What if Rosa Parks had stood up?

Along with Martin Luther King is Rosa Parks a living symbol of breaking the American racial
segregation. She was an ordinary black woman, who had to make a living as a housekeeper and
seamstress. Together with her husband, she was active in Montgomery office of NCAAP (National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People), where she became a secretary, and in the Civil
Rights Movement. There were very special laws regarding the public life of Afro-Americans in
Montgomery and it was the same also with the public transport. The buses were separated in two
sections: the one in the front for white and the other in the back for black people.
It was also very absurd that when the coloured passenger entered the front door to buy a fare, he
after had to re-enter from the back door to get his seat. Also Rosa once violated this rule when she
boarded the bus straight from the front door. As she sat down she was asked to enter he bus again
following the city rules. She obeyed and got off, but the bus driver closed the door and left her there
in the rain. More than 10 years later on December the 1
st
1955 she broke another rule, which said
that if there were not enough places in the bus for a white man to sit down, the black passengers
have to enable a whole row in their section for him. Nevertheless, Rosa Parker did not move saying:
"I don't think I should have to stand up." Then she was arrested but bailed out by Edgar Nixon,
president of NCAAP in Montgomery, the next day.
However, things began to move. Nixon contacted Jo Ann Robinson from WPC (Womens Political
Council) and together they managed to spread leaflets about Rosas small heroic act and upcoming
boycott. Rosas comment on it was broadcasted by radio and also the Montgomery Bus Boycott was
announced for the December 5
th
. Finally, it lasted 382 days till Rosas court case was solved and one
of its leading personalities was Martin Luther King. On November 13
th
1956 the Supreme Court
announced that segregation is against American constitution and since December 21
st
the
Montgomerys transport system has been integrated.
But what would have happened if Rosa Parks had obeyed the driver for the second time and stood
up? Would it change something if the whole incident didnt happen? It was an unbelievable
sequence of actions that happened that time. The Afro-American citizens were certainly desperate.
Rosa Parks reminds in her autobiography of Ku-Klux Klan marches going through the street where
she lived, standing at black peoples houses and shouting at them.
Despite many similar cases, the main form of racism was the social one. The knowledge that there
was only one way for the black people to live had to be extremely disturbing. The society told them
through some small restrictive acts that they can live in the city and serve to it, but they cannot be its
proper part. In Montgomery there was a similar atmosphere to the one in the public transport also in
schools, shops, parks or clubs. They were all divided in black and white ones and it looked like it is
never going to be changed.
But how could someone believe that such a small action that Rosa Parks took, would change
something? Till that time, she was a perfect citizen of her city. People, even some of the white ones,
considered her to be one of the most respectable women in Montgomery. Despite being in NAAC,
she originally wasnt a revolutionary. Her situation was typical for many others; just being tired from
permanent obeying the rules and ignoring the humiliation. When Rosa made her decision not to
stand it anymore, they were willing to join her. Nevertheless, it is good to notice that there had been
some cases of imprisoned disobedient passengers before.
The boycott was certainly successful also due to the Edgar Nixons promotion, but it is very probable
that the most important thing was the great wave of released emotions. They gave the Afro-
Americans the power to revolt and made everything faster. After one year the segregation was
proclaimed to be illegal. Consequent fight for emancipation was led by Martin Luther King, whose
personality and opinions didnt subscribe just to ratification of Civil Rights Act in 1964 but also to
generally better acceptance of black people.
It is very daring thought but without Rosas contribution could the temporary U. S. society look much
different. That doesnt mean that there would be no process of equalization, but it could happen
other way, at another time. Indisputably, she made it faster and if it wasnt for her, there wouldnt
have to be any Obama.