Rosa Parks Was Born 112 Years Ago Today: Relive the Civil Rights Activist's Inspiring Moments

Mar. 15, 2025

Rosa Parks getting fingerprinted.Photo: Underwood Archives/Getty

Rosa Parks Gets Fingerprinted

Today we celebrate the life ofRosa Parks.

Parks lived until she was 92 years old. Shedied in 2005, of natural causes.

As we celebrate what would have been her 112th birthday, look back at some of her inspiring moments.

01of 07Dec. 1, 1955Universal History Archive/GettyOn Dec. 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a 42-year-old seamstress named Rosa Parks was arrested after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, even after the white bus driver demanded that she do it. After her arrest, Parks was tried and convicted for civil disobedience.

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Dec. 1, 1955

Universal History Archive/Getty

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks (1913-2005), American Civil Rights activist. Booking photo taken at the time of her arrest for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus to a white passenger on 1 December 1955.

On Dec. 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a 42-year-old seamstress named Rosa Parks was arrested after refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, even after the white bus driver demanded that she do it. After her arrest, Parks was tried and convicted for civil disobedience.

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Underwood Archives/Getty

Rosa Parks Gets Fingerprinted

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In the News

The New York Times

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04of 07One Year LaterGettyParks sat in the front of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, after the Supreme Court ruled segregation illegal on the city bus system on Dec. 21, 1956.

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One Year Later

Getty

Rosa Parks

Parks sat in the front of a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, after the Supreme Court ruled segregation illegal on the city bus system on Dec. 21, 1956.

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Her Legacy

Don Cravens/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty

Rosa Parks Boards A Bus

06of 07Rosa Parks' OutlookRosa Parks.David Turnley/Corbis/VCG via Getty"I tried to have as little anger as possible, but I tried to use it to help people who are suffering and many who were discouraged and didn’t have the courage to try and take a stand for themselves," she told Larry Kingduring an appearanceon his eponymous show in 1995.

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Rosa Parks' Outlook

Rosa Parks.David Turnley/Corbis/VCG via Getty

Rosa Parks in Sunglasses

David Turnley/Corbis/VCG via Getty

“I tried to have as little anger as possible, but I tried to use it to help people who are suffering and many who were discouraged and didn’t have the courage to try and take a stand for themselves,” she told Larry Kingduring an appearanceon his eponymous show in 1995.

07of 07Getting RecognitionU.S. President Bill Clinton with Rosa Parks.RICHARD ELLIS/AFP via GettyOn Sept. 15, 1996, President Clinton awarded Park with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her lifetime of dedicated work.

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Getting Recognition

U.S. President Bill Clinton with Rosa Parks.RICHARD ELLIS/AFP via Getty

US President Bill Clinton stands with civil rights activist Rosa Parks during the Congressional Black Caucus dinner 14 September in Washington DC. Earlier Clinton presented Parks with the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor for her lifetime of work.

RICHARD ELLIS/AFP via Getty

On Sept. 15, 1996, President Clinton awarded Park with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her lifetime of dedicated work.

source: people.com