Poetry Corner:Rosa Parks

On this day in history Rosa Park brought about the start of the Montgomery bus boycott  in Alabama. This was as a result of Rosa refusing to sit up at the back of the bus four days previously on 1st December, which at that time was the seating area designated for African Americans. Her resistence started one of the largest recognised social movements.

Rosa Parks

Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons

Rosa Parks

In a bus, in the city of Montgomery,
A woman came aboard.
Little did anyone know at the time,
That this woman would change the world.

When the color of your skin made a difference in society,
And determined how you were treated,
There was a woman, who wanted to change that all,
And in the front of the bus, she seated.

When she was asked to move to the back like the rest,
She simply shook her head and didn’t budge.
Even though he was a white man,
She was going to be the judge.

And even as they cuffed her hands,
And sent her away to jail,
In her mind she was not finished,
She knew she didn’t fail.

Her actions started a very important movement,
In the history of African Americans.
It sparked a revolution for equality,
And so the civil rights movement began.

Written by McLesan

1 reply »

  1. Have a listen – it’s by The Neville Brothers. Sing it loud.

    Sister Rosa
    The Neville Brothers

    December 1, 1955
    Our freedom movement came alive
    And because of Sister Rosa you know
    We don’t ride on the back of the bus no more

    Sister Rosa she was tired one day
    After a hard day on her job
    When all she wanted was a well deserved rest
    Not a scene from an angry mob

    A bus driver said, “Lady, you got to get up
    ‘Cause a white person wants that seat”
    But Miss Rosa said, “No, not no more
    I’m gonna sit here and rest my feet”

    Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
    You started our freedom movement
    Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

    Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
    You started our freedom movement
    Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

    Now, the police came without fail
    And took Sister Rosa off to jail
    And 14 dollars was her fine
    Brother Martin Luther King knew it was our time

    The people of Montgomery sat down to talk
    It was decided all God’s children should walk
    Until segregation was brought to its knees
    And we obtain freedom and equality, yeah

    Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
    You started our freedom movement
    Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

    Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
    You started our freedom movement
    Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

    So we dedicate this song to thee
    For being the symbol of our dignity
    Thank you Sister Rosa

    Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
    You started our freedom movement
    Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

    Thank you Miss Rosa, you are the spark
    You started our freedom movement
    Thank you Sister Rosa Parks

    Songwriters: Charles D. Moore / Cyril Garrett Neville / Cyril Garrett Jr. Neville / Daryl Johnson / Jason Christopher Neville / Liryca Charmaine Neville

    Sister Rosa lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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