Community Marks Rosa Parks’ 70th Anniversary
Around 60 people gathered at St. Paul AME Hall on Monday [Dec 1] to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ iconic stand.
A spokesperson said, “A diverse audience of 60-odd people, across generations, joined the lunchtime gathering at St Paul AME Hall on Monday, December 1st, honouring the 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks’ iconic stand. This was the result of collaboration including the Department of Education, Imagine Bermuda, the Ministry of National Security, and St Paul AME Church.
“The event was opened with a welcome and prayer from host pastor Rev Nicholas Tweed, who noted the appropriateness of the venue since Mrs Parks had been a member of the St Paul AME Church in Montgomery, when she courageously refused to move from her seat on December 1, 1955. Rev Tweed pointed out that occasion offered an opportunity to access insights that may be helpful in 2025.
“The MC for the occasion, Nekesha Holdipp, the Department of Education’s Social Studies Coordinator, explained that the event was cross-generational. In that regard, she invited the Berkeley Dancers to take the stage and the ensemble of about a dozen young women and one young man assumed their positions front and centre.
“Their bright white costumes flowed as the dancers crisscrossed around the stage to a fantastic soundtrack, Mercy Won’t Miss, demonstrating rhythm and agility. The audience enthusiastically offered hearty applause at the conclusion of the dance.
“Glenn Fubler followed with a presentation of a brief bio of Rosa Parks that tied in implications for Bermuda. He explained how her grandfather inculcated a sense of independence in young Rosa in the face of conditions of racial terror in remote Alabama.
“Fubler noted that as a tween, she enjoyed Mrs White’s School, which fostered positive character in students. Blessed with that foundation and her subsequent marriage to a progressive husband, Rosa embraced a growing sense of citizen responsibility while fostering resilience in this evolving transformative figure. This notwithstanding life-threatening circumstances that she eventually faced.
“CedarBridge student Angel Oloughlin took the stage next. When the teen responded to the soundtrack of the movie Harriett, it was obvious that her body harboured a big voice. Angel’s rendition of Stand Up! gained the immediate attention of all present. Through her melodious voice, everyone could really feel the impact of the stand taken by Rosa Parks.
“Justice Juan Wolffe began his presentation by explaining that as a judge of the Supreme Court of Bermuda, he finds it deeply disturbing that, historically, laws in Bermuda and elsewhere were enacted to oppress and subjugate Black people, such as laws which underpinned slavery in the United States of America and the Jim Crow segregation laws in America in December 1955 when Rosa Parks decided not to stand up on that Montgomery bus.
“Locally, examples also included slavery laws which were in place up until 1834 and laws enforced up to the 1960s which legally allowed hotels and restaurants to refuse service to Black Bermudians.
“The puisne judge went on to link that reality with the significance of the 70th anniversary that we had gathered to celebrate: Quoting civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, who said, ‘She sat down in order that we all might stand up,’ Wolffe declared that with her quiet strength and her unwavering commitment, she was a catalyst for the civil rights movement in Montgomery, Alabama, but this reverberated throughout other states and diverse parts of the globe – including Bermuda.
“As the result of Ms. Parks’ action, the matter was taken all the way to the United States Supreme Court, which ultimately decided in 1956 that segregation laws were unconstitutional. A monumental feat for a 42-year-old seamstress.
“Justice Wolffe noted that the profound lesson that can be gleaned from the heroic act of Ms. Parks is that with unified strategy, unrelenting dedication, and sustained work of the people [no matter their race, gender, or origin], any injustice can be confronted and obliterated.
“Justice Wolffe concluded by suggesting that we in Bermuda should also focus on recognizing and celebrating our local pioneers who fought against racial injustice and immensely sacrificed themselves and their loved ones. Essentially, Bermuda’s history shows us that we had our own Rosa Parks, such as those who bravely started and sustained the 1959 Theatre Boycott, and the time has come for them to also be celebrated.
“In conclusion, Nekesha Holdipp explained that a key legacy Rosa Parks was foundationally dedicated to leveraging was the development of young people; consequently local schools – private and public – had nominated 10 students that manifested positive character traits in spite of personal challenges.
“Additionally, a number of adult individuals and organizations which have been exemplary in fostering the development of young people were also recognized at this gathering, including:
- Ryan Belboda – Youth Club Coordinator; cricket and football coach for 25 years; treasurer of the Southampton Rangers Club
- Victor Fishenden – volunteer at Bright Temple AME, Paget Primary, and Berkeley Institute.
- La Gregg Smith, Associate Director of Seventh Day Adventist Youth Programs; active member of Devonshire Recreation Club; construction entrepreneur who mentors marginalized young employees.
- Mike Stovell – football coach at Paget Football Club; cricket coach at Warwick Workman’s Club; longtime member of Paget Vestry.
- Bermuda Is Love: Grassroots social justice organization of 20/30 something young people, fostering community solidarity through a variety of activities.
- Bermuda Sloop Foundation: developed the Spirit of Bermuda as a platform to foster the development of our young people. Had been covering – starting in 2006 – every middle school aged student for almost two decades.
- Bermuda Youth Connect: Group of teen and 20-somethings exercising agency to transform our society to the benefit across generations.
- CHEWSTICK Foundation: A grassroots community champion for artistic expression for younger people over the past two decades.
- XRoads Football Club: A grassroots organization founded by President Saleem Talbot, one of only three local football clubs to be FIFA certified, and has had a demonstrable positive social impact on the Devil’s Hole community.”
We should open a Little Caesars Pizza as a memorial.