rosa parks: is it our fault?
like the rest of the (black) nation, today i mourn the death of the legendary rosa parks, an instrumental figure (almost to the point of cliche) in twentieth century African American social movements in general and the history of black women's political activism in particular. *
what bothers me about the way the press is discussing her life and death is the complete lack of criticism to "people" (black people? government people? bush people?) for her destitute conditions near death. Few people are aware that in her last twenty years, Rosa lived most of her life in complete poverty, at one point even living in the projects. Only very recently (and perhaps too late) was she provided with stable government assistance. As late as 2002, she was almost evicted from her apartment. What is the relationship between this type of neglect and our recent government (in)attention to Katrina's victims?
*
certainly no one is "to blame" for rosa's death. she was a 92 year old woman. however, like a naive child, i have to ask: how and why did (black) america let a woman like rosa spend so much of her post-civil rights life in complete poverty? now that she's dead, will we learn to cherish our living cultural icons? how does the neglect and poverty that she experienced speak to a larger continued neglect of black women's lives and bodies?
*
would rosa be alive today if she had not spent so much of her later life scrapping coins together just to pay the rent?
*
thanks for bringing this to our attention...i was waiting for the media to outline it.
coming into reality,
-jamal
Posted by
Darius T. Williams |
10/25/2005
these are good questions. now the question ie: who else is suffering right now that we should be checking on?
Posted by
Unknown |
10/25/2005
I am not at all shocked or amazed by the state at which black people are in today... Its a sad thing when our greatest civil rights leaders are treated poorly even by "us"( a collective black people). Kanye West said it best,"Bush does not like black people." He wasn't lying fasho.
Justin
Posted by
Anonymous |
10/25/2005
That saddens me.
Rest in peace Rosa Parks.
I'll sit in the front of the bus today.
Posted by
ShawnQt |
10/25/2005
So many of our heros and sheroes have been forgotten in spirit yet remembered in name. It angers me to think our "so called leaders" failed to protect such an integral member of our history.
Come on, the projects? It just sounds stupid. I'm embarassed. Damn, sorry Rosa.
Posted by
christopher |
10/25/2005
i can't help but remember the way in which zora neale hurston was treated after the false allegations of her molesting some little boy. working as apoor maid? that is and how ms. parks lived until her death will always sadden and anger me.
i have one question: who feels pride whenever they get on the bus and sit in the front? accomplishment? i know every since i was younger i always hated sitting in the back of the bus. who's with me?
Posted by
Anonymous |
10/26/2005