Many people grew up learning that Rosa Parks was the first person to refuse to give up her bus seat during the fight for civil rights. However, that is not entirely accurate. Claudette Colvin, a brave young African American woman, actually made the same bold stand months before Parks’ historic act of civil disobedience. On March 2, 1955, at just 15 years old, Colvin refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her courageous decision occurred nine months before Rosa Parks’ more widely recognized protest.
Despite the significance of Colvin’s actions, her story has remained largely overlooked in history for several reasons. At the time, Colvin was a teenager, which made some civil rights leaders hesitant to make her the face of the movement. Additionally, she was dark-skinned, and colorism played a significant role in determining who received public attention. Furthermore, shortly after her arrest, Colvin became pregnant at the age of 16, which further complicated her image in the eyes of organizations like the NAACP. These organizations believed Rosa Parks, an adult with a more established status in the community, would be a more effective symbol to rally behind.
While Colvin’s contributions were overshadowed by Parks, she never let her story fade completely. Over the years, she has shared her experiences to ensure that people know her role in the movement. Though she may not have received the same level of recognition as Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin’s brave decision to stand up to injustice at such a young age was a crucial moment in the fight for civil rights.
“ As a teenager, I kept thinking, why don’t the adults around here just say something? Say it so that they know we don’t accept segregation? I knew then and I know now that, when it comes to justice, there is no easy way to get it. You can’t sugarcoat it. You have to take a stand and say ‘This is not right.’ and I did.”
-Claudette Colvin
