Blogcritics: Comments on Don't Mess With Rosa Parks

Comment by Healer2K

Tue, 25 Oct 2005 05:46:37 EDT

What gets me is the on-going historical ignorance that leads some people to claim that Rosa Parks didn't do anything, or much at all. What such critics are actually saying is that they don't know much else about Rosa Parks. The fact of the matter is that she and her husband Raymond had already been Civil Rights activists for years, before Rosa's legendary act. She was far more than just some "colored" woman whose feet got tired, and just got ornery one day, out of the blue. Her act was a calculated move to get herself arrested, in order to give Civil Rights groups a test case to challenge Montgomery's segretation or "Jim Crow" laws. As for the clearly disdainful quip that she was "only too happy to bask in the warm glow of public adulation", many would take issue with the accuracy of such a slap in face, including U.S. Representative John Conyers: "For a long time people were a little bit afraid of Rosa Parks because she had created this whole new modern civil rights movement. They didn't know what to expect, and they certainly didn't expect someone that quiet. She sought no limelight; you'd never hear her talking about her own civil rights activities and all the things that she had been in." Perhaps her objection to OutKast's song was "petty" in the opinion of some. Life is hard. Get over it. In the opinion of others, Ms. Parks' life-long commitment to the service of others, and pursuing a greater good is deserving of more respect than to toss her name around in a song talking about "hoes" and "niggas". And that isn't even getting into the disrespectful silliness in "Barber Shop". Ms. Parks didn't like her name (and her contributions to human history associated with it) being used the way it was. Whether I or anyone else agrees with her is ultimately beside the point Feathers sure got ruffled by her lawsuit. Hissy fits abound. And personally, I couldn't care less. Small minds are dwarfed by the enormity of this woman's LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT to making things better for others. To claim that she was about anything less shows nothing but ignorance and disdain. Rest in peace Mrs. Rosa Parks. And THANK YOU for everything you did for Civil Rights in the years before and the generations AFTER your arrest.

Comment by Al Barger

Tue, 9 Dec 2003 02:15:04 EST

Again, I don't want to take anything away from her legitimate contribution- I just do not appreciate her now stepping on other people's freedom of expression. She's only too happy to bask in the warm glow of public adulation, but part of the price of that is that she made herself a public figure, thus open to be invoked as a common cultural symbol, praised, criticized, or just plain parodied. Note that her name is directly only used in the title, not actually in the performed song at all. In full, then, the lyric in question: Rosa Parks [Hook] Ah ha, hush that fuss Everybody move to the back of the bus Do you wanna bump and slump with us We the type of people make the club get crunk [Verse 1:(Big Boi)] Many a day has passed, the night has gone by But still I find the time to put that bump off in your eye Total chaos, for these playas, thought we was absent We takin another route to represent the Dungeon Family Like Great Day, me and my nigga decide to take the back way We stabbing every city then we headed to that bat cave A-T-L, Georgia, what we do for ya Bull doggin hoes like them Georgetown Hoyas Boy you sounding silly, thank my Brougham aint sittin pretty Doing doughnuts round you suckas like then circles around titties Damn we the committee gone burn it down But us gone bust you in the mouth with the chorus now [Hook] I met a gypsy and she hipped me to some life game To stimulate then activate the left and right brain Said baby boy you only funky as your last cut You focus on the past your ass'll be a has what Thats one to live by or either that one to die to I try to just throw it at you determine your own adventure Andre, got to her station here's my destination She got off the bus, the conversation lingered in my head for hours Took a shower kinda sour cause my favorite group ain't comin with it But I'm witcha you cause you probably goin through it anyway But anyhow when in doubt went on out and bought it Cause I thought it would be jammin but examine all the flawsky-wawsky Awfully, it's sad and it's costly, but that's all she wrote And I hope I never have to float in that boat Up shit creek it's weak is the last quote That I want to hear when I'm goin down when all's said and done And we got a new joe in town When the record player get to skippin and slowin down All yawl can say is them niggas earned that crown but until then... [Hook] [Harmonica Solo] [Hook til fade]

Comment by Mac Diva

Tue, 9 Dec 2003 02:00:45 EST

Barger, one needs to know the rest of the song to analyze whether there is a case here. I suggest you post at least the stanza that lyric is part of. My take so far is she doesn't have a case. As a public figure, she should expect her name to be used by others, sometimes in ways she doesn't like. I must disagree with Jonathan. Rosa Parks did a lot more than 'sit her ass down.' That should have been a simple act, but thanks to the law of the land at that time, it wasn't.

Comment by Al Barger

Tue, 9 Dec 2003 00:36:03 EST

so sorry, jonathan. i was using caps to emphasize that it was a link.

Comment by Jonathan

Mon, 8 Dec 2003 23:58:41 EST

Capitals are scary. THANKS AL

Comment by Al Barger

Mon, 8 Dec 2003 23:41:13 EST

RIGHT HERE, JONATHAN

Comment by Jonathan

Mon, 8 Dec 2003 19:31:00 EST

Rosa Parks seems to be eager to get into arms over anything. What's the line the guy in 'Barbershop' said? "All Rosa Parks did was sit her ass down!"