North American, English speaking, Female, African American, Narrator
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Middle Aged (35-54)Accents
North American (General)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
a note from the author december 1st 1995 marks the 40th anniversary of the famous refusal of Rosa Parks to give in to injustice. Her refusal. The year long protests that followed it and the part of the civil rights movement that grew from it have an important place in the long history of the African American struggle for freedom and justice. The struggle began when the first Africans were kidnapped from their homelands, imprisoned on ships and taken to live and work still as prisoners in lands far away from the people they loved. They ran away, they fought, they helped each other to escape. They studied in secret and learned to read knowing they would be whipped or worse if they were caught. Those who were free made speeches, started newspapers and wrote letters to Congress even after the period called slavery was over. The struggle did not stop African americans met with Congress became members of Congress started their own schools and marched for their rights. They wanted an end to the killings. They wanted jobs and the right to rent or buy homes wherever they chose. I remember in the 19 forties seeing lines of people in Washington, D. C, where I lived walking up and down with picket signs in front of theaters and restaurants to which they were not allowed to go. The work of Rosa Parks was a part of all of this. Others such as sojourner truth Frederick, Douglass Harriet tubman and And Martin Luther King jr in their times were a part of all of this when we think of them, we think of their dedication and courage. When we call their names, we honor them. We honor also the thousands and thousands of other courageous people whose names we will never know. Eloise Greenfield, February 1995.