a.
This book walks a
young reader through a historical time in history. The book begins with a
little bit of background on Rosa Parks. Her day started off normally, with her
time at work and how her mother was sick. Rosa was let go early and began her
trip home. It was a busy day and many people were on the bus. Due to a full
Black section, Rosa had to sit in the Neutral section. Pretty soon, the bus
began to fill up. All of a sudden, Rosa notices the bus driver hollering over
her saying he wanted them to vacate the seats. The black man next to her said
he didn’t want trouble and moved. Rosa sat back down and refused. The bus
driver threatened to call the police, along with shouts from other white
riders. Rosa was not to be moved. The book continues on describing the effects
of her action. Others rallied around to support her, although not without
consequence. Rosa’s actions have a profound impact on society and lead to the
ruling that no segregation can occur on busses.
b.
Giovanni, N. (2005). Rosa. New York: Henry Holt.
c.
I was surprised to
learn something new about a Rosa Parks story. Apparently, Rosa Parks was seated
in a Neutral area. I did not know that the busses had a Neutral area for both
Blacks and Whites to sit on. My recollection of the story was that she chose to
sit down in the white section because the Blacks area was full. I am glad I was
able to get all of the information down correctly. This book is not only about
Rosa’s experience. It also includes instances of injustice towards African
Americans with examples of lynching and revenge by racist people in those days.
The story also honors the efforts of so many people who supported Rosa during
this difficult moment in history. The illustrations provided a vivid depiction
of the dark moment that Rosa lived through. Giovanni’s book honors not only
Rosa Parks, but all the individuals who were treated with injustice and
disrespect.
d.
Rosa. (2012). Journal of education, 192(1),
54.
"A cooling breeze
on a sweltering day; a sun-dried quilt in fall; the enchantment of snowflakes
extending the horizon; the promise of renewal at spring" (Giovanni, 2005,
p. 4). This is how the author, the first recipient of the Rosa L. Parks Woman
of Courage Award, describes the heroine of her book. Young readers will surely
be inspired by the story of a remarkable woman whose act of civil disobedience
precipitated the Montgomery bus boycott.
The story begins with
the description of a rather routine day: Rosa's mother recovering from the flu;
her husband, a barber, working at the Air Force base; and Rosa hurriedly
leaving her job as a seamstress as she thinks about preparing a meatloaf for
dinner. These ordinary events make her extraordinary act of courage in standing
against injustice even more remarkable. The events on the bus are described in
detail, and her quiet refusal to give in to the demand that she give up her
seat to a White passenger is in sharp contrast with the behavior of the bus
driver who yelled, "I said give me those seats!" (p. 14) and the
passengers who demanded that she be arrested. The story closes as groups of
people who share her mission, including the Women's Political Council and the
NAACP, mobilize to organize a bus boycott. Ultimately, the courage of these
heroes, named and unnamed, led to the Supreme Court ruling that declared
segregation to be unconstitutional.
The rich watercolor and
collage illustrations are captivating. The fold out pages that show those who
walked, instead of riding the bus, and those who marched, capture how a number
of people from all walks of life came together for the cause of Civil Rights.
Many readers will notice how effectively Rosa is portrayed as the gentle hero
of this story. In the illustrator's note, Bryan Collier writes, "to me,
she is like a radiant chandelier, an elegant light that illuminates all our
many pathways" (p. 4). In an interview about her book, Giovanni said, “I've
always liked the hero … I always liked the people that stood up, and Mrs. Parks
had a particular stand that said, "You can make a difference. What you do
can make a difference." And you do it with no expectation. And she always
said that. Again, in my book, I'm not overly stressing that, but she always
said she didn't know who, if anyone, would stand with her. She just knew that
it was time for her to stand.
Giovanni's statement
reminds readers of the value of standing up for what is right even when we are
unsure about the support we will receive from others. Rosa Park's dignified
resolve continues to inspire and to set an example for future generations
e.
I would use this book
as a role play for students. I would have them draw cards and see what role
they play in reenacting the bus scene.
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