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Rosa Parks
15 quotes
“You may do that.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: (on being threatened with arrest for failing to move from her seat) “You’re Under Arrest”: Rosa Parks’ Disobedience Against Racism, 2022-12-01 on
“People always said that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) first seen 1992 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rosa Parks: My Story, p. 116, Rosa Parks and James Haskins (1992)
“I did not want to be mistreated, I did not want to be deprived of a seat that I had paid for. It was just time... there was an opportunity for me to take a stand to express the way I felt about being treated in that manner. I had not planned to get arrested. I had plenty to do without having to end up in jail. But when I had to face that decision, I didn't hesitate to do so because I felt that we had endured that too long. The more we gave in, the more we complied with that kind of treatment, the more oppressive it became.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) first seen 1992 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Parks Recalls Bus Boycott, Excerpts from an interview with Lynn Neary", National Public Radio (1992), linked at "Civil Rights Icon Rosa Parks Dies", NPR, October 25, 2005.
“I did not get on the bus to get arrested. I got on the bus to go home.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) first seen 1999 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in Rita Dove, "Rosa Parks: Her simple act of protest galvanized America's civil rights revolution," Time (1999-06-14)
“I'd see the bus pass every day... But to me, that was a way of life; we had no choice but to accept what was the custom. The bus was among the first ways I realized there was a black world and a white world.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) first seen 2002 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in (2002)
“We didn't have any civil rights. It was just a matter of survival, of existing from one day to the next. I remember going to sleep as a girl hearing the Klan ride at night and hearing a lynching and being afraid the house would burn down.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in "Standing Up for Freedom," Academy of Achievement.org (2005-10-31)
“I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day, but I don't think there is anything such as complete happiness. It pains me that there is still a lot of Klan activity and racism. I think when you say you're happy, you have everything that you need and everything that you want, and nothing more to wish for. I haven't reached that stage yet.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) first seen 2005 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in "Standing Up for Freedom," Academy of Achievement.org (2005-10-31)
“God has always given me the strength to say what is right... I had the strength of God and my ancestors with me.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, by Jeanne Theoharis (2013)
“From my upbringing and the Bible I learned people should stand up for rights just as the children of Israel stood up to the Pharaoh.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, by Jeanne Theoharis (2013)
“I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) first seen 1990 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Quoted in "Women of the Hall: Rosa Parks," Women's National Hall of Fame (undated); said upon her 77th birthday (1990-02-04)
“The driver of the bus saw me still sitting there, and he asked was I going to stand up. I said, “No.” He said, “Well, I’m going to have you arrested.” Then I said, “You may do that.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Every day before supper and before we went to services on Sundays my grandmother would read the Bible to me, and my grandfather would pray. We even had devotions before going to pick cotton in the fields. Prayer and the Bible, became a part of my everyday thoughts and beliefs. I learned to put my trust in God and to seek Him as my strength.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Since I have always been a strong believer in God, I knew that He was with me, and only He could get me through that next step.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) said by 2005 at the latest wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
“Thank you very much. I honor my late husband Raymond Parks, other Freedom Fighters, men of goodwill who could not be here. I'm also honored by young men who respect me and have invited me as an elder. Raymond, or Parks as I called him, was an activist in the Scottsboro Boys case, voter registration, and a role model for youth. As a self-taught businessman, he provided for his family, and he loved and respected me. Parks would have stood proud and tall to see so many of our men uniting for our common man and committing their lives to a better future for themselves, their families, and this country. Although criticism and controversy has been focused on in the media instead of benefits for the one million men assembling peacefully for spiritual food and direction, it is a success. I pray that my multiracial and international friends will view this [some audio unclear] gathering as an opportunity for all men but primarily men of African heritage to make changes in their lives for the better. I am proud of all groups of people who feel connected with me in any way, and I will always work for human rights for all people. However, as an African American woman, I am proud, applaud, and support our men in this assembly. I would a lot like to have male students of the Pathways to Freedom to join me here and wave their hands, but I don't think they're here right now. But thank you all young men of the Pathways to Freedom. Thank you and God bless you all. Thank you.”
Rosa Parks (1913–2005) first seen 1995 wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0 source
Recorded in: Rosa Park speech to social activists assembled in Washington, D.C. (1995))