4 February

Mrs Parks was born 102 years ago, on 4 February, 1913, as Rosa Louise McCauley. In 1932, she married Raymond Parks. She became famous after an incident in Montgomery in 1955.
Several black leaders responded to the incident, among them Martin Luther King.

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.



Answer the questions in writing or in a group discussion.

1. What exactly did Rosa Parks do?


2. What led up to the Rosa Parks incident?


3. What actions did Montgomery’s black citizens take after the incident?


4. What does Martin Luther King say in the last part of the clip?

Extra speaking assignment
42,000 black residents of Montgomery, Alabama, (40% of the population) responded to Martin Luthers King’s call for action. It did not have an impact immediately, but they didn’t give up and after about a year things started to change.

Work in smaller groups or as a class. Discuss the following question:
What does the Rosa Parks incident and the actions it sparked tell us about the power in numbers?


Extra writing assignment
Martin Luther King was an influential and eloquent speaker. With his gift for words he managed to reach millions, rich or poor, educated or not.
Listen to his speech in the first part of the clip. Write down his exact words.