The definitive political biography of Rosa Parks examines her six decades of activism, challenging perceptions of her as an accidental actor in the civil rights movement\\Presenting a corrective to the popular notion of Rosa Parks as the quiet seamstress who, with a single act, birthed the modern civil rights movement, Theoharis provides a revealing window into Parks’s politics and years of activism. She shows readers how this civil rights movement radical sought—for more than a half a century—to expose and eradicate the American racial-caste system in jobs, schools, public services, and criminal justice.

National honor, public mythology : the passing of Rosa Parks --"A life history of being rebellious" : the early years of Rosa McCauley Parks -- "It was very difficult to keep going when all our work seemed to be in vain" : the Civil Rights movement before the Bus Boycott -- "I had been pushed as far as I could stand to be pushed" : Rosa Parks's bus stand -- "There lived a great people" : the Montgomery Bus Boycott -- "It is fine to be a heroine but the price is high" : the suffering of Rosa Parks -- "The Northern promised land that wasn't" : Rosa Parks and the Black Freedom struggle in Detroit -- "Any move to show we are dissatisfied" : Mrs. Parks in the Black Power era -- "Racism is still alive" : negotiating the politics of being a symbol. National honor/Public mythology: the passing of Rosa Parks -- A life in the history of being rebellious: the early years of Rosa McCauley Parks -- It was very difficult to keep going when all our work seemed to be in vain: the civil rights movement before the Bus Boycott -- I had been pushed as far as I could stand to be pushed: Rosa Park's bus stand -- There lived a great people: the Montgomery Bus Boycott -- It is fine to be a heroine but the price is high: the suffering of Rosa Parks -- The northern promised land that wasn't: Rosa Parks and the Black Freedom struggle in Detroit -- Any move to show we are dissatisfied: Mrs. Parks in the Black Power era -- Racism is still alive: Negotiating the politics of being a symbol -- Acknowledgements -- Notes -- Index.