Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words

Rosa Parks' private manuscripts and handwritten notes provide a new perspective on the civil rights icon, revealing her inner thoughts, struggles, and contributions to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The book features one hundred color and black-and-white photographs from the Parks collection, including never-before-seen images.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 30 January 2020
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Until recently, the personal papers of Rosa Parks remained inaccessible to the public. However, in this captivating new book published by the Library of Congress, where the Parks Collection is housed, the civil rights icon is unveiled for the first time in print through her private manuscripts and handwritten notes. Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words sheds light on her inner thoughts, ongoing struggles, and the journey that led her to become the iconic figure who stood up by sitting down during the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Amidst the fervor of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, as Parks faced both criticism and admiration, her writing provided a form of catharsis. Her vivid descriptions of her arrest, the segregated South, and her recollections of childhood resistance against white supremacy serve as a testament to a lifetime of fighting inequality. Parks expressed her thoughts on paper using whatever materials were at hand, including meeting agendas, event programs, and drugstore bags.

The book showcases one hundred color and black-and-white photographs from the Parks collection, many of which are appearing in print for the first time. These photographs, along with personal ephemera, offer a glimpse into the private life of a public figure.

Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words is a remarkable contribution to the literature on civil rights and a testament to the enduring legacy of a woman who refused to remain silent in the face of injustice. It provides a deeper understanding of Parks's character, her motivations, and the significant impact she had on the struggle for racial equality.

Weight: 268g
Dimension: 203 x 207 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820356921