Rosa Parks
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 stepCollection: Strong
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.Collection: Positive
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.Collection: Prayer
When that white driver stepped back toward us, when he waved his hand and ordered us up and out of our seats, I felt a determination cover my body like a quilt on a winter night.Collection: Determination
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.Collection: Girl
I had given up my seat before, but this day, I was especially tired. Tired from my work as a seamstress, and tired from the ache in my heart.Collection: Change
When I see the leadership roles black women are taking today I am very encouraged.Collection: Black
I thought of Emmett Till, and when the bus driver ordered me to move to the back, I just couldn’t move.Collection: Moving
Our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it.Collection: Inspirational
There were times when it would have been easy to fall apart or to go in the opposite direction, but somehow I felt that if I took on more step, someone would come along to join me.Collection: Fall
I will always work for human rights for all people.Collection: Rights
I did not get on the bus to get arrested. I got on the bus to go home.Collection: Home
An opportunity was being given to me to do what I had asked of others.Collection: Opportunity
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.Collection: White
I had felt for a long time, that if I was ever told to get up so a white person could sit, that I would refuse to do so.Collection: White
I had been pushed as far as I could stand to be pushed. I had decided that I would have to know once and for all what rights I had as a human being and a citizen.Collection: Rights
My resisting being mistreated on the bus did not begin with that particular arrest…I did a lot of walking in Montgomery.Collection: Bus
All I was trying to do was get home from work.Collection: Home
Arrest me for sitting on a bus? You may do that.Collection: Sitting
I was ready to die but give my consent never. Never, never.Collection: Giving
I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up.Collection: Inspirational
I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day.Collection: Inspirational
The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.Collection: Courage
I knew someone had to take the first step. So I made up my mind not to move.Collection: Moving
If I stayed angry at other people, I would miss finding friends among those I was angry with.Collection: Emotional
If I can sit down for freedom, you can stand up for children.Collection: Children
When people made up their minds that they wanted to be free and took action, then there was a change.Collection: People
There is a lack of interest in voting in the United States, and that troubles me. It is very necessary that people get registered, study the issues and be aware of the politics of our country. We will really be set back if people don't take the time to learn about the candidates who are concerned about the well-being of all the citizens and vote.Collection: Country
I have spent over half my life teaching love and brotherhood, and I feel that it is better to continue to try to teach or live equality and love than it would be to have hatred or prejudice. Everyone living together in peace and harmony and love - that’s the goal that we seek, and I think that the more people there are who reach that state of mind, the better we will all be.Collection: Teaching
As long as there is unemployment, war, crime and all things that go to the infliction of man's inhumanity to man, regardless - there is much to be done, and people need to work together.Collection: War
I see the energy of young people as a real force for positive change.Collection: Real
Many whites, even white Southerners told me that even though it may have seemed like the blacks were being freed (by my actions) they felt more free and at ease themselves. They thought that my action didn't just free blacks but them, too.Collection: White
Black women are very capable of leading our organizations. I believe that firmly.Collection: Believe
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 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.Collection: Opportunity
I thought about Emmett Till, and I could not go back. My legs and feet were not hurting, that is a stereotype. I paid the same fare as others, and I felt violated. I was not going back.Collection: Hurt
I want to be treated like a human being.Collection: July
Victory or defeat? It is the slogan of all-powerful militarism in every belligerent nation. And yet, what can victory bring to the proletariat?Collection: Powerful
Racial pride and self-dignity were emphasized in my family and community.Collection: Pride
I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.Collection: Inspiring