A new movement for justice is following in the footsteps of
Rosa Parks and other earlier civil rights activists.
Rosa Parks became a
powerful symbol of courage and defiance in the Civil Rights Movement by simply
refusing to give up her seat to a white man and move to the back of the bus, as
the racist culture of that time dictated she was supposed to do.
Only, there was
nothing simple about it.
As personally
courageous as she was, Parks wasn’t alone that day.
Parks belonged to a
deep and wide grassroots movement for African-American rights and dignity. This
movement developed the sit-in strategy, trained Parks for this moment of
refusal, and surrounded her with the support and love she needed to withstand
the clamor of hate that followed.
Rosa Parks wasn’t
alone on that bus.
Half a century later,
a new movement for justice is following in the footsteps and in the spirit of
those earlier civil rights activists. Steadily building broad grassroots
coalitions of civil rights groups, labor, church leaders, students, teachers,
environmentalists, retirees, and others, this movement is rising across the
South.
This promising and
progressive uprising is gaining popular support by directly confronting the
immorality of extremist governors, lawmakers, and corporate lobbyists who are
denying health care to poor families, preventing both the elderly and students
from voting, gutting state funding for public education, and generally
legislating a permanent state of inequality and injustice for millions of
people.
It began last year in
North Carolina as the “Moral Monday” movement, named for its weekly peaceful
protests at the state capitol. This movement has now spread to “Moral Monday
Georgia” and “Truthful Tuesday” in South Carolina. To follow its progress and
offer support, visit the North Carolina
NAACP’s website. NAACPnc.org.
OtherWords columnist Jim Hightower is
a radio commentator, writer, and public speaker. He’s also editor of the
populist newsletter, The Hightower
Lowdown. OtherWords.org