution doesn’t really fit either because the boycott was never really a fight to take out the government, but rather to get the government to change some things; a fight against the mentality of most Americans of the 20^th century.    Biliography: "Rosa Parks." Wikipedia. 2008. 29 Jan 2008 .