The Rosa Parks Story (2002)

A seamstress recalls events leading to her act of peaceful defiance that prompted the 1955 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.

Director:

Julie Dash

Writer:

Paris Qualles

Stars:

Angela Bassett, Peter Francis James, Tonea Stewart

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 8 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Angela Bassett	...	Rosa Louise McCauley Parks
Peter Francis James	...	Raymond Parks
Tonea Stewart	...	Johnnie Carr
Von Coulter	...	E.D. Nixon
Dexter King	...	Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (as Dexter Scott King)
Afemo Omilami
Sonny Shroyer	...	James F. Blake
Mike Pniewski	...	Clifford Durr
Chardé Manzy	...	Young Rosa (as Charde' Manzy)
Cicely Tyson	...	Leona Edwards McCauley
Charles Black	...	Sylvester Edwards - Rosa's Grandfather
Nick LaTour	...	Older Boycott Man
Susan McConnell	...	1931 Store Manager
Timothy Parham	...	Elijah Banks
Gwen Waymon	...	Jo Ann Robinson

Storyline

A seamstress recalls events leading to her act of peaceful defiance that prompted the 1955 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.

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Plot Keywords:

civil rights | bus | national association for the advancement of colored people | racial issues | social activism | 

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Taglines:

America, 1955. Her act of courage changed the world. But how it changed her life has never been told... until now.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 February 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ride to Freedom: The Rosa Parks Story

Filming Locations:

Montgomery, Alabama, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chotzen/Jenner Productions, Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Come Sunday

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks: Why do you always push us around?

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Connections

Referenced in Half in the Bag: Red Tails (2012)

User Reviews

Outstanding movie, with beautiful performances

This morning, a cable channel showed "The Rosa Parks Story" since it fits in so well with Martin Luther King day.

The movie drew me in and kept me in my seat until the very last scene. While most people are aware of Ms. Parks' historical significance, the famous bus scene forms a centerpiece for the movie which is deftly surrounded by events from her childhood, her marriage to Raymond, and a stirring scene with her mother around the time of the turmoil.

It would have been so easy for such a movie to descend into preaching or overly lionize Ms. Parks. Instead, she is portrayed as a woman simply asserting her dignity as a human being. The casting for the movie was extremely strong since Angela Bassett (Rosa), and Cicely Tyson (her mother, Leona) are great actresses and Peter Francis James also does well as Raymond Parks.

Through haunting flashbacks and a scene showing Ms. Parks's struggles to register to vote, the producers succeed in showing an ugly era in America's social history without over-sensationalizing. They also manage to show that many white people in Montgomery extended kindness to her, including a wealthy woman customer at the store where she worked and an attorney who helped out with the court case.

Many scenes are emotionally stirring: you'd better have a box of tissues handy for this one!