Why is it important for young people to know Claudette Colvins story?
First of all, young people need to know the truth. This is an important chapter in U.S. history. The story as it’s now widely known, the Rosa Parks story, is incomplete—a very important character is left out. Secondly, it’s great that young people have a role model their own age, someone who did something so important. At that time Rosa Parks was 42; Dr. King was an activist in his late 20s. Claudette Colvin’s story inspires young readers ask themselves what they would have done, could have done. I think you’re most idealistic and most righteous in your middle teens—and Claudette was both. Many adults [at that time] would complain about unfair treatment and then go back to work the next day. She’d had enough with what she thought was hypocrisy.
