Rosa Parks: Her life and legacy on civil rights activism

Since her refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama on December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks became a central leader in the struggle for freedom and equality in the United States and a catalyst to the Civil Rights Movement. Seventy years later, the legacy of Rosa Parks still inspires movements for social change and collective action.

On December 11, the Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative at Brookings held a virtual event to honor and reflect on the 70-year legacy of Rosa Parks. Experts in civil rights history, Black women’s collective action, and economic development shared their reflections on the impact of Rosa Parks from 1955 to the present day, and discussed the next wave of civil rights policies, legislative action, and civic engagement.

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