Rosa Parks: 100th Birthday
100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF ROSAPARKS
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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OFAMERICAAPROCLAMATION
On December 1, 1955, our Nation was forever transformed when anAfrican‐Americanseamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, refused to give up her seat on a city bus to awhitepassenger. Just wanting to get home after a long day at work, Rosa Parks may not havebeenplanning to make history, but her defiance spurred a movement that advanced ourjourneytoward justice and equality forall.
Though Rosa Parks was not the first to confront the injustice of segregation laws,hercourageous act of civil disobedience sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott ‐‐ 381 daysofpeaceful protest when ordinary men, women, and children sent the extraordinarymessagethat second‐class citizenship was unacceptable. Rather than ride in the back of buses,familiesand friends walked. Neighborhoods and churches formed carpools. Their actions stirredtheconscience of Americans of every background, and their resilience in the face of fierceviolenceand intimidation ultimately led to the desegregation of public transportation systemsacrossourcountry.
Rosa Parks's story did not end with the boycott she inspired. A lifelong champion of civilrights,she continued to give voice to the poor and the marginalized among us until her passingonOctober 24,2005.
As we mark the 100th anniversary of Rosa Parks's birth, we celebrate the life of agenuineAmerican hero and remind ourselves that although the principle of equality has alwaysbeenself‐evident, it has never been self‐executing. It has taken acts of courage from generationsoffearless and hopeful Americans to make our country more just. As heirs to the progresswonby those who came before us, let us pledge not only to honor their legacy, but also to takeuptheir cause of perfecting ourUnion.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtueofthe authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, doherebyproclaim February 4, 2013, as the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Rosa Parks. I call uponallAmericans to observe this day with appropriate service, community, and educationprogramsto honor Rosa Parks's enduringlegacy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of February, in the yearofour Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of Americathetwo hundred andthirty‐seventh.
BARACKOBAMA
Source: “Presidential Proclamation -- 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Rosa Parks | The White House.” The White House.Last modifiedFebruary1,2013. anniversary-birth-rosa-parks
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PUT ALL ANSWERS ON PAPER OR IN A SEPARATE FILE. 1-7 NUMBER, LETTER, AND ANSWER. 8,9,10 COMPLETE SENTENCES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1.What did Rosa Parks refuse to do on December 1,1955?
Agive up her bus seat to a whiteperson
Bride on the Montgomery citybuses
Cgive up on the Montgomery BusBoycott
Daccept second-classcitizenship
2.What was the direct effect of Rosa Park’s civildisobedience?
A Other African-Americans refused to give up their busseats.B African-Americans realized they were being treatedunjustly. C African-Americans boycotted the Montgomerybuses.
D December 1st became a nationalholiday.
3.Through the Montgomery Bus Boycott, African-Americans showed they were tiredof being treated as inferior to white Americans. What evidence from the passagebestsupports thisconclusion?
A“Though Rosa Parks was not the first to confront the injustice of segregationlaws, her courageous act of civil disobedience sparked the Montgomery BusBoycott.”
B“Ordinary men, women, and children sent the extraordinary messagethatsecond-class citizenship wasunacceptable.”
C“Their resilience in the face of fierce violence and intimidation ultimately ledto the desegregation of public transportation systems across ourcountry.”
D“Rather than ride in the back of buses, families and friendswalked.
Neighborhoods and churches formedcarpools.”
4.What was the main reason why President Obama gave thisspeech?
Ato remind Americans of the injustices faced byAfrican-Americans
Bto teach Americans about the life and work of RosaParks
Cto encourage Americans to do acts of civildisobedience
Dto honor Rosa Parks and ask Americans to observe herbirthday
5.What is this passage mostlyabout?
Athe legacy of RosaParks
Bthe Montgomery BusBoycott
Cdesegregation of publictransportation
Dthe merits of civildisobedience
6.Readthefollowingsentences:“OnDecember1,1955,ourNationwasforevertransformed when an African-American seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, refused togiveupherseatonacitybustoawhitepassenger.Justwantingtogethomeafteralongdayatwork,RosaParksmaynothavebeenplanningtomakehistory,butherdefiance spurredamovementthatadvancedourjourneytowardjusticeandequalityforall.”
What does “defiance” mean as used in thissentence?
Aact of stopping something fromhappening
Bpermission to dosomething
Crefusal to obey someone orsomething
Dact of accepting the authority ofsomeone
7.Choose the answer that best completes the sentencebelow.
For 381 days, African-Americans boycotted the city buses inMontgomery;, this boycott led to the desegregation of public transportation acrossAmerica.
Ahowever
Bultimately Cparticularly Dnamely
8.What does President Obama call on Americans to do on February 4,2013?
9.What was the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and what message did it hope tosend?
10.“Although the principle of equality has always been self-evident, it has neverbeen self-executing. It has taken acts of courage from generations of fearless andhopeful Americans to make our country morejust.”
Explain what this quote means and how it relates to RosaParks.