The Rosa Parks Story (2002)

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The Rosa Parks Story was released on February 24, 2002, in the USA. The American film was produced by CBS, Chotzen/Jenner Productions, and Come Sunday. The film was written by Paris Qualles and directed by Julie Dash. The movie was displaying how Rosa Parks led a calm civil rights movement in Montgomery, Alabama[1].

Plot

Angela Bassett convincingly portrays activist Rosa Parks. (c) 2002 CBS Films[2]

Rosa Parks (Angela Basset) is born in an era where indignities and racial injustices applied everywhere in the country. As she grows up from a kid into an adult, she is taught to fight for what she believes, a strong-willed girl, and persistent. Later on, she marries Raymond Parks (Peter Francis James) and the couple is childless. In 1955, Rosa defies the instruction of a white bus driver for giving up her seat for a white passenger who just entered the bus. She does not want because she believes she has the right to sit on her seat which is the "colored" section. When the police come to the scene, the white driver moved the "colored" section label to behind Parks's seat and this has made Parks to be arrested. This has made African Americans outrage and created the Boycott Bus of Montgomery, Alabama. Rosa Parks is released from her charge yet, she receives harassments and threats from white supremacists. Although these situations have brought danger and stressful conditions for the Parks, they could end the discrimination law non-violently, and eventually, Rosa Parks receives the award given by the President of the United States of America[3].

Black Empowerment

Rosa Parks has been taught by her surroundings to stand up for what she believes. Her mother tells her to answer the questions if anybody is asked by the teachers in the class. Rosa Parks always believe that everybody is made equal, and racism has no place in the world. This belief has made her an idealistic and strong African American woman in fighting racism. She also supports many African American kids to be able to read and write as she believes education could provide a better future for them. Despite the strife, she faces, she would keep fighting it bravely like when she registered to have voting rights, the council giver her a test and she would do the civic test and attain voting rights[4]. Her effort eventually has made African Americans stand up position and fight for their rights. Ultimately, the discriminatory law of Montgomery, Alabama is abolished and Rosa Parks is honored by the President of the United States for fighting for what she believes which is everyone is made equally and racism has no place in the world[5]

Controversy

Racism has impacted the thought and lives of African American kids. It can be seen when Rosa is in Quaker school for Negroes in 1924, one of the girls says that the school will not make any significant difference as in the future they would only be serving the white people. The controversial scene also exposes the Scottsboro Boys where nine African American teenagers are accused of raping two white girls and given the death penalty. At one time, Rosa also sees a news story regarding two African Americans who died while working for the Legal Defense Fund. The most remembered scene for sure is the refusal of changing seats for white people. Rosa Parks has sat in the "colored" section yet when there is a white passenger who wants to sit African Americans have to give their seats no matter the situation was at the time. While Rosa decides not to give the seat, the driver calls the police to report her. As the police say that they can't arrest Rosa Parks since she has followed the rule to sit in the "colored" section. However, the driver moves the "colored" section sign to the seat behind her, and eventually, Rosa has to be arrested because of the colored label that was just moved by the driver. The arrest has made their life struggle so much including fired from the job, harassment, and racial threats against her and her husband which led to a brokerage of their house and their mental conditions[6].

References

  1. The Rosa Parks Story (2002). IMDb. Retrieved January 23 2021
  2. Angela Bassett as Rosa Parks Visual Parables. Retrieved January 23 2021
  3. Laura Fries. The Rosa Parks Story Variety. Retrieved January 23 2021]
  4. TV Review: "The Rosa Parks Story" Hollywood. Retrieved January 23 2021]
  5. RIDE TO FREEDOM: THE ROSA PARKS STORY MovieGuide. Retrieved January 23 2021]
  6. Ed Mcnulty. The Rosa Parks Story (2002) Visual Parables. Retrieved January 23 2021]