Quotes from Rosa Parks

In it not easy to remain rational and normal mentally in such a setting where, even in our airport in Montgomery, there is a white waiting room... There are restroom facilities for white ladies and colored women, white men and colored men. We stand outside after being served at the same ticket counter instead of sitting on the inside.

Let us look at Jim Crow for the criminal he is and what he has done to one life multiplied millions of times over these United States and the world. He walks us on a tightrope from birth.

you must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.

It takes more than one person to bring about peace - it takes all of us.

I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.

I see the energy of young people as a real force for positive change.

Since I have always been a strong believer in God, I knew that He was with me, and only He could get me through that next step

I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day.

Our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it.

I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up.

I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.

You spend your whole lifetime in your occupation, actually making life clever, easy and convenient for white people. But when you have to get transportation home, you are denied an equal accommodation. Our existence was for the white man's comfort and well-being; we had to accept being deprived of just being human.

The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute accepts people of any race. We don't discriminate against anyone. We teach people to reach their highest potential. I set examples by the way I lead my life.

I have never been what you would call just an integrationist. I know I've been called that... Integrating that bus wouldn't mean more equality. Even when there was segregation, there was plenty of integration in the South, but it was for the benefit and convenience of the white person, not us.

I have been refused entrance on the buses because I would not pay my fare at the front and go around to the rear door to enter. That was the custom if the bus was crowded up to the point where the white passengers would start occupying.

I talked and talked of everything I know about the white man's inhuman treatment of the Negro.

Whites would accuse you of causing trouble when all you were doing was acting like a normal human being instead of cringing.

Why do you all push us around?

was that I was a person with dignity and self-respect, and I should not set my sights lower than anybody else just because I was black.

I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free... and other people would be also free.

I'm tired of being treated like a second-class citizen.

Victory or defeat? It is the slogan of all-powerful militarism in every belligerent nation. And yet, what can victory bring to the proletariat?

she stood up by sitting down. I'm only standing here because of her.

I am leaving this legacy to all of you ... to bring peace, justice, equality, love and a fulfillment of what our lives should be. Without vision, the people will perish, and without courage and inspiration, dreams will die-- the dream of freedom and peace.