The hidden life of Rosa Parks - Riché D. Richardson

翻译人员: Alan Lin 校对人员: Lipeng Chen

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

1944 年，也就是罗莎 · 帕克斯（Rosa Parks） 在蒙哥马利公交车上

Rosa Parks was investigating a vicious crime.

做出重大决定的 11 年前， 她正在调查一起恶性犯罪。

As an emissary for the National Association

作为全国有色人种促进会的使者，

for the Advancement of Colored People,

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

她曾前往阿拉巴马州的乡村 与蕾西 · 泰勒（Recy Taylor）会面，

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

后者是一名年轻女性， 曾遭到六名白人男性的性侵犯。

It would be difficult enough to convince an Alabama court

要让阿拉巴马州的法庭

that even one of these men was guilty,

相信其中一人有罪是非常困难的，

but Rosa was undeterred.

但是罗莎并没有被吓倒。

She formed a committee to defend Recy in court,

她成立了一个委员会， 在法庭上为雷茜辩护，

flooding the media with testimony

她的证词充斥着媒体，

and sparking protests throughout the South.

在整个南方引发了抗议。

When a jury failed to indict the attackers,

当陪审团未能起诉袭击者时，

Parks demanded the governor assemble a new grand jury.

帕克斯要求州长组建一个新的大陪审团。

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

她写道：“我知道，你们一定会让 阿拉巴马州的人民知道，

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

我们所有的公民都享有平等的正义。”

Throughout her life, Parks repeatedly challenged racial violence

在她的一生中，帕克斯 不断挑战种族暴力

and the prejudiced systems protecting its perpetrators.

与为保护罪犯的偏见制度。

But this work came at an enormous risk—

但这项工作冒着巨大的风险——

and a personal price.

带来了她个人的代价。

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

罗莎出生于 1913 年，在阿拉巴马州 的农村，由母亲和外祖父母抚养长大。

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

但在这个充满爱的家庭之外， 对种族暴力的恐惧给她留下不小的阴影。

The Ku Klux Klan frequently drove past their home,

三 K 党（Ku Klux Klan） 经常开车经过他们的家，

and Jim Crow laws segregated public spaces.

而吉姆克劳法（Jim Crow laws） 隔离了公共场所。

At 19 she settled in Montgomery and married Raymond Parks,

19 岁时，她在蒙哥马利定居， 嫁给了雷蒙德 · 帕克斯（Raymond Parks），

a barber who shared her growing fury at racial injustice.

帕克斯是一名理发师，和她一样， 对种族不公感到越来越愤怒。

He was involved with the local chapter of the NAACP;

他参与了全国有色人种协进会（NAACP） 的地方分会；

a role many avoided for fear of persecution.

很多人因为害怕被迫害而避讳的组织。

At first Raymond was eager to keep Rosa safe

起初，雷蒙德急于保护罗莎

from the potential dangers of activism.

免受激进主义的潜在危险。

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

但随着她对强加给非裔美国人的 限制越来越愤怒，

she could no longer stand by.

她再也不能袖手旁观了。

When she officially joined the NAACP in 1943,

1943 年她正式加入 NAACP 时，

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

帕克斯和约翰尼 · 丽贝卡 · 卡尔 是蒙哥马利分会中仅有的两名女性。

She began keeping minutes for their meetings,

她开始为他们的会议做记录，

and soon found herself elected secretary of the chapter—

很快就被选为分会的秘书——

formally beginning her secret double life.

正式开始了她秘密的双重生活。

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

白天，罗莎做裁缝 来支持她的母亲和丈夫。

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

晚上，她研究和记录大量民权案件，

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

从地方政策争端到备受关注 的谋杀案件和仇恨犯罪。

As secretary, she prepared public responses

作为秘书，

她代表蒙哥马利分会准备了公众

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

false accusation and smear campaigns frequently used against African Americans.

针对非裔美国人的严厉判决、 诬告和诽谤作斗争。

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

除了她的法律工作， 帕克斯还是当地一位杰出的战略家。

As advisor to the NAACP youth group council,

作为全国有色人种协进会 青年组织理事会的顾问，

she helped young people navigate segregated systems

她帮助年轻人了解种族隔离制度，

including voter registration and whites-only libraries.

包括选民登记和白人专用图书馆。

Through the cover of the NAACP,

借助全国有色人种协进会，

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

帕克斯努力使秘密的民权活动公开化。

She advocated for civil disobedience training

她倡导公民不服从训练，

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

公开反对种族暴力， 尤其是埃米特 · 蒂尔（Emmet Till）谋杀案。

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

1955 年，她拒绝在一辆种族隔离 的公交车上坐在后排，

helped ignite the grassroots movement she had hoped for.

这点燃了她所期待已久的民间运动。

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

帕克斯因女性抗议活动而被捕入狱，

where she was visited by local activists.

当地活动人士还到那里看望了她。

Together they planned a twenty-four hour bus boycott.

他们一起策划了一场 24 小时的 公共汽车抵制运动。

It lasted for three hundred and eighty-one days.

其持续了 381 天。

Park’s simple act had transformed nascent civil rights activism

帕克斯的行为将新生的民权运动

into a national movement.

变成了一场全国性的运动。

In 1956, the boycott ended when the Supreme Court

1956 年，最高法院裁定取消公共交通隔离，

ruled in favor of desegregating public transport.

抵制运动随之结束。

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

但是这场运动的胜利 付出了巨大的代价。

Rosa had been receiving vicious death threats throughout the campaign,

罗莎在整个抵制运动过程中 一直受到恶毒的死亡威胁，

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

由于她的政治声誉， 她无法在蒙哥马利找到工作。

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

1957 年，她搬到底特律继续做裁缝，

until being hired by Congressman John Conyers

直到被国会议员约翰 · 科尼尔斯 （John Conyers）雇佣，

to help support his burgeoning civil rights campaigns.

帮助支持他蓬勃发展的民权运动。

Ever vigilant in the fight against racial inequality,

帕克斯在反对种族不平等的 斗争中始终保持警惕，

Parks remained active for the next 40 years.

在接下来的 40 年里一直保持活跃。

She wrote several books,

她写了几本书，

traveled across the country giving talks to support other activists,

并在全国各地发表演讲 支持其他活动人士，

and established an institute for the education of young people

并建立了一个年轻人教育研究所，

in her late husband’s memory.

以纪念她已故的丈夫。

Today, Rosa Parks is remembered as a radical spirit

今天，罗莎 · 帕克斯作为反对权贵

who railed against the most powerful people and policies.

与极端政策被人们所铭记。

Her call to action continues to resound:

她的行动号召仍在回响：

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

“知道必须做什么可以消除恐惧。”