Anniversary of '55-'56 Montgomery Bus Boycott Mass Arrests

Rosa Parks' stand against racial segregation spawned a protest that sparked the Civil Rights Movement. Saturday, February 22nd, represents a milestone in Parks' action and the subsequent Montgomery Bus Boycott. On that day, arrest warrants were issued for the boycott's leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rev. Ralph Abernathy. Learning about the ensuing court cases, the city's rigid racial division, and the success of the boycott's nonviolent campaign represent a critical window into the Civil Rights struggle. Enslow Publishers' new title -- Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Photographs -- leverages text and pictures to deliver an historical narrative accessible and interesting for young readers. Author David Aretha's 48-page work combines age-appropriate text with strong photographs that bring this key moment in the American story to light. School librarians and teachers will especially find this Lexile 880 book useful for developing visual literacy as well as other key academic skills.

Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Photographs, included in Enslow's "The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in Photographs," is available directly from Enslow Publishers in a variety of formats, including library-bound book, paperback, and e-book. The series is also available from your preferred vendor, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.

Happy Birthday Rosa Parks

Happy Birthday to this Civil Rights Activist who would have turned 100 years old today.

Having grown up in rural Alabama, she lived with racial segregation on a daily basis. Most people associate Rosa Parks with her defiance on a city bus, which was the beginning of the civil rights movement.

Today, the United States Post Office unveiled its newest stamp in its civil rights series of stamps. A very fitting honor for Rosa Parks.

55 Years Ago Today, Rosa Parks Made History

Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus on this day, 55 years ago.

This is a story I heard over and over as a child in school, but haven't revisited until now. Rosa Parks was 42 years old at the time when she got on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. The bus driver demanded that she move to the back of the bus, to the black section, so a white passenger could have her seat. Parks refused and was arrested and convicted of disorderly conduct.

Parks' event triggered Martin Luther King, Jr. to organize a 381-day boycott of the public transportation system in Montgomery.

To learn about Rosa Parks, see Enslow's book: Rosa Parks: "Tired of Giving Up"