THE REAL ROSA PARKS
A SOCIAL IMPACT CAMPAIGN
Uncover the real Rosa Parks, who was not a soft-spoken seamstress, but a determined, powerful, radical activist who dedicated her entire life to fighting for justice.
ABOUT THE IMPACT CAMPAIGN
YOUR RE-INTRODUCTION TO A LEGENDARY LIFE
The social impact campaign for The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks delves deeper into Mrs. Rosa Parks’ journey, and celebrates the Black women who are drivers of change and inspiration. From local community organizers, to influencers activating online communities, to elected officials serving at every level of government.
This film, and complimentary campaign is an opportunity to reintroduce Mrs. Parks’ legacy, and narratives around Black women’s leadership, organizing and protest. Join us on our journey to highlight our heroes.
PEABODY AWARD WINNER FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY
ANTHEM AWARD WINNER IN DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN FILM
TEACHING THE TRUTH
In recent years, teachers and school districts across the country have come under attack for teaching the truthful history around issues like race, gender and American exceptionalism.
As Education Week reports, “More than 17.7 million public school students enrolled in almost 900 districts across the country could have their learning restricted by local action and the recent slate of laws and policies aimed to ban teaching concepts related to race, racism, and gender, and often deemed ‘critical race theory.’”
At the heart of our campaign is a commitment to teaching true history to students across the U.S. Just as the book and film portray a fuller picture of Mrs. Parks’ legacy, students everywhere deserve access to resources that allow them a more complete and accurate understanding of history.
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks Curriculum
To assist teachers in introducing the book and film to students, Jeanne Theoharis convened a group of middle and high school teachers and teacher educators to develop lessons and related teaching ideas. You can access those lessons here.
Breaking the Book Ban
Since April, the Zinn Education Project has shipped 13,000 copies of the book to teachers requesting copies to pair with their history or language arts curriculum. Learn more about this effort as part of Zinn’s wider TeachTruth campaign.
Film Education Partner: The Zinn Education Project
The Zinn Education Project promotes and supports the teaching of people’s history in classrooms across the country. Since 2008, the Zinn Education Project has introduced students to a more accurate, complex, and engaging understanding of history than is found in traditional textbooks and curricula. With more than 140,000 people registered, and growing by more than 15,000 new registrants every year, the Zinn Education Project has become a leading resource for teachers and teacher educators. Learn more about the film’s education partner here.
HIGHLIGHTED CREATOR CONTENT
Garrison Hayes @garrisonhayes
“…the truth is that the real Rosa Parks was a radical figure in American history.”
Naomi Ekperigin @blacktresscomedy
“Omitting the truth. Telling half-truths. This ain’t gonna get anybody anywhere.”
Whitney Alese @thereclaimed
“There is more to Rosa Parks than just that bus.”
Ashley Nedd @ashleynedd
“She was a powerhouse. Do not mistake her quietness for a lack of strength.”
Conscious Lee @theconsciouslee
“There are a lot of radical things about this woman that I feel like were purposefully omitted.”
REFRAMING the legacy of Mrs. Rosa Parks to one that acknowledges her life long commitment as a revolutionary strategist and leader in the civil rights movement;
SPOTLIGHTING and celebrating both historical and contemporary Black women organizers and their efforts to defend democracy and strengthen their communities;
CENTERING the importance and value of teaching future generations about true American history;
ADVANCING the idea that civil engagement is essential to the survival of democracy, including when expressed through protest.
BE THE REBELLIOUS YOU
Download, engage and share the resources.
This discussion guide serves as a companion piece to the film. It is designed to inspire conversation around:
EVENTS
THE REAL ROSA: SOCIAL IMPACT CAMPAIGN LAUNCH
Hosted at the Detroit Institute of Arts, the social impact campaign for The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks launched on what would have been her 110th birthday. A private reception, special screening and post-screening discussion were had to learn more about Mrs. Parks’ extraordinary legacy.
FAMU BLACK HISTORY MONTH CONVERSATION
Journalist and Executive Producer, Soledad O’Brien visited the campus of HBCU, Florida A&M University to share clips from the film and discuss the impact of The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks.
CINE-ONU UNITED NATIONS SCREENING
Co-Director, , Johanna Hamilton, joined several leaders at a special International Women’s Day screening was hosted by the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna and CINÉ-ONU.
MLK MEMORIAL LIBRARY SCREENING AND TALKBACK
An exclusive screening that connected the impact of Mrs. Parks and Dr. King’s legacies. The sold out screening was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Soledad O’Brien, featuring author Dr. Jeanne Theoharis, directors Yoruba Richen and Johanna Hamilton, and youth activists, Tylik McMillan and Alicia Butler.
“WOULD THE PEOPLE BE SYMPATHETIC OR DISILLUSIONED
WHEN THE FACTS OF MY LIFE ARE TOLD?”
- ROSA PARKS
THE REBELLIOUS LIFE OF MRS. ROSA PARKS
THE DOCUMENTARY FILM
NOW STREAMING ON PEACOCK
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, which is based on the bestselling biography by Jeanne Theoharis and executive produced by award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien, corrects the record on Rosa Parks’ often-overlooked accomplishments and the erasure of her radical politics. In short, what we are taught in school about Rosa Parks is a mere fraction of the full story about who she truly was.
Directors Yoruba Richen and Johanna Hamilton expertly weave together interviews from academics and activists such as Bryan Stevenson, Patrisse Cullors and Ericka Huggins, along with personal stories from her family, and remarkable footage of Mrs. Parks herself, to dispel myths and to illuminate her decades-worth of extensive organizing, strategizing, and activism in the pursuit of Black liberation. Lisa Gay Hamilton lends her talent in the documentary as the voice of Mrs. Rosa Parks.
THE BOOK
The definitive political biography examines her six decades of activism, challenging perceptions of Parks as an accidental actor in the civil rights movement.
The book provides a revealing window into Parks’ politics and years of activism. She shows readers how this civil rights movement radical sought—for more than a half century—to expose and eradicate the American racial-caste system in jobs, schools, public services and criminal justice.
