== Rosa Parks and Virginia Foster Durr ==

== Rosa Parks and Virginia Foster Durr ==

I too have heard of Rosa Parks story but never the details like this article had.  What I thought was so interesting was how a bus boycott lasted a year and how all of the black people denied having anything to do with it, and their white bosses went along with the lie, because they needed people to do stuff around their house, and take care of their children. Not only that but everyone new that everyone was lying and there was nothing that anyone could do about it other than cops writing stupid tickets. When the boycott was over I wonder if their were still problems (I imagine so), because there is always that one person who ruins it for everyone, or starts trouble.--Michelle M.

I too have heard of Rosa Parks story but never the details like this article had.  What I thought was so interesting was how a bus boycott lasted a year and how all of the black people denied having anything to do with it, and their white bosses went along with the lie, because they needed people to do stuff around their house, and take care of their children. Not only that but everyone new that everyone was lying and there was nothing that anyone could do about it other than cops writing stupid tickets. When the boycott was over I wonder if their were still problems (I imagine so), because there is always that one person who ruins it for everyone, or starts trouble.--Michelle M.

The story of Rosa Parks to me is both saddening and uplighting at the same time if that's possible. We know the black perspective on the issue but what was the white's perspective? Did all the white feels the same way and come to the same agreement or were there varying opinions? What did the white people on the bus think that day in history? -- Rose Ferguson

The story of Rosa Parks to me is both saddening and uplighting at the same time if that's possible. We know the black perspective on the issue but what was the white's perspective? Did all the white feels the same way and come to the same agreement or were there varying opinions? What did the white people on the bus think that day in history? -- Rose Ferguson

I found it interesting in the reading in “Civil Rights Activists” (in MAW) that the black men and women who participated in the bus boycott refused to admit it. Were there any legal actions that could have been taken for participating in the boycott? It also talked about some of the legal actions that were taken toward both black and white women who seemed to be aiding in the boycott. “The black people formed car pools, and the city tried cracking down on them by arresting the drivers for going two miles an hour over the speed limit,” (224). Were they really being arrested in the sense that they were being taken to jail, or were they fined and ticketed? You would think that arresting a lot of people for a crime this small would eventually just cost the city more money and resources than necessary. --Jessica Kilday

'''I found it interesting in the reading in “Civil Rights Activists” (in MAW) that the black men and women who participated in the bus boycott refused to admit it. Were there any legal actions that could have been taken for participating in the boycott?''' It also talked about some of the legal actions that were taken toward both black and white women who seemed to be aiding in the boycott. “The black people formed car pools, and the city tried cracking down on them by arresting the drivers for going two miles an hour over the speed limit,” (224).''' Were they really being arrested in the sense that they were being taken to jail, or were they fined and ticketed?''' You would think that arresting a lot of people for a crime this small would eventually just cost the city more money and resources than necessary. --Jessica Kilday

I also found this piece well pretty awesome. I agree with Kelley when she said, its amazing how Rosa Parks started such a strong movement without even realizing it. Something that I also found interesting was the unspoken support, when people would talk to others about not taking the bus, that it is nice of them to support the boycott, and people would reply with any excuse possible on why they are not taking the bus. I also liked how the white women supported it as well, even though it was for their own agenda, but when the police started to pull them over I loved how they would respond,saying if you want to come clean my house then fine but until then I will keep driving her to and from her home. The fact that even whites were participating in the boycott really shows the impact that Rosa Parks had. -- Amanda Taub

I also found this piece well pretty awesome. I agree with Kelley when she said, its amazing how Rosa Parks started such a strong movement without even realizing it. Something that I also found interesting was the unspoken support, when people would talk to others about not taking the bus, that it is nice of them to support the boycott, and people would reply with any excuse possible on why they are not taking the bus. I also liked how the white women supported it as well, even though it was for their own agenda, but when the police started to pull them over I loved how they would respond,saying if you want to come clean my house then fine but until then I will keep driving her to and from her home. The fact that even whites were participating in the boycott really shows the impact that Rosa Parks had. -- Amanda Taub

I thought a really important part of the Montgomery bus boycotts was the fact that it was almost necessary that black women stayed quiet. I would have assumed, not reading this piece, that most participants would have been proud of being a part of the cause and I was quite surprised to find out that they were silent. I didn't think that admitting to participating could be as risky as it was. In reality women could have lost jobs or face legal fines for such a simple action. Their silence was ultimately their weapon. -- Meredith Bojarski

I thought a really important part of the Montgomery bus boycotts was the fact that it was almost necessary that black women stayed quiet. I would have assumed, not reading this piece, that most participants would have been proud of being a part of the cause and I was quite surprised to find out that they were silent. I didn't think that admitting to participating could be as risky as it was. In reality women could have lost jobs or face legal fines for such a simple action. Their silence was ultimately their weapon. -- Meredith Bojarski

I found it really interesting to read about Rosa Parks and the bus boycott.  It was interesting how those who were boycotting would not admit they were doing it. Were they expecting a backlash for boycotting? The way I have always thought of the civil rights movement was that they were proud of their convictions and strongly supported the movement. By boycotting they were supporting the movement but why deny it when asked? That seems strange to me.~~Mary Beth Conrad

I found it really interesting to read about Rosa Parks and the bus boycott.  '''It was interesting how those who were boycotting would not admit they were doing it. Were they expecting a backlash for boycotting? The way I have always thought of the civil rights movement was that they were proud of their convictions and strongly supported the movement. By boycotting they were supporting the movement but why deny it when asked?''' That seems strange to me.~~Mary Beth Conrad

I had the same reaction as Meredith. It's interesting to look at early white feminists and activists and compare them to female black activists. While educated, middle class women often characterized the former, it was more difficult for any black woman to openly take up protest against the things that oppressed them. Rosa Parks was basically middle class for black women back then as were many of these women who supported the boycott. But unlike middle class white women during this time and earlier, these women often had to work. Between household duties, motherly duties, and work duties it is hard to imagine these women even had time to be activists in civil rights groups. But, as for all this "I thought black people were proud of their convictions" so "why did they deny it?"-I must respond that in the early 1950s the movement was still young. the south was still full of danger for non-white people who caused a lot of uproar against the way things were. And a black woman (with all her responsibilities and dependents) could not afford to get arrested or lose her job. I think attitudes started dramatically changing more into the late 60s amongst average people, because they had the Civil Rights Acts to use against discriminators, average people (not professional activists like Ella Baker) were not legally protected in the 1950s for even the smallest, personal protests. --Jackie Reed

I had the same reaction as Meredith. It's interesting to look at early white feminists and activists and compare them to female black activists. While educated, middle class women often characterized the former, it was more difficult for any black woman to openly take up protest against the things that oppressed them. Rosa Parks was basically middle class for black women back then as were many of these women who supported the boycott. But unlike middle class white women during this time and earlier, these women often had to work. Between household duties, motherly duties, and work duties it is hard to imagine these women even had time to be activists in civil rights groups. But, as for all this "I thought black people were proud of their convictions" so "why did they deny it?"-I must respond that in the early 1950s the movement was still young. the south was still full of danger for non-white people who caused a lot of uproar against the way things were. And a black woman (with all her responsibilities and dependents) could not afford to get arrested or lose her job. I think attitudes started dramatically changing more into the late 60s amongst average people, because they had the Civil Rights Acts to use against discriminators, average people (not professional activists like Ella Baker) were not legally protected in the 1950s for even the smallest, personal protests. --Jackie Reed

I thought this article was very interesting. I too have heard the Rosa Parks story many times but never with this much detail. The thing that surprised me the most was the support the white women gave the black women. I was not surprised the balck women lied about their involvement because that would be dangerous for them. I was surprised to hear about all the white women who would drive their black maids to and from work and then deny it. It was also interesting to read about how the cops tried to stop it by giving tickets to any one they thought was supporting the boycott. - Christine W.

I thought this article was very interesting. I too have heard the Rosa Parks story many times but never with this much detail. The thing that surprised me the most was the support the white women gave the black women. I was not surprised the balck women lied about their involvement because that would be dangerous for them. I was surprised to hear about all the white women who would drive their black maids to and from work and then deny it. It was also interesting to read about how the cops tried to stop it by giving tickets to any one they thought was supporting the boycott. - Christine W.

Just a random comment: Before I read this I didn’t know that Rosa Parks was sitting in the section of the bus for African Americas and only when the white section was full did the bus driver ask her to vacate her seat for a white man. I always thought she was sitting in the first seat on the bus. It really doesn’t matter where she was sitting, the whole thing is wrong. It just changed the mental image of this historic scene in my head. Also… I know that gender ideals were really strict at this time… in this situation how did a man balance gender with race? Like, the guy on the bus that Rosa Parks was suppose to give her seat to… did he think “I should stand and let the lady sit.” When did people’s concepts of race trump there concept of gender norms? – Cat Debelius

Just a random comment: Before I read this I didn’t know that Rosa Parks was sitting in the section of the bus for African Americas and only when the white section was full did the bus driver ask her to vacate her seat for a white man. I always thought she was sitting in the first seat on the bus. It really doesn’t matter where she was sitting, the whole thing is wrong. It just changed the mental image of this historic scene in my head. Also… '''I know that gender ideals were really strict at this time… in this situation how did a man balance gender with race? Like, the guy on the bus that Rosa Parks was suppose to give her seat to… did he think “I should stand and let the lady sit.” When did people’s concepts of race trump there concept of gender norms?''' – Cat Debelius

Also I agree with everyone that this was an awesome article you really could see the history being made with so many important figures in their early stages, and the ordinary people on the outskirts who really made it all possible. One question that came to my mind as i was reading was: Did the cops write those tickets out of their own personal rejudice or was there an order from the powers that be? ---- Landon Davis

Also I agree with everyone that this was an awesome article you really could see the history being made with so many important figures in their early stages, and the ordinary people on the outskirts who really made it all possible. One question that came to my mind as i was reading was: '''Did the cops write those tickets out of their own personal rejudice or was there an order from the powers that be?''' ---- Landon Davis

Rosa is a hero, I feel that her friend Virginia Foster Durr is as well. As a white women to fight for civil rights in the 50's is remarkable. Together with her husband, they did what they could for the cause, even getting a traffic ticket as a result of transporting black women to and from work. --Nikole Wellman

Rosa is a hero, I feel that her friend Virginia Foster Durr is as well. As a white women to fight for civil rights in the 50's is remarkable. Together with her husband, they did what they could for the cause, even getting a traffic ticket as a result of transporting black women to and from work. --Nikole Wellman