The hidden life of Rosa Parks - Riché D. Richardson

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: SF Huang

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

1944 年，也就是羅莎·帕克斯

在蒙哥馬利的公車上 做出重大決定的十一年前，

Rosa Parks was investigating a vicious crime.

她在調查一宗殘暴的犯罪案。

As an emissary for the National Association

身為全國有色人種協進會的特使，

for the Advancement of Colored People,

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

她必須要到阿拉巴馬 鄉村地區去會見雷西·泰勒，

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

雷西是名年輕女子， 曾被六名白人男子性侵。

It would be difficult enough to convince an Alabama court

要說服阿拉巴馬法庭

that even one of these men was guilty,

其中任何一名男子有罪都很困難，

but Rosa was undeterred.

但羅莎並不氣餒。

She formed a committee to defend Recy in court,

她組成委員會在法庭上為雷西辯護，

flooding the media with testimony

讓證詞大量出現在媒體上， 並在南方各地激起抗議行動。

and sparking protests throughout the South.

When a jury failed to indict the attackers,

當陪審團沒有對攻擊者起訴時，

Parks demanded the governor assemble a new grand jury.

帕克斯就要求州長 組成新的大陪審團。

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

她寫道：「我知道，你一定 會讓阿拉巴馬的人民知道

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

我們所有的公民都能 得到公平的正義。」

Throughout her life, Parks repeatedly challenged racial violence

帕克斯終其一生都在 不斷挑戰種族暴力

and the prejudiced systems protecting its perpetrators.

以及保護犯罪者的偏袒體制。

But this work came at an enormous risk—

但這項工作的風險相當高——

and a personal price.

還要付出個人的代價。

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

羅莎生於 1913 年，

母親和祖父母在阿拉巴馬 鄉村地區將她扶養長大。

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

但在這慈愛家庭的外面，

種族暴力的恐懼是揮之不去的陰影。

The Ku Klux Klan frequently drove past their home,

三 K 黨經常會開車經過他們的家，

and Jim Crow laws segregated public spaces.

且吉姆克勞法將公共空間 也做了種族隔離。

At 19 she settled in Montgomery and married Raymond Parks,

十九歲時，她在蒙哥馬利 定居並與雷蒙·帕克斯結婚，

a barber who shared her growing fury at racial injustice.

雷蒙是理髮師，和她一樣， 對種族的不公正越來越憤怒。

He was involved with the local chapter of the NAACP;

他參與全國有色人種協進會 在當地的分會；

a role many avoided for fear of persecution.

許多人因為怕被迫害 而不會參與的組織。

At first Raymond was eager to keep Rosa safe

一開始，雷蒙很想要 確保羅莎的安全，

from the potential dangers of activism.

避開行動主義可能帶來的危險。

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

但，她對於非裔美國人 受到的限制越來越感憤怒，

she could no longer stand by.

她已經無法坐視。

When she officially joined the NAACP in 1943,

當她在 1943 年正式加入 美國全國有色人種協進會，

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

整個蒙哥馬利分會只有帕克斯

和強妮·莉貝卡·卡爾兩位女性。

She began keeping minutes for their meetings,

她開始為他們的會議做記錄，

and soon found herself elected secretary of the chapter—

很快地，就被選為分會的秘書——

formally beginning her secret double life.

正式開始她的祕密雙重生活。

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

白天，羅莎是女裁縫師， 賺錢資助她的母親和丈夫。

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

晚上，她會研讀並記錄許多民權案例，

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

從地方性的政策爭議，

到受矚目的謀殺案件和仇恨犯罪。

As secretary, she prepared public responses

身為祕書，她要代表蒙哥馬利分會

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

準備公開的回應，對抗嚴厲的判刑、

false accusation and smear campaigns frequently used against African Americans.

誣告、抹黑行動，這些 常用來對付非裔美國人的手段。

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

除了做法律相關工作， 帕克斯也是出色的地方策略家。

As advisor to the NAACP youth group council,

身為全國有色人種協進會 青年團體理事會顧問，

she helped young people navigate segregated systems

她協助年輕人了解種族隔離制度，

including voter registration and whites-only libraries.

如投票者登記和白人專屬圖書館。

Through the cover of the NAACP,

在全國有色人種協進會的掩護下，

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

帕克斯努力地將隱密的 民權活動帶到陽光底下。

She advocated for civil disobedience training

她倡導公民不服從訓練，

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

為了對抗種族暴力而發聲， 特別是針對愛默特·提爾的謀殺案。

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

1955 年，在種族隔離的公車上， 她拒絕移動到後方的座位，

helped ignite the grassroots movement she had hoped for.

這個事件協助點燃了 她一直期望的草根運動。

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

帕克斯因為她獨自一名女性的 抗議行動而被捕入獄，

where she was visited by local activists.

當地的活動家到那裡拜訪她。

Together they planned a twenty-four hour bus boycott.

他們一起策劃了二十四小時的 公車抵制活動。

It lasted for three hundred and eighty-one days.

活動持續了三百八十一天。

Park’s simple act had transformed nascent civil rights activism

帕克斯的簡單舉動， 便將萌芽中的民權活動主義

into a national movement.

轉變成全國性的運動。

In 1956, the boycott ended when the Supreme Court

1956 年，最高法庭的判決支持廢除

ruled in favor of desegregating public transport.

大眾運輸工具上的 種族隔離，抵制才告終。

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

但，這項運動的成功 背後是有很大的代價。

Rosa had been receiving vicious death threats throughout the campaign,

活動期間，羅莎不斷收到 凶狠的死亡威脅，

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

且因為她的政治名聲， 讓她在蒙哥馬利無法找到工作。

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

1957 年，她搬到底特律， 繼續做裁縫師的工作，

until being hired by Congressman John Conyers

直到被眾議院議員 約翰·柯尼爾斯僱用，

to help support his burgeoning civil rights campaigns.

協助他支持蓬勃發展的民權活動。

Ever vigilant in the fight against racial inequality,

帕克斯在對抗種族不平等時 都非常謹慎小心，

Parks remained active for the next 40 years.

且持續活躍了四十年。

She wrote several books,

她寫了幾本書，

traveled across the country giving talks to support other activists,

到全國各地演說， 支持其他活動家，

and established an institute for the education of young people

並為了紀念她已故的丈夫，

成立一家教育年輕人的機構。

in her late husband’s memory.

Today, Rosa Parks is remembered as a radical spirit

現今，大家都記得 羅莎·帕克斯的激進精神，

who railed against the most powerful people and policies.

她勇於譴責最有權勢的人和政策。

Her call to action continues to resound:

她的行動呼籲持續迴響著：

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

「知道該做什麼，便能消除恐懼。」