"Refused To Surrender Her Bus Seat to a White Passenger".
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“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right. “I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.” “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.” 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. |
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.
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 anything such as complete happiness. It pains me that there is still a lot of Klan activity and racism. I think when you say you're happy, you have everything that you need and everything that you want, and nothing more to wish for. I haven't reached that stage yet.
I knew someone had to take the first step and I made up my mind not to move.
I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.
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“All I was doing was trying to get home from work.”
It was not pre-arranged. It just happened that the driver made and demand and I just didn't feel like obeying his demand . . . I was quite tired after spending a full day working. Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others. My only concern was to get home after a hard day's work. Our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it. Whatever my individual desires were to be free, I was not alone. There were many others who felt the same way. The only tired I was, was tired of giving in. “People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in” |
“Each person must live their life as a model for others.”
“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.” “The only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” “I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free... so other people would be also free.” “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.” “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.” “Arrest me for sitting on a bus? You may do that.” “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.” “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, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.” |