Rosa Sat

Rosa Sat
...and that was that...

She sat. And it was that
which began a commotion.
Pale feathers ruffled,
as though it were a sin
to simply keep her seat.
No placard in her hand,
nor slogan on her lips.
In silent defiance
she sat. And that was that.

A life-time of fear,
living in dark shadows,
eyes wide seeing the hate
which could flash like flame
and burn like a cross;
and yet, a day came,
when that fear on her skin
became like a friend.
She sat. And that was that.

Arrested and led away,
she had words to say,
"Why do you push us around?"¹
To which the reply came...
"I don't know...."²
And so it was in that day.
Black and white,
a division of color
where few were blind.
It was and that was that.

Moved by love and not hate,
a man came to her side.
Confrontation of the skin,
born in a dream;
it was where it began.
Basic rights denied,
finally, it was time.
The buses would not run;
they refused to take the ride.
It was "no more," and that was that.

Warriors have come and gone,
but in the heart remain.
Others marched or sat
without giving a name.
It would never be the same.
Minds to change –
truth to triumph over lies –
colors to parade with pride.
No more need to hide,
all because Rosa sat.

Copyright ©  August 6, 2010  by Karen M. Crump

In December 1995, Rosa Louise Parks sat in the "colored section" of a Montgomery, Alabama bus.  She had paid her fare.  When she was told to move to accommodate white riders, she simply refused.  She was arrested and fined.  But it was a significant event in the course of the Civil Rights struggle of this nation. 

A young and mostly unknown minister named "King" was chosen to head up the organization in Montgomery, Alabama, who embarked on a bus boycott following Mrs. Parks arrest.  He is quoted as saying of Mrs. Parks that she was regarded as "one of the finest citizens of Montgomery—not one of the finest Negro citizens, but one of the finest citizens of Montgomery."

Quotes attributed to Rosa Louise Parks:

"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."

"People always say 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."

¹ This quote is said to be what Rosa Parks asked the arresting officer.
² This quote is attributed to the arresting officer.

Dedicated to the memory of:

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (February 4, 1913 – October 24, 2005)

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