The hidden life of Rosa Parks - Riché D. Richardson

Prevoditelj: Neda Vrkic Recezent: Sanda L

In 1944, 11 years before her fateful decision on a Montgomery Bus,

Godine 1944., 11 godina prije svoje fatalne odluke u autobusu u Montgomeryju,

Rosa Parks was investigating a vicious crime.

Rosa Parks istraživala je grozni zločin.

As an emissary for the National Association

Kao izaslanica Nacionalne udruge

for the Advancement of Colored People,

za napredak obojenih ljudi,

she had traveled to rural Alabama to meet with Recy Taylor,

otputovala je u ruralnu Alabamu da se sastane s Recy Taylor,

a young woman who had been sexually assaulted by six white men.

mladom ženom koju je seksualno napastovalo šestero bijelaca.

It would be difficult enough to convince an Alabama court

Bilo bi dosta teško uvjeriti sud u Alabami

that even one of these men was guilty,

da je čak i jedan od tih muškaraca kriv,

but Rosa was undeterred.

ali Rosa je bila nepokolebljiva.

She formed a committee to defend Recy in court,

Osnovala je odbor za obranu Recy na sudu,

flooding the media with testimony

preplavljujući medije svjedočenjem

and sparking protests throughout the South.

i izazivajući prosvjede širom Juga.

When a jury failed to indict the attackers,

Kad porota nije uspjela optužiti napadače,

Parks demanded the governor assemble a new grand jury.

Parks je zahtijevala od guvernera da sastavi novu veliku porotu.

She wrote, “I know that you will not fail to let the people of Alabama know

Napisala je, "Znam da nećete iznevjeriti ljude Alabame u znanju toga

that there is equal justice for all of our citizens.”

da postoji jednaka pravda za sve naše građane."

Throughout her life, Parks repeatedly challenged racial violence

Kroz svoj život, Parks je neprestano dovodila u pitanje rasno nasilje

and the prejudiced systems protecting its perpetrators.

i predrasude sustava koji štite svoje počinitelje.

But this work came at an enormous risk—

Ali ovo djelovanje se našlo pod velikim rizikom

and a personal price.

i uz osobnu cijenu.

Born in 1913, Rosa was raised by her mother and grandparents in rural Alabama.

Rođena 1913. godine, Rosu su odgojili majka, baka i djed u ruralnoj Alabami.

But outside this loving home, the fear of racial violence cast a long shadow.

Ali izvan ovog divnog doma, strah od rasnog nasilja imao je dugoročne posljedice.

The Ku Klux Klan frequently drove past their home,

Ku Klux Klan se često vozio pokraj njihovog doma

and Jim Crow laws segregated public spaces.

i zakoni Jima Crowa su segregirali javne prostore.

At 19 she settled in Montgomery and married Raymond Parks,

S 19 godina skrasila se u Montgomeryu i udala za Raymonda Parksa,

a barber who shared her growing fury at racial injustice.

brijača koji je s njom dijelio rastući bijes prema rasnoj nepravdi.

He was involved with the local chapter of the NAACP;

Bio je uključenu u lokalnu podružnicu NAACP-a;

a role many avoided for fear of persecution.

ulogu koju su mnogi izbjegavali zbog straha od progona.

At first Raymond was eager to keep Rosa safe

U početku Raymond je bio uporan u tome da zaštiti Rosu

from the potential dangers of activism.

od potencijalnih opasnosti aktivizma.

But as she grew more incensed at the limitations imposed on African Americans,

Ali kako je postajala gnjevnijom na ograničenja nametnuta Afroamerikancima,

she could no longer stand by.

nije se više mogla držati po strani.

When she officially joined the NAACP in 1943,

Kad se službeno pridružila NAACP-u 1943. godine,

Parks and Johnnie Rebecca Carr were the only women in the Montgomery chapter.

Parks i Johnnie Rebecca Carr bile su jedine žene u podružnici Montgomeryja.

She began keeping minutes for their meetings,

Počela je voditi zapisnik na njihovim sastancima

and soon found herself elected secretary of the chapter—

i uskoro se našla izabranom za tajnicu podružnice --

formally beginning her secret double life.

službeno započinjući svoj tajni dvostruki život.

By day, Rosa worked as a seamstress to support her mother and husband.

Po danu je radila kao krojačica uzdržavajući svoju majku i muža.

By night, she researched and documented numerous civil rights cases,

Noću je istraživala i dokumentirala brojne slučajeve civilnih prava,

from local policy disputes to high-profile murder cases and hate crimes.

od lokalnih sporova do istaknutih slučajeva ubojstava i zločina iz mržnje.

As secretary, she prepared public responses

Kao tajnica, pripremala je javna očitovanja

on behalf of the Montgomery chapter, battling the harsh sentencing,

u ime Montgomery podružnice, boreći se protiv oštre presude,

false accusation and smear campaigns frequently used against African Americans.

lažnih optužbi i prljavih kampanja često korištenih protiv Afroamerikanaca.

In addition to her legal work, Parks was a brilliant local strategist.

Pored svog pravnog rada, Parks je bila sjajni lokalni strateg.

As advisor to the NAACP youth group council,

Kao savjetnica vijeća grupe mladih NAACP-a,

she helped young people navigate segregated systems

pomagala je mladim ljudima da se nose sa segregiranim sustavima,

including voter registration and whites-only libraries.

uključujući registraciju birača i knjižnice samo za bijelce.

Through the cover of the NAACP,

Pod zaštitom NAACP-a,

Parks strived to bring clandestine civil rights activities into the open.

Parks je nastojala iznijeti navidjelo tajne aktivnosti za građanska prava.

She advocated for civil disobedience training

Zalagala se za trening građanske neposlušnosti

and spoke out against racial violence, particularly the murder of Emmet Till.

i govorila protiv rasnog nasilja, posebno ubojstva Emmeta Tilla.

In 1955, her refusal to move to the back of a segregated bus

Godine 1955. njezino odbijanje pomicanja u stražnji dio segregiranog autobusa

helped ignite the grassroots movement she had hoped for.

pomoglo je započinjanju lokalnog pokreta kojem se nadala.

Parks was arrested and jailed for her one-woman protest,

Parks je bila uhićena i stavljena u zatvor zbog svog samostalnog protesta,

where she was visited by local activists.

gdje su je posjetili lokalni aktivisti.

Together they planned a twenty-four hour bus boycott.

Zajedno su isplanirali 24-satni bojkot autobusa.

It lasted for three hundred and eighty-one days.

Trajao je 381 dan.

Park’s simple act had transformed nascent civil rights activism

Parksin jedostavan čin transformirao je aktivizam građanskih prava u nastajanju

into a national movement.

u nacionalni pokret.

In 1956, the boycott ended when the Supreme Court

Godine 1956. bojkot je završio kad je Vrhovni sud

ruled in favor of desegregating public transport.

presudio u korist desegregacije javnog prijevoza.

But this victory for the movement had come at a great cost.

Ali pobjeda pokreta dosta ju je koštala.

Rosa had been receiving vicious death threats throughout the campaign,

Rosa je dobivala opake prijetnje smrću tijekom kampanje

and was unable to find work in Montgomery because of her political reputation.

i nije mogla naći posao u Montgomeryju zbog svog političkog ugleda.

In 1957, she moved to Detroit to continue working as a seamstress,

Godine 1957. preselila se u Detroit da nastavi raditi kao krojačica,

until being hired by Congressman John Conyers

dok je nije zaposlio kongresmen John Conyers

to help support his burgeoning civil rights campaigns.

kako bi pomogla podržati njegove kampanje za građanska prava.

Ever vigilant in the fight against racial inequality,

I dalje oprezna u borbi protiv rasne nejednakosti,

Parks remained active for the next 40 years.

Parks je ostala aktivna idućih 40 godina.

She wrote several books,

Napisala je nekoliko knjiga,

traveled across the country giving talks to support other activists,

putovala širom zemlje održavajući govore da podrži druge aktiviste

and established an institute for the education of young people

i osnovala institut za obrazovanje mladih ljudi,

in her late husband’s memory.

u sjećanje na svog pokojnog supruga.

Today, Rosa Parks is remembered as a radical spirit

Danas, Rosu Parks se pamti kao radikalnu dušu

who railed against the most powerful people and policies.

koja se pobunila protiv namoćnijih ljudi i politike.

Her call to action continues to resound:

Njezin poziv na djelovanje i dalje odjekuje:

“knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

"Znajući što se mora učiniti uklanja strah."