Rosa Parks

Hello, my name is Rosa. When I was a little girl, I lived on a farm with my grandparents. I loved to help them pick cotton and vegetables. It was fun to play outside in the sunshine and see the plants grow big and strong. My family taught me to be kind and to believe that everyone is special. But some things I saw were not so nice. The rules were different for people with different skin colors, and that wasn't fair. It made my heart feel sad. I always knew in my heart that everyone should be treated with kindness and respect, no matter what they look like, just like flowers in a garden.

I grew up and worked as a seamstress, sewing beautiful clothes for people. I used my needle and thread to make things new again. One day in the year 1955, after a long day of work, I was very tired and got on a bus to go home. My feet were sore, and I just wanted to rest. I sat down in a seat. The bus driver told me to give my seat to a white person, because that was the rule back then. But my feet were tired, and my heart was tired of unfair rules. I thought to myself, 'Why should I have to move? This seat is for everyone.' So, I said a very quiet and very brave word. I said, 'No.'

Saying 'no' was a small thing, but it made a big difference. It was like planting a tiny seed of fairness. Many kind people heard my story and agreed that the bus rules were not right. They decided to stop riding the buses until the rules were changed for everyone! People walked to work and helped each other get around. By sitting still in my seat, I was standing up for what was right. My story helps show that one person, no matter how quiet, can help make the world a better, fairer place for everybody. Always remember to be kind and brave.