25 Beautiful Rosa Parks Quotes On Evolving Perspectives

There are few names as highly recognized in the civil rights movement as Rosa Parks who rose to fame during the Montgomery bus boycott. While mostly ignored initially, The US Congress would later recognize her as “the first lady of civil rights” and even “the mother of the freedom movement” for her defiance in times of racial divide.

What happened next? Her actions caused a wave of change, inspiring others to stand up with her. Not one or two individuals, but in fact, thousands of African Americans who were ready to rise above the inequality at the time. It was her work that brought international attention and awareness on the social injustices, showing on black and white television screens around the world, inspiring minorities in other countries to rise above such tyranny.

Even after her retirement, she knew there was much work to be done. And fortunately, many continue on with her tailwinds today with the popular Black Lives Matter movement amongst many others. These quotes serve as a glimmer into her world at the time and the future she envisioned.

1. It is better to teach or live equality and love … than to have hatred and prejudice.

Rosa Parks

2. We must have courage — determination — to go on with the task of becoming free — not only for ourselves, but for the nation and the world — cooperate with each other. Have faith in God and ourselves.

Rosa Parks

3. Each person must live their life as a model for others.

Rosa Parks

4. You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.

Rosa Parks

5. People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. I was not tired physically … No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.

Rosa Parks

6. My only concern was to get home after a hard day’s work.

Rosa Parks

7. I’d see the bus pass every day. But to me, that was a way of life. We had no choice but to accept what was the custom. The bus was among the first ways I realized there was a Black world and a white world.

Rosa Parks

8. From the time I was a child, I tried to protest against disrespectful treatment.

Rosa Parks

9. I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free … so other people would be also free.

Rosa Parks

10. There were times when it would have been easy to fall apart or to go in the opposite direction, but somehow I felt that if I took one more step, someone would come along to join me.

Rosa Parks

11. I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.

Rosa Parks

12. Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.

Rosa Parks

13. I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day, but I don’t think there is any such thing as complete happiness.

Rosa Parks

14. Life is to be lived to its fullest so that death is just another chapter.

Rosa Parks

15. I had given up my seat before, but this day, I was especially tired. Tired from my work as a seamstress, and tired from the ache in my heart.

Rosa Parks

16. Have you ever been hurt and the place tries to heal a bit?  And you just pull the scar off of it over and over again.

Rosa Parks

17. Our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it.

Rosa Parks

18. That was a difference between black slaves and white indentured servants. Black slaves were usually not allowed to keep their names, but were given new names by their owners.

Rosa Parks

19. I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.

Rosa Parks

20. Differences of race, nationality or religion should not be used to deny any human being citizenship rights or privileges.

Rosa Parks

21. All I was doing was trying to get home from work.

Rosa Parks

22. I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom.

Rosa Parks

23. As a child I learned from the Bible to trust in God and not be afraid. And I felt the Lord would give me the strength to endure whatever I had to face. God did away with all my fear.

Rosa Parks

24. Arrest me for sitting on a bus? You may do that.

Rosa Parks

25. Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.

Rosa Parks