Rosa Parks being fingerprinted by Deputy Sheriff D.H. Lackey after being arrested on February 22, 1956, during the Montgomery bus boycott.
MRS. ROSA PARKS: A Forever Icon BY CHERIE BUCKNER-WEBB
When I asked how she was able to take such risks, she said, “I didn’t think of risks, I did the right thing.”
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On April 15, 1993, Boise State University and the Boise Peace Quilt Project joined forces to present “A Tribute to an American Heroine, Rosa Parks.” The auditorium was filled to capacity with folks who came to honor her and demonstrate their admiration, love and respect for a woman who devoted her life to social justice and, at 80 years of age, continued her quest. The festivities truly befit the title later bestowed by upon Mrs. Parks by the United States Congress: “The first lady of civil rights.” Tributes were delivered by Gov. Cecil Andrus, Boise State University President Charles Ruch and the Boise Peace Quilt Project. The newly established Rosa Parks Scholarship was introduced and BSU’s Symphonic Winds ensemble played “A Movement for Rosa,” a song composed by Radford University Associate Professor of Music Mark Camphouse. The following day, I had the opportunity to spend extended time with Mrs. Rosa Parks, the woman I admired most in the world. Note: In my cultural tradition, we do not refer to an elder by her first name. We refer to them as Miss, Mrs., Sister, Aunt or Auntie as a show of respect.
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My eighth grade English teacher would chide me for using “Mrs.” with a woman’s first name, but in this case, popular culture wins! Heralded as the “Mother to the Movement,” her delicate, petite stature, melodic voice and warm demeanor almost disguised her iron will–but this woman had changed the conscience of the nation! It was our first meeting, yet Mrs. Parks came into the room, took both my hands, pulled me close, and bestowed a kiss on my cheek. It instantly felt like being with family, and we interacted as such throughout the day. She asked questions; growing up as a Black girl in white Idaho, and about our culture and political climate. She was earnestly interested in Idaho, having spent little time in the West.
