Last Thursday marked the 50th anniversary of the late Rosa Park’s personal Civil Rights movement in Montgomery, Alabama with a special all-day event at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn.
Two lucky students from Carrie Knight’s Clear Lake Elementary social studies class had the chance of a lifetime to honor her legacy by reading poems and essays they wrote about how Parks has influenced them in their lives.
Miranda Kucemba and Meagan Neff were chosen out of eight students at Clear Lake for this opportunity.
During the portion of the event called ‘Lasting Sparks from Mrs. Parks,? the girls joined students from other schools in the tri-county area who had also written poems and essays.
Knight proposed the contest to the students as an opportunity for extra credit points.
Kucemba’s poem was eloquently written about Park’s life from the beginning to the end and how to celebrate her life.
Standing next to the infamous bus at the museum, Kucemba read ‘One average person just like you and me, can change the course of history. In 1955 the first day of December became the day for all to remember.?
Although she said she was a little nervous speaking in front of the crowd, Kucemba drew on Rosa Park’s courage. She even was interviewed by Channel 7 (WXYZ-TV) News afterwards on why she thinks Parks is so important.
‘She stood up for what she believed and made everybody equal to each other,? Kucemba said.
Neff, who is already an avid poetry writer, wrote about the historical day with great style
Neff’s poem reads ‘Rosa Parks is a memorable lady. Don’t remember her as nobody, don’t remember her faintly. We all couldn’t appreciate her more, so remember her as you walk through the bus door.?
Neff wasn’t nervous at all because she’s used to reading her work aloud.
‘Rosa Parks is important because she changed the course of history,? Neff said.
After the many students read their poems and essays, the event was filled with theatrical performances, gospel singing and guest speakers, like Jessie Daniels who participated in the Montgomery bus boycott.
Knight said she was very ‘proud? of her students and their poetry skills and that it’s great to see them put their history lesson to work.
‘It just gives you chills to see what they came up with,? she said.