Rosa Parks, My Hero

Looking about, noticing the crowd here at the MLK breakfast, thinking we have come a long way since 1961. Back then, moving to Arizona in December, we had to travel the southern route to get here. How well I can remember when we stopped at a small restaurant, got out of our vehicle and walked to the door. There was a sign in the window next to the door, it read: 'no coloreds allowed! ' Why, I wondered, I was eleven years old, and had no understanding of this horrendous statement. Back in New Jersey, my best friend was colored, as was politically correct in those days. There was nothing wrong with her I thought, as we ate by the window, I watched as they walked by us, seeing no difference. This little mind was in a quandary and there was no explanation. Deciding then and there that nothing was wrong with my friend, therefore, there was nothing wrong with anyone who was colored. From that point on being color blind, it was the choice of an eleven year old child, but it hasn't changed at all through the years. Today, I find myself at the MLK breakfast celebration, listening to many people talking about 'the dream'. Yet, I'll never forget another time when eleven, yelling, 'alright! Rosa Parks is the greatest! She stood up to everyone! Alright Rosa! Thinking she was the greatest person alive because she had the courage to do what she was supposed to be able to do all along in the United States of America. To this day, thinking we should be celebrating a Rosa Parks holiday. Being admired within this mind, even at the MLK award breakfast, wishing you were receiving an award for just being, because you are. A little lady on a bus broke open the world, made it take notice, not only for the colored, but for women everywhere. Our thanks, mine especially, for all she has done with an action, silently, no hundreds of unmeaning words to mar her courageous act of faith. Faith that she would not be thrown off the bus, faith in people, that they would do the right thing. Your steadfast faith and courage have stayed with me all these years. (8: 59 a.m. - 1/12/01)