The Courage and Compassion of Rosa Parks, Essay Example

Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt were dynamic and prolific figures in the 20^thCentury and were two of the most inspiring women who lived during this century. Both women demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the civil rights movement in which they sought to promote equality for all persons and to improve their lives. Although these women were from very different backgrounds, they represent courage and determination in its most holistic form, thereby creating an environment of change and progress to ensure that even the most basic human rights were protected at all times. These figures will be discussed at length in the following paragraphs and will identify some of their key personal characteristics, their similarities, their differences, and their influence on the lives of others around them. These women set a 20^th Century example that began with such strong figures as Sarah Grimke (Campbell, 2006, p. 37) and Jane Addams (Campbell, 2006, p. 40).

Rosa Parks: Persistent

In the 1950s, as Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama, she represented a new ideal and a framework for protecting civil rights for all Americans. These events paved the way for widespread change and the eventual elimination of racial segregation that took place throughout the South. Rosa Parks’ actions on December 1, 1955, set the tone for a much larger boycott of African Americans from buses in Montgomery for a period of 381 days. As a result, the city was dealt a significant financial blow because it depended on African American bus ridership for a steady source of revenue, so when these events took place, the city suffered in important ways.

Eleanor Roosevelt: Persistent

Eleanor Roosevelt was also persistent, as she set a new precedent for the role of First Lady. In this role, she sought to improve the lives of many Americans through her activities and support of those who were disadvantaged and limited in their abilities on many levels. Roosevelt fought specifically for the rights of women and their ability to be successful, full-fledged contributing members of society, and used her power and clout as First Lady to achieve these objectives. Roosevelt’s tenure serves a visible reminder of the power of the highest political office in the land to make a difference, and to gain greater respect in the process.

Roosevelt’s role in her husband’s New Deal program was significant, as she sought to improve the lives of many people who had been devastated by the Great Depression. Her activities also provide a greater sense of accomplishment and worth for many people who otherwise had lost their way in a complex American society that was slowly beginning to recover (Woloch, 2011, p. 415). Roosevelt cemented her legacy with her fight to establish laws that would guarantee equal pay and treatment for women in the workforce. This was an important step in her fight for women’s rights and in shaping her message that women deserve equal treatment on all levels, in particular, by using female reporters to spread her message and to discuss topics of significant importance to all Americans.

Rosa Parks: Inspiring

Rosa Parks’ activities were highly inspiring, as she addressed one of the most devastating activities of the 20^th Century: racial segregation. Through her seemingly simple actions, she forever changed how the people of the South were treated in a public forum, leading up to a declaration by the U.S. Supreme Court that racial segregation was unconstitutional (Woloch, 2011, p. 501). From her earliest years forward, Rosa Parks fought for racial equality and learned by example from her grandparents, who were former slaves. During her years as a young student, Parks attended segregated schools where resources were severely limited. Upon meeting her husband Raymond, she completed her high school education and joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and she eventually became a youth leader and then secretary to the president of the organization. Parks is an inspiring woman who represents authenticity, strength, courage, and forgiveness during an era when African American women were not well respected or regarded for their contributions to society.

Eleanor Roosevelt: Inspiring

Roosevelt was also inspiring in that she stood up against segregation and supported her husband as he established an Executive Order to address fair employment for all persons, including African Americans. Similar to Rosa Parks, she was an active participant in the NAACP as one of its first White members. Furthermore, Roosevelt sought to improve the fight against the poor treatment of sharecroppers on U.S. farms. Her activities also supported a fight against her husband when he did not support laws against lynching, and she also fought to bring Holocaust refugees to the United States, including Jewish children. Eleanor Roosevelt fought in a similar manner to her grandfather, former President Theodore Roosevelt, and sought to expose low wages, unsafe working conditions, and poor living conditions for many people living in low-income housing projects. Roosevelt’s actions also supported her humanitarian efforts and her activities that were designed to improve the lives of many people, including her creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to address human treatment within a given country. In her later years, Roosevelt was instrumental on the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, the Peace Corps Advisory Board, the Tractors for Freedom Committee, and expanded her efforts to address violence towards those working with civil rights. Each of these activities was instrumental in supporting the rights of people throughout the United States and provided a level of change and progress that had not yet occurred in the American landscape, particularly for women in positions of power.

Conclusion

Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt serve as critical reminders of the tremendous strides that women made in the United States during the 20^th Century. This era promised a new generation of power, change, and authority, and these two women were at the forefront of this change, in spite of their differences in backgrounds and experiences. Both women exhibited strength and determination of character to a level that could overcome just about any barrier that they were given. Therefore, they both represent women with significant influence and presence in the United States during the 20^thCentury. In spite of their differences in experience and upbringing, both women held strong beliefs, core values, and courage of conviction to fight for what was most important to them. As a result of their efforts, many Americans enjoy freedoms that were unheard of in other eras and that represent a continued level of growth and respect for women in the modern generation. Their legacies continue to grow and thrive for new generations of learners and support a greater understanding of their accomplishments and what was required to make a difference in society. These women serve as prolific examples of dedication, compassion, empathy, commitment, success, achievement, and unwavering tenacity in a complex world.

Works Cited

Campbell, Delores Delgado. Women in American History, 2^nd Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print.

Woloch, Nancy. Women and the American Experience, 5^th Edition. New York: Mc-Graw Hill, 2011. Print.