Today marks the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks' act of civil disobedience that gave birth to the modern civil rights movement. Indeed, at Miss Rosa’s memorial service a month ago, Oprah Winfrey observed that her simple act of defiance “changed the trajectory” of her life.
By staying in her seat, Sister Rosa gave nappy-head girls like me a chance to “dream the impossible dream.” As Aretha Franklin sang “The Impossible Dream” at the memorial service, I reflected on those days when I walked the streets of Bed-Stuy singing that song. The lyrics gave me hope that there really was a way out of the ghetto. (It was only later that I learned that the song was from the Broadway musical, “Man of La Mancha.”)
As a lifelong user of public transportation, it brought a smile to my face when I read about the National Transit Tribute to Miss Rosa. And as a civic booster, I love it when everyone -- and everything -- gets into the act. On New York City buses, for instance, the seat behind the driver will be symbolically reserved for Sister Rosa. In Portland, Ore., commemorative materials from the Montgomery Bus Boycott will be displayed.
When I'm out and about today, I will think about those unnamed men, women and children who walked for 381 days. And, yes, I'll have freedom on my mind.
