Celebrate Rosa Parks Day with books and music
February 3, 2022
When faced with injustice, Rosa Parks refused to move and ignited a movement. On Rosa Parks Day, February 4, (date can vary by state location), we remind ourselves that the path to equality and racial justice is long and winding, but we must never give up.
To celebrate, we've put together a list of books for adults, YA and children as well as books about the Montgomery Bus Boycott. And while you're reading, get inspired by a curated playlist on Freegal Music.
Adult Books
At the Dark End of the Street: Black Women, Rape, and Resistance: A New History of the Civil Rights Movement, From Rosa Parks to the Rise of Black Power by Danielle L McGuire
Rosa Parks in Her Own Words by Susan Reyburn
Seven Women and the Secret of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas
Our Auntie Rosa The Family of Rosa Parks Remembers Her Life and Lessons by Sheila McCauley Keys
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks with A New Introduction by Jeanne Theoharis
Rosa Parks a Penguin Life by Douglas Brinkley
The Girl at the Back of The Bus by Suzette D. Harrison
YA Books
Rosa Parks – My Story by Rosa Parks
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks for Young Readers by Jeanne Theoharis
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Connie Colwell Miller *
The Story of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Photographs by David Aretha
Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Lydia Bjornlund
Rosa Parks and Civil Disobedience by Alison Morretta
Children’s Books
Cake Pops with Rosa Parks by Kyla Steinkraus
Little People Big Dreams: Rosa Parks by Lisbeth Kaiser
When Rosa Parks Went Fishing by Rachel Ruiz
I Am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer
I am Strong: A Little Book about Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer
Who Was Rosa Parks? By Yona Zeldis McDonough
The Extraordinary Life of Rosa Parks by Sheila Kanani
A Girl Named Rosa: The True Story of Rosa Parks by Denise Lewis Patrick
If A Bus Could Talk – The Story of Rosa Parks by Faith Ringgold
Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired A Nation by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds
Who Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott?: Rosa Parks: A Who HQ Graphic Novel by Insha Fitzpatrick
The Bus Ride by William Miller
Books about the Montgomery Bus Boycott:
Pies From Nowhere: How Georgia Gilmore Sustained the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Dee Romito
March by John Lewis
The Montgomery Bus Boycott by Allison Crotzer Kimmel
Stride Toward Freedom the Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King Jr
Walk to Freedom: Montgomery Bus Boycott by Virginia Loh-Hagan
12 Incredible Facts About The Montgomery Bus Boycott by Lois Sephaban
The Thunder of Angels the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the People Who Broke the Back of Jim Crow by Donnie Williams
Freedom Walkers the Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman
Claudette Colvin Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose
Claudette Colvin Refuses to Move Courageous Kid of the Civil Rights Movement by Ebony Wilkins
Daughter of the Boycott Carrying on a Montgomery Family's Civil Rights Legacy by Karen Gray Houston
Freegal Music Links
Oh Freedom - The Golden Gospel Singers
We Shall Overcome - Mahalia Jackson
A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke
Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead
O-o-h Child - The Five Stairsteps
Everything Is Everything Ms. Lauryn Hill
Rosa Parks - Jessica J Williams
Towards Freedom - Oswando Jazz Quartet
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This book and music list was compiled by Kiara Garrett, teen librarian at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.