The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks

“If not for Mrs. Parks nobody would have ever heard of Martin Luther King Jr.” - E.D. Nixon

After reading Jeanne Theoharis’ “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” I have to say that if not for Mrs. Parks there is a lot we never would have heard of and the world today would be a worse place for it. Growing up, and well into adulthood all I knew about Rosa Parks was the popular myth, she was a tired seamstress who was tired and refused to give up her seat. Earning a degree in history I learned that that story was a simplification of the real story. Reading Theoharis’ book i discovered that what I learned in college was a simplification of the truth.

I don’t know why some books are harder for me to review and with other show more books the review almost writes itself. This is one of the difficult ones. It is a great book. I think it could be the best book I read this year and I read some very good books this year. That could be part of my problem. It is good on many levels. I learned Mrs. Rosa Parks life story as well as can be written until the last archive of her papers is opened to researchers. I also learned about classism and the power of showing up.

I have to recommend this book to anyone interested in the Civil Rights Movement or American culture. It is well written, well researched, and well reasoned. I hope it gets wide exposure, the country could use some of Mrs. Parks tenacity and hope. show less

Who in this country has not heard of Mrs. Rosa Parks? Yet, on the flip side of this same coin, how much do we know of her and her life? Many might think they do, yet Jeanne Theoharris' informative biography is a remarkable effort in fully answering that question. Written from an admittedly Leftist perspective, Ms. Theoharris explores Mrs. Park's life in a comprehensive and informative manner. While there is the occasional, in my mind, talking down to the reader, it is more than over-matched by the sheer volume of research and scholarship that is evident in every page. Refuting myth, defying ritual and stereotype, Ms. Theoharris has crafted a remarkable life history of a truly remarkable individual. Rosa Parks was no historical accident show more or footnote. All of her life she worked tirelessly for the causes she believed in, defying not only segregation and bigotry, but also gender discrimination (in both White, African-American, and church cultures), ageism (she was always a strong supporter of young people), and political biases. From the beginnings of her life in Alabama to her subsequent relocating to Michigan, Mrs. Parks fought wrongs whenever and wherever she encountered them. From walking in Montgomery to walking in front of the South African embassy in Washington, Mrs. Parks lived her life as the biography's title so aptly and rightly says, rebelliously. If only all of us possessed a fraction of her courage and will. show less

In her biography of Rosa Parks (The Rebellious Life of Mrs Rosa Parks), Jeanne Theoharis provides continuously engaging, thoughtful, and perceptive insights into a truly remarkable woman. I had no real knowledge of Mrs Parks beyond the bus incident, but now I can see her on-going commitment and contributions to the long (but still unfinished) struggle for equal rights in America. Her political philosophy did indeed include rebellion without being simply confrontational or destructive. Parks is inspiring in her dedication but also instructive in her methods. Read the book. Think about it. Read it again. Get to work.

This insightful and revealing first full-length biography of Rosa Parks shatters all the myths about her that began with her arrest in Montgomery in 1955. Rosa Parks may have been shy, may not have worn her angry militancy on her sleeve, but she was never apolitical. She was never the accidental activist, the mild-mannered seamstress too tired to give up her seat on the bus as depicted in the "national fable" of her life. Rosa's intense resentment of and lifelong resistance to racial injustice was instilled in her from an early age by her grandparents and parents. She made a living as a skilled tailor but her lifelong vocation was fighting for equality with the NAACP, the Montgomery Improvement Association, the Black Power movement, and show more a hundred other organizations and campaigns to which she selflessly offered her time and talent. Theoharis chronicles Rosa's lifelong activism from working with the NAACP in Alabama and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, to her leadership in civil rights activities in Detroit, her involvement in the Black Power movement, campaigns for black political candidates, and more. Theoharis also reveals the terrible economic, emotional, and physical toll Rosa's tireless activism had upon her and her husband Raymond. This is the story of the real Rosa Parks, the one everyone should know. show less

As is usual, I received this book as part of a GoodReads drawing. Despite the kind consideration of receiving a free book I give my candid assessment below.

The main topical thrust of this book is to set the story of Parks’ life in its proper light from her initial involvement in the Civil Rights movement well before the famous Bus Incident until she finally received the Medal of Honor in 1999. Mythology paints Parks as a frail matronly figure who just happens to do the right thing at the right time. The reality that Theoharis paints is much more intriguing as it finds Parks involved in the movement for years before her epic stand and as a key figure in the leadership of the movement.

The reader is also introduced to the darker side of show more the story including Parks’ great personal , financial and psychological sacrifices. Highlighted too is the sexism rife within the organization that led her to be a silent participant in the early years. The Parks story is no fairy tale but instead a complex and interwoven narrative of a woman and a people who had finally just had enough of the injustice that surrounded them.

Beyond the content, the book is lavishly and intricately researched. Much of the text is provided through direct quotes from the participants. This is an exceptionally scholarly work but also one that draws the reader in and builds a deep sympathetic aura. The book concludes with 57 pages of index and appendices so it is a great research resource but unlike most books of that genre it is innately readable as well.

In summary, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks is a elaborately painted picture of the battle against the injustice that sat sullenly over the Jim Crow South during the civil rights era from the viewpoint of one very courageous woman. Despite the common idea that racism has been expunged from American culture, this book is a great and timely reminder of those dark and tempestuous times that were not all that long ago and that still cast a shadow over us even today. show less

Theoharis offers a dense and well-researched history of the life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. Eloquently worded, this text provides a variety of important stories to explain how Parks navigated life in the south and refused to give up regardless of the circumstances. I was most struck by the conclusion. In "'Racism is Still Alive': Negotiating the Politics of Being a Symbol," Theoharis intersperses the facts of the assault on 89-year old Parks with quotes and provides a thorough and appropriate response to the circumstances. Theoharis understands how to write with objectivity and manages to provide the evidence in such a way that the narrative speaks for itself: your heart breaks for Parks, and your heart breaks for the current state of society. show more It's not a quick and easy read; the content itself is heavy. It is well-worth the time it takes to read it and it is worth pushing through the first few pages to jump into the narrative arc of the story. I marked it down to 4 stars because some of the chapters seem inaccessible if you don't have an academic background, but perhaps this thread is more common in biographies than I realized. show less

This book set out to debunk the myth that Rosa Parks was a onetime activist. This is a definitive examination of Parks’ continued fight for civil rights long before her famous bus ride, and long afterwards, in the face of discrimination, both from whites and black men, in the form of everything from indifference to intimidation to terrorist attacks. Theoharis shows Parks to be shy yet forceful and peaceful yet strong-willed in what she believed in and not afraid to stand for what is right.

Free review copy.