I remember as a youngster being impressed by the story of Rosa Parks. She was not loud; she was not hostile; she was not seeking fame or glory. She simply acted on her deeply held belief that she had a right to a seat on a bus and quietly defied those who would deny her that right. By the sheer force of her inner strength, she changed the world. I have learned from her example. She taught me that if we trust our own convictions and persevere in the face of opposition, we can prevail.
Rosa Parks’ involvement in the Civil Rights Movement is the subject of a Religion & Ethics episode and an interview by PBS News Hour’s Gwen Ifill with Jeanne Theoharis, author of “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks.” Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Joyce F. Brown is the first woman president of the Fashion Institute of Technology.
