The hidden life of Rosa Parks - Riché D. Richardson

Prevodilac: Tijana Kovacevic Lektor: Ivana Krivokuća

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

Godine 1944,

11 godina pre sudbonosne odluke u autobusu u Montgomeriju,

Rosa Parks was investigating a vicious crime.

Roza Parks je istraživala svirep zločin.

As an emissary for the National Association

Kao predstavnik Nacionalne asocijacije za unapređenje obojenog naroda,

for the Advancement of Colored People,

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

putovala je u ruralnu Alabamu kako bi upoznala Risi Tejlor,

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

devojku koju su šestorica belaca seksualno napastvovala.

It would be difficult enough to convince an Alabama court

Bilo je teško ubediti sud Alabame

that even one of these men was guilty,

da je bar jedan od ovih muškaraca kriv,

but Rosa was undeterred.

ali Roza je bila odlučna.

She formed a committee to defend Recy in court,

Organizovala je odbranu za Risi na sudu,

flooding the media with testimony

što je preplavilo medije svedočanstvima i izazvalo proteste širom Juga.

and sparking protests throughout the South.

When a jury failed to indict the attackers,

Kako porota nije podigla optužnicu protiv napadača,

Parks demanded the governor assemble a new grand jury.

Parksova je zahtevala od guvernera da oformi novu veliku porotu.

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

Napisala je: „Znam da nećete izneveriti narod Alabame

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

i da ćete pokazati da postoji jednaka pravda za sve građane.“

Throughout her life, Parks repeatedly challenged racial violence

Parksova se ceo život uporno protivila rasnom nasilju

and the prejudiced systems protecting its perpetrators.

i sistemu punom predrasuda koji je štitio prekršioce zakona.

But this work came at an enormous risk—

Ali ovakav rad je sa sobom nosio i ogroman rizik

and a personal price.

i cenu koju je lično platila.

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

Rođena 1913, Roza je odrasla uz mamu, baku i deku u ruralnoj Alabami.

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

Ali van ovog toplog doma, rasno nasilje je bacalo tamnu senku.

The Ku Klux Klan frequently drove past their home,

Članovi Kju-kluks-klana su često prolazili kraj njihovog doma,

and Jim Crow laws segregated public spaces.

a zakoni Džima Kroua su nametali segregaciju javnih mesta.

At 19 she settled in Montgomery and married Raymond Parks,

Sa 19 godina se doselila u Montgomeri i udala za Rejmonda Parksa,

a barber who shared her growing fury at racial injustice.

berberina u kome je kipteo istovetan bes zbog rasne nepravde.

He was involved with the local chapter of the NAACP;

Bio je član lokalnog ogranka

Nacionalne asocijacije za unapređenje obojenog naroda,

a role many avoided for fear of persecution.

a tu ulogu su mnogi izbegavali iz straha od odmazde.

At first Raymond was eager to keep Rosa safe

Rejmond je u početku želeo da sačuva Rozu

from the potential dangers of activism.

od mogućih opasnosti aktivizma.

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

Kako je sve više u njoj buktao bes

zbog ograničenja nametnutih Afroamerikancima,

she could no longer stand by.

Roza nije više mogla da stoji po strani.

When she officially joined the NAACP in 1943,

Kada se 1943. pridružila ovoj asocijaciji,

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

Parksova i Džoni Rebeka Kar su bile jedine žene u ogranku u Montgomeriju.

She began keeping minutes for their meetings,

Počela je kao zapisničar na njihovim sastancima,

and soon found herself elected secretary of the chapter—

a ubrzo je bila izabrana da bude sekretarica tog ogranka,

formally beginning her secret double life.

čime je zvanično počeo njen tajni dvostruki život.

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

Roza je danju radila kao krojačica da bi finansijski pomogla majci i suprugu.

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

Noću je istraživala i beležila brojne slučajeve građanskog prava,

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

od neslaganja oko lokalnih propisa

do istaknutih ubistava i zločina počinjenih iz mržnje.

As secretary, she prepared public responses

Kao sekretarica je pripremala javne komentare

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

u ime ogranka u Montgomeriju,

boreći se protiv svirepih kazni,

false accusation and smear campaigns frequently used against African Americans.

lažnih optužbi i besramnih kampanja često usmerenih protiv Afroamerikanaca.

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

Pored bavljenja pravom, Parksova je bila i izuzetan lokalni strateg.

As advisor to the NAACP youth group council,

Kao savetnik saveta mladih

Nacionalne asocijacije za unapređenje obojenog naroda,

she helped young people navigate segregated systems

pomagala je mladima u borbi protiv sistema segregacije,

including voter registration and whites-only libraries.

uključujući borbu za pravo glasa i protiv biblioteka isključivo za belce.

Through the cover of the NAACP,

Pod plaštom Nacionalne asocijacije za unapređenje obojenog naroda,

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

Parksova je težila da tajne aktivnosti za građanska prava izbaci na videlo.

She advocated for civil disobedience training

Zalagala se za obuke građanske neposlušnosti

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

i javno govorila protiv rasnog nasilja, pogotovo u slučaju ubistva Emeta Tila.

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

Kada je 1955. odbila da pređe u stražnji deo rasno podeljenog autobusa,

helped ignite the grassroots movement she had hoped for.

pomogla je u masovnom pokretanju narodne inicijative.

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

Parksova je zbog svog samostalnog protesta uhapšena i stavljena u zatvor,

where she was visited by local activists.

gde su je posećivali lokalni aktivisti.

Together they planned a twenty-four hour bus boycott.

Zajedno su planirali da otpočnu dvadesetčetvoročasovni 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

Njen jednostavan čin je transformisao tek započeti aktivizam za građanska prava

into a national movement.

u nacionalni pokret.

In 1956, the boycott ended when the Supreme Court

Bojkot se okončao 1956. kada je Vrhovni sud

ruled in favor of desegregating public transport.

glasao u korist ravnopravnog javnog prevoza za sve.

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

Međutim, ova pobeda pokreta je imala visoku cenu.

Rosa had been receiving vicious death threats throughout the campaign,

Tokom cele kampanje, Roza je dobijala svirepe pretnje smrću,

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

a nije mogla ni da nađe posao u Montgomeriju zbog svoje reputacije.

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

Preselila se u Detroit 1957. kako bi nastavila da radi kao krojačica,

until being hired by Congressman John Conyers

sve dok je nije zaposlio kongresmen Džon Konjers

to help support his burgeoning civil rights campaigns.

kako bi mu pomogla sa kampanjama za borbu za građanska prava.

Ever vigilant in the fight against racial inequality,

Uvek na oprezu u borbi protiv rasnih nejednakosti,

Parks remained active for the next 40 years.

Parksova je bila aktivna narednih 40 godina.

She wrote several books,

Napisala je nekoliko knjiga,

traveled across the country giving talks to support other activists,

putovala širom zemlje da bi držala govore podrške drugim aktivistima,

and established an institute for the education of young people

i osnovala institut za obrazovanje mladih

in her late husband’s memory.

u sećanje na svog pokojnog supruga.

Today, Rosa Parks is remembered as a radical spirit

Roza Parks se danas pamti kao borbeni duh naroda

who railed against the most powerful people and policies.

koji se žustro borio protiv najmoćnijih ljudi i zakona.

Her call to action continues to resound:

Njena krilatica i dalje odjekuje:

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

„Svest o onome što moramo učiniti poništava strah.“