Who were Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela? - Presentation
History Resource Description
Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela are two iconic figures who played pivotal roles in the fight against racial discrimination and for civil rights. Rosa Parks, an African American woman from the United States, became famous for her act of defiance in 1955 when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her courageous stand became a symbol of the struggle against racial segregation and sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a significant event in the Civil Rights Movement. Teachers are encouraged to use creative methods such as modelling the scene with Plasticine or Playdoh, taking photographs, and storytelling to help pupils understand and retell Rosa Parks' act of resistance.
Nelson Mandela, on the other hand, was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary who became the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His leadership in the struggle against apartheid and his 27 years of imprisonment for his activism made him an international emblem of dignity and forbearance. The educational focus on Nelson Mandela includes watching informative videos, locating South Africa on a world map, and group discussions about the importance of his story and its relevance today. The lesson plan also prompts students to draw parallels between the stories of Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela, exploring the similarities in their struggles for justice and equality.