As a very young girl learning about Rosa Parks I was surprised and saddened to learn about racism. I come from a very multi-cultural family and lived in a fairly multi-cultural community and didn't understand that anyone could even consider being of more value than another person. What I loved about Rosa was the fact that she stood her ground at the age of 42 by politely refusing to give up her seat on a bus just because of the colour of her skin. Perhaps it is because I come from a line of pacifists, being exposed to any kind of conflict is very uncomfortable and I really try to avoid those circumstances. But I also believe that we need to stand up for our own rights and for that of others. Rosa's husband encouraged her to continue her education in order to complete high school, a feat in a time when less than 7% of African Americans held a diploma. She worked as a secretary for the Civil Rights Movement even though some of the people she worked with felt that women should stay home. And in Detroit she spoke against housing discrimination for the less fortunate. For her commitment to equal rights for all, she was the first woman interned in honour at the Capitol Rotunda.
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