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adamrshields's review against another edition
4.0
Summary: Very brief thoughts by Rosa Parks about her life.
Despite its short length, it is worth reading. Rosa Parks was in her 80s when she wrote Reflections. It feels like she dictated the book because its prose sounds spoken. There are 12 short chapters. The first several are about her early life and the bus boycott. From the sixth chapter on, the chapters are either about the people in her life or her thoughts on life. Her faith exudes in the pages. She has no interest in being a prominent focus, and humbly shifts the focus to the people around her or her faith.
It is precisely that humility that I think makes this book work. It is not a masterwork. It is a simple story and thoughts of an important, but a mostly unknown woman. She talks about the fact that her refusal to get up has been construed as her being tired after work. She says she did not get up because she was physically tired, but because she was tired of racism.
What I had not realized was how quickly she moved to Detroit. She was fired from her job as a seamstress at a department store weeks after the boycott started. And while it doesn't say this, it seems likely that her husband probably was threatened as well. They moved to Detroit in 1957. Despite living in Detroit, she participates in the March on Washington in 1963, the Selma to Mongomery march and other Civil Rights work.
In 1963 she starts to work for Congressman John Conyers in Detroit and works for him for the next 24 years before retiring and starting a youth program in 1987. Her husband had passed away ten years earlier. In 1994, not long before writing this book, her home was broken into and she was badly beaten and robbed of a small amount of money. In the epilogue, Gregory Reed suggests that it was the publicity of that incident and her response to it that lead to the book contract.
About 20 percent of the book is a brief introduction to her life or epilogue by the co-author (and her lawyer) Gregory Reed. He represented her and was able to bring more attention to her life, including being responsible for several of the awards (Presidental Medal of Freedom, the apple commercial, a musical tribute album, the Congressional Gold Medal, etc.) Her suing over the use of her name in a song by OutKast went to the Supreme Court. The case dragged out for years, and by the time it was settled, she had dementia. Mrs. Parks passed away soon after the settlement.
This era of Civil Rights leaders have mostly passed away. They need to be accurately remembered for more than just single events. This book does not mention any of the work she did with the NAACP before the bus boycott or her years of quiet work after the boycott other than the fact that she started the youth program after she retired. The Civil Rights movement was not just Martin Luther King Jr. It was not four days (Brown, Rosa Parks refusing to get up, the March on Washington and King's assassination). It was decades of work by mostly now unknown people.
Somewhat like Hariett Tubman, there are far more children's books about Rosa Parks than serious biographies. There are several adult biographies like this one (probably better) and this one, but I think those are the only two that are serious biographies. It is not that children's books are bad, but I do believe that people that have more children's biographies than adult biographies are likely being remembered simply and not accurately.
I noticed this book was on sale for Black History month and realized that I had never read the copy that I purchased last year when it was on sale. Reflections by Rosa Parks is a book you want to buy when it is on sale. It is not that it is a bad book, but it is a very short book. The physical book is the 6 by 7 gift-book size. The audiobook is 80 minutes long.
Despite its short length, it is worth reading. Rosa Parks was in her 80s when she wrote Reflections. It feels like she dictated the book because its prose sounds spoken. There are 12 short chapters. The first several are about her early life and the bus boycott. From the sixth chapter on, the chapters are either about the people in her life or her thoughts on life. Her faith exudes in the pages. She has no interest in being a prominent focus, and humbly shifts the focus to the people around her or her faith.
It is precisely that humility that I think makes this book work. It is not a masterwork. It is a simple story and thoughts of an important, but a mostly unknown woman. She talks about the fact that her refusal to get up has been construed as her being tired after work. She says she did not get up because she was physically tired, but because she was tired of racism.
What I had not realized was how quickly she moved to Detroit. She was fired from her job as a seamstress at a department store weeks after the boycott started. And while it doesn't say this, it seems likely that her husband probably was threatened as well. They moved to Detroit in 1957. Despite living in Detroit, she participates in the March on Washington in 1963, the Selma to Mongomery march and other Civil Rights work.
In 1963 she starts to work for Congressman John Conyers in Detroit and works for him for the next 24 years before retiring and starting a youth program in 1987. Her husband had passed away ten years earlier. In 1994, not long before writing this book, her home was broken into and she was badly beaten and robbed of a small amount of money. In the epilogue, Gregory Reed suggests that it was the publicity of that incident and her response to it that lead to the book contract.
About 20 percent of the book is a brief introduction to her life or epilogue by the co-author (and her lawyer) Gregory Reed. He represented her and was able to bring more attention to her life, including being responsible for several of the awards (Presidental Medal of Freedom, the apple commercial, a musical tribute album, the Congressional Gold Medal, etc.) Her suing over the use of her name in a song by OutKast went to the Supreme Court. The case dragged out for years, and by the time it was settled, she had dementia. Mrs. Parks passed away soon after the settlement.
This era of Civil Rights leaders have mostly passed away. They need to be accurately remembered for more than just single events. This book does not mention any of the work she did with the NAACP before the bus boycott or her years of quiet work after the boycott other than the fact that she started the youth program after she retired. The Civil Rights movement was not just Martin Luther King Jr. It was not four days (Brown, Rosa Parks refusing to get up, the March on Washington and King's assassination). It was decades of work by mostly now unknown people.
Somewhat like Hariett Tubman, there are far more children's books about Rosa Parks than serious biographies. There are several adult biographies like this one (probably better) and this one, but I think those are the only two that are serious biographies. It is not that children's books are bad, but I do believe that people that have more children's biographies than adult biographies are likely being remembered simply and not accurately.
leahegood's review against another edition
5.0
As a young adult, I read widely about topics like the Underground Railroad and the Civil Rights movement. Books like [b:Breakthrough to the Big League|11082331|Breakthrough to the Big League The Story of Jackie Robinson|Jackie Robinson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|16003978] caused me to respect and desire to emulate people of history who showed character and dignity as they fought for freedom, equality, and respect.
This book by Rosa Parks reminded me why I respected these people. Not that I ceased to respect them, but my memory was a bit rusty. In this book, Rosa shares her experiences and imparts her wisdom to a new generation. She urges action and determination built on a foundation of faith. It's a short book worthy of rereading for it's wealth of down-to-earth, practical advice.
This book by Rosa Parks reminded me why I respected these people. Not that I ceased to respect them, but my memory was a bit rusty. In this book, Rosa shares her experiences and imparts her wisdom to a new generation. She urges action and determination built on a foundation of faith. It's a short book worthy of rereading for it's wealth of down-to-earth, practical advice.
cloudss's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
good to hear her own words on many subjects. also explain the prevalence of the church in early civil rights movement
mdpbernal's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
davidbythebay's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
A short and uplifting treatise on Rosa Parks' values and views by the Civil Rights icon herself. She is humble and strong throughout, providing clear and concise information and world views. Fantastic! So glad I found this in my library randomly.
gofortori's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars for the read, but 5 stars for the person.
Reflections by Rosa Parks: The Quiet Strength and Faith of a Woman Who Changed a Nation is a short read by Mrs. Parks herself, a series of vignettes and essays about her approach to life and fighting injustice – essentially where she draws her strength.
As someone who truly didn’t know that much about Rosa Parks before reading this book, it was illuminating for me – and sad in a way, that I didn’t learn about her life in school the way I should have. In my mind, Rosa was an average worker woman, who, on that fateful December day on the bus, had had enough and made a split-second decision. In reality, Rosa was purposeful about her fight against injustice and worked for the NAACP. She knew the consequences of her actions, and she knew that if she didn’t do something, no one else would.
It’s compelling to read about someone with that much purpose in her life. You rarely see that. Rosa is extremely centered in a strong, quiet way. She’s unflappable. She knows what she wants, where she’s going, and has faith in the next step to get her there.
An unintentional but informative component to this book was the behind-the-scenes process of how legacy works. Rosa Parks’ name would have faded out of cultural memory except for the active and intentional movement to preserve her legacy. This book is part of that movement. While Rosa Parks definitely deserves her place in the history books, it just goes to show that history is written by those who intentionally write it. If you are poor or don't have the resources to ensure a legacy like this, you likely won't have one.
A major takeaway from this book is Rosa Parks' idea of the potential for change as potential energy, in small pockets of people, just waiting for a flash point. I love that idea, as though while people pray for change, the universe is molding certain people and their life experiences so that they will respond at the crucial moment, just like Rosa Parks did.
Reflections by Rosa Parks: The Quiet Strength and Faith of a Woman Who Changed a Nation is a short read by Mrs. Parks herself, a series of vignettes and essays about her approach to life and fighting injustice – essentially where she draws her strength.
As someone who truly didn’t know that much about Rosa Parks before reading this book, it was illuminating for me – and sad in a way, that I didn’t learn about her life in school the way I should have. In my mind, Rosa was an average worker woman, who, on that fateful December day on the bus, had had enough and made a split-second decision. In reality, Rosa was purposeful about her fight against injustice and worked for the NAACP. She knew the consequences of her actions, and she knew that if she didn’t do something, no one else would.
It’s compelling to read about someone with that much purpose in her life. You rarely see that. Rosa is extremely centered in a strong, quiet way. She’s unflappable. She knows what she wants, where she’s going, and has faith in the next step to get her there.
An unintentional but informative component to this book was the behind-the-scenes process of how legacy works. Rosa Parks’ name would have faded out of cultural memory except for the active and intentional movement to preserve her legacy. This book is part of that movement. While Rosa Parks definitely deserves her place in the history books, it just goes to show that history is written by those who intentionally write it. If you are poor or don't have the resources to ensure a legacy like this, you likely won't have one.
A major takeaway from this book is Rosa Parks' idea of the potential for change as potential energy, in small pockets of people, just waiting for a flash point. I love that idea, as though while people pray for change, the universe is molding certain people and their life experiences so that they will respond at the crucial moment, just like Rosa Parks did.
misskeesa's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this little book very much. I learned a lot about Rosa Parks that I didn't know before - like the fact that her husband was born in Wedowee, my hometown! I also loved the way her faith ran through the book, underpinning it, giving strength and grace and courage to her convictions. And I loved her dignity and sense of purpose. I would have loved to have known her in real life. I think we might have been friends. <3
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