[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 19 (Thursday, February 28, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H645-H646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMENDING THE WINNERS OF THE ROSA PARKS ESSAY CONTEST HELD IN 
                INDIANA'S TENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

  (Ms. Carson of Indiana asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks and include 
therein extraneous material.)
  Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Black History 
Month, I rise to commend the six winners of the Rosa Parks Essay 
Contest held in Indianapolis' Tenth Congressional District conducted by 
my office in conjunction with the recent movie premier of ``Ride to 
Freedom, the Rosa Parks Story.''
  I challenged the students of the Indianapolis public schools to write 
essays discussing the difference Rosa Parks made in the world and the 
difference they can make in their own lives. This competition was 
opened to students in grades 6 through 12. The six winners received two 
tickets to attend the movie premier of the ``Ride to Freedom,'' as well 
as a replication of the Rosa Parks Congressional Gold Medal.
  The winners were selected by my Congressional Youth Caucus: April 
Johnson and Ashlee Johnson, Arlington high school; Gabrielle Hayes and 
Alicia Henderson, both eight grade students at the Sidener Learning 
Community; Heather Sweigart and Tiffany Thompson, both 7th grade 
students at John Marshall Middle School.
  One of the winners wrote, ``Rosa Parks is a leader and fighter for 
her beliefs,'' and that is what she wants to be. ``We must stand up for 
what is right, no matter what the cost. In the end we will live safer, 
longer, and better . . .''
  Mr. Speaker, I include copies of the essays by the winners for the 
Congressional Record.
  The essays referred to are as follows:

                         (By Tiffany Thompson)

       Rosa Parks was born in 1913, grew up in Montgomery, 
     Alabama, where racism, segregation, and insults were a daily 
     part of her life. She didn't care so she did it in her own 
     way. For example, she would take the stairs instead of the 
     elevators marked ``color'' elevators. Rosa grew up in a bad 
     environment that is probably why it became more active in the 
     civil rights movement. Rosa graduated from Alabama State 
     College, and she worked as a housekeeper.
       On December 1, 1955 after a long day at work pressing 
     shirts, Parks was too tired to go all the way to the back so 
     she sat in the section where blacks weren't supposed to sit 
     but if a white person wasn't there they could. Parks and 
     three other black women were sitting in the same section. 
     When a white person got on the bus the three women went to 
     the back but Rosa refused because she was too tired of work 
     and racism. Then the Montgomery Boycott started. After 
     refusing to move, Parks was arrested. She could have just 
     paid a fine instead she chose to fight for her rights as well 
     as others, and with the support of her family, she won, she 
     took a stand that America will never forget.
       What I am doing to help the community, first of all, at 
     church we are donating shoes, clothes, food, and other things 
     to the shelters and poor people. Second, we are giving money 
     to help the people in New York, who don't have homes and have 
     lost family members. Last, we are helping the community by 
     all the kids who need help and who need families. In 
     conclusion, this is how me and my church are helping the 
     community.
                                  ____


                  ``The Woman Who Made a Difference''

                         (By Heather Sweigart)

       The things that Rosa Parks made a difference in her 
     community. First of all, she was active in the Montgomery 
     Voters League and the NAACP (National Association for the 
     Advancement of Colored People) Youth Council. She was 
     secretary of the Montgomery branch of the NAACP. On the other 
     hand, Rosa also worked as a fundraiser for the NAACP. Rosa 
     founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self-
     Development in 1987. The institute for self-development was 
     for offering guidance to young blacks. That is how Rosa Parks 
     made a difference.
       These are the things that I do to make a difference. First, 
     I help other people and volunteer for things during and after 
     school. Right now at school, I'm helping do the yearbook and 
     newspaper. I'm also helping Mrs. Hastings teach some people 
     how to play volleyball. Most of the time, I'm helping people 
     do math, reading, and s. studies homework. I like to help 
     people by giving them my opinion on how to draw something, 
     too. In conclusion, I volunteer during and after school, I 
     help do yearbook and newspaper, help Mrs. Hastings teach 
     volleyball, help people do different homework papers, and 
     give opinion on drawings, that's how I make a difference.

[[Page H646]]

     
                                  ____
                          (By Gabrielle Hayes)

       Rosa Parks made a big impact on the people in America, she 
     made her mark around the world. Her act of refusing to give 
     up a seat started change in race relations and 
     transportation. Back then, blacks were to sit in the back of 
     the bus. She worked very hard and she was tired. Now you can 
     sit anywhere you want on the buses. Rosa Parks is a leader 
     and fighter for her beliefs. She never compromised what she 
     thought was right. Although she had some personal tragedies 
     in her life, she never showed any signs of loneliness. She is 
     an icon all over the world for Civil Rights. She makes 
     everyone around her do their best. When she was a young woman 
     she worked as a seamstress. She had lost everything she 
     worked hard for when she refused to go the back of the bus.
       I can do some good for my community by getting an education 
     and remaining drug free. I can be a role model for my younger 
     brother and sisters. We must stand up for what is right no 
     matter what the cost. In the end we will live safer, longer, 
     and better as imitators of Rosa Parks. Who knows someone some 
     day may remember Gabrielle Hayes for making a difference in 
     Indianapolis.
                                  ____


                         (By Alicia Henderson)

       The influence of Rosa Parks on the world community started 
     by her refusal to give up a seat. That one refusal changed 
     public transportation. She started a movement that demanded 
     change with the way things were run. Her hard work and 
     dedication to help the fight for civil rights established her 
     as a firm believer in nonviolence. Parks fought for civil 
     rights even though she herself was suffering terrible 
     personal losses. The lives of her brother, husband, and 
     mother were claimed by cancer. Although going through much 
     pain she never let it show. Through many personal battles she 
     never lost sight of the purpose she set out to fulfill.
       What Rosa Parks does shows the true power of one person. 
     Confidence, strong-will and perseverance make her an 
     outstanding leader and role model; she has qualities that not 
     many people have. She embodies the spirit of what one can do 
     if she sets her mind to it. A small step can go a long way 
     toward making a dream come alive.
       Rosa Parks is an inspiring person. She helps young people 
     like me realize that the small things we do can add to a 
     greater cause. I, as one person, can help by making sure by 
     generation doesn't forget what people like Rosa Parks did to 
     ensure that African Americans of future generations can live 
     the dream.
                                  ____


                          (By Ashlee Johnson)

       Rosa Parks was a nice and respectful black woman. She made 
     a big difference in this world by standing up for herself. 
     Mrs. Parks influenced others to stand up for themselves by 
     not letting people run over them. The details behind Mrs. 
     Parks standing up for herself is that one day Mrs. Parks had 
     just had a hard and tired day, just like anybody else that 
     works. So Rosa decided to ride the bus home.
       Now back in 1955 black people were to sit in the back of 
     the bus, and white people were to sit in the front of the 
     bus. But if there were not enough seats for the white people, 
     the black people were to stand up so the white people could 
     be seated. It just so happened that Mrs. Parks was that black 
     person that was suppose to stand up for the white person, but 
     she did not let anyone disrespect her, and she did not 
     disrespect them either. She just simply told them in a soft 
     toned voice, ``I'm not moving.'' In conclusion by Rosa Parks 
     doing this, she made a big difference in the world. She 
     influenced them to stand up for themselves.
       A difference that I can make in this world for people in 
     general is that I can get people to stop judging people by 
     the way they look. I can influence them to stop saying, 
     ``Ohh, girl look at her, she know she look stinky.'' Instead 
     of just laughing it off, I could say, ``What if that was you? 
     You would not want anyone to talk about you. Would you?'' To 
     sum it up, this is how I could make a difference in the 
     world.
                                  ____


                           (By April Johnson)

       Rosa Parks made a big difference. Rosa Parks stood up for 
     what she believed and took a stand. She made people more 
     confident and she influenced people to stand up for their 
     rights. Rosa did what any ordinary person could do.
       I believe in myself and I believe I could make the same 
     difference. I would stand up for what is right and be my own 
     person. I would demand justice for blacks. I would try to 
     succeed and do what no other black has ever done. I would try 
     to make a difference step by step. I would make a difference 
     on racism and segregation. These are a couple of differences 
     I would make. I like to work hard and make my family proud of 
     me. I will accomplish great deeds in the future and be 
     remembered as an honorable young lady. I will make it so 
     minorities have the same rights as white people. I will try 
     to stop criticism and violence. These are a couple of 
     differences I would try to make.

                          ____________________