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	Rosa Parks is a featured article; it (or a previous version of it) has been identified as one of the best articles produced by the Wikipedia community. Even so, if you can update or improve it, please do so.
	This article appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page as Today's featured article on February 4, 2026.
Article milestones Date Process Result November 23, 2005 Featured article candidate Promoted January 6, 2012 Featured article review Demoted April 5, 2025 Good article nominee Listed June 27, 2025 Peer review Reviewed August 25, 2025 Featured article candidate Promoted A fact from this article appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the "Did you know?" column on June 19, 2025. The text of the entry was: Did you know ... that Rosa Parks (pictured) refused to surrender her seat not because she was physically tired, but because she was "tired of giving in"? Facts from this article were featured on Wikipedia's Main Page in the "On this day..." column on December 1, 2004, December 1, 2006, December 1, 2007, December 1, 2008, December 1, 2009, December 1, 2010, December 1, 2011, December 1, 2013, December 1, 2015, December 1, 2017, December 1, 2020, and December 1, 2025. Current status: Featured article

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This article is substantially duplicated in one or more external publications. Since these publication(s) copied Wikipedia, rather than the reverse, please do not flag this article as a copyright violation of the following source: Rosa Parks Biography, August 16, 2007

The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as this nomination's talk page, the article's talk page or Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was: promoted by Launchballer talk 12:27, 10 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

(

• Comment or view
• Article history

)

[[File:|140px|Rosa Parks in 1955]]

Rosa Parks in 1955

• ... that Rosa Parks did not refuse to surrender her seat because she was physically tired, but because she was "tired of giving in"?

• Source: "People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in." (Parks & Haskins, p. 116)

• ALT1: ... that Rosa Parks did not refuse to surrender her seat on a Montgomery bus because she was physically tired, but because she was "tired of giving in"? Source: "People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in." (Parks & Haskins, p. 116)
• Reviewed:
• Comment: Former reads a little bit better to me, latter gives a bit more context. Not sure if it's necessary, given Parks's fame, but maybe.

Improved to Good Article status by Spookyaki (talk). Number of QPQs required: 0. Nominator has fewer than 5 past nominations.

Spookyaki (talk) 18:30, 6 April 2025 (UTC).[reply]

• General eligibility:
• New enough:
• Long enough:
• Other problems:

Policy compliance:

• Adequate sourcing:
• Neutral:
• Free of copyright violations, plagiarism, and close paraphrasing:
• Other problems:

Hook eligibility:

• Cited:
• Interesting:
• Other problems:

Image: Image is freely licensed, used in the article, and clear at 100px.
Freely licensed: Used in article: Clear at 100px:

QPQ: Done.

Overall: @Spookyaki: Thank you for upgrading such an important article to GA status. It was upgraded to GA status recently and a quick scan of the article shows no problems stopping it from becoming a DYK. Both of the hooks are fine. Jon698 (talk) 08:57, 7 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Spookyaki and Jon698: Would you like to submit an image with this nomination?--Launchballer 19:16, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The image in the infobox can be used since it is public domain. Jon698 (talk) 19:32, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I added it. This would make an excellent Juneteenth hook, but I'll let a promoter make that decision since that's well over six weeks away.--Launchballer 19:36, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I think if I were to select an image, it would be that one or this one, since the statue depicts Parks sitting on the bus. Neither would be a bad choice, I think. Spookyaki (talk) 19:41, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, and sorry, as for Juneteenth, that sounds fine. At some point, I'm planning to submit this article for FA, so I'm not entirely sure how the timelines will line up, however. Spookyaki (talk) 19:44, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

It has been brought up in the Peer Review for this page that the PD status for the selected image may by questionable, so may be better do use a different image. Spookyaki (talk) 13:03, 4 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I suggest organising a crop of File:President Bill Clinton presents Rosa Parks with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the Oval Office.jpg; the rest are side profiles.--Launchballer 13:10, 4 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Seems reasonable to me! Spookyaki (talk) 13:13, 4 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Assuming we've got the licensing resolved, I like [[:]] the best, but I'd take a closer crop. I know that's King in the background, but for the purpose of a Parks biography, that's just a distraction. The photos of sculptures probably won't pass copyright review. And the one with Clinton is a strange perspective, not to mention that a contemporary photo would be much better. I agree with running this on Juneteenth. RoySmith (talk) 22:45, 10 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

It is not resolved, unfortunately. It seems like the photo is not PD and maybe not even fair use (though I've tried my best to argue for the latter). I guess maybe the next next next best photo that I am pretty sure is PD would be this one. Spookyaki (talk) 01:08, 11 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Spookyaki, Jon698, and RoySmith: The prep set for 19 June is now the bottom set, have we decided on an image?--Launchballer 09:28, 9 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Launchballer:Since it's looking increasingly likely that the original picture is copyrighted, I think this image is probably the best alternative at this moment. Caption would be "Rosa Parks in 1956". Spookyaki (talk) 17:44, 9 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Rosa Parks in 1956

I was a little surprised to see this article as the lede in today's DYK, even given the clear connection to the Juneteenth theme connected to the other articles on the Main Page, since it ran as the Main Page FA back on December 1, 2005, the 50th anniversary of her arrest, as part of a wide commemoration of that event online and off. I remember that date very well.

Yet the current article history gives no mention of this, just its recent promotion to GA. So I'm curious: When was it defeatured? Why? And why is there no record of this in the article history? It isn't hard to find the article's FAC? Or its FARC, which indicates that it was defeatured in 2012.

Certainly it would be nice if it were restored to featured status, and I think whoever would be working on that might like to see those past discussions. Daniel Case (talk) 01:47, 19 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for pointing this out! Am hoping to (re-)nominate the article for FA, but was not aware of its history. I think I've added the FAC and FARC to the article history, though this is not a template I've ever touched before, so it's possible I might have made some mistakes. Let me know if you spot any issues. Spookyaki (talk) 02:49, 19 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I see there's a lot of activity going on concerning the picture on this article. I need to go to bed because I have to catch an early flight tomorrow, and will be out of town for the next week, but I think interested parties should probably discuss what our best options are here. For context, see deletion discussions here and here. Pinging @JayCubby, @Randy Kryn, @RoySmith, and @Yagiv. Some questions I have:

1. Is there a way to make the image more fair use compliant, as Yagiv attempted to do?
2. In the event that the image does need to be deleted, what are some alternatives for the article portrait? Would we prefer the fingerprinting image (potentially confusing context, unclear image of Parks's face) or this image (clearer view of the face, but potentially misleading concerning Parks's age at the time of her refusal to move) or some other image?

Unfortunately, I cannot participate in this discussion. Spookyaki (talk) 03:21, 19 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I usually rely on @Nikkimaria when it comes to questions of image licensing. RoySmith (talk) 12:51, 19 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

• Keep the present image in the infobox (per discussion at the deletion nomination). Randy Kryn (talk) 14:40, 19 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I was going to make a thread here about how the lead image was just deleted and what image should replace it. I have BOLDly replaced it with the fingerprinting image because that's used on all the other language wikis, but I realize that's quite redundant for where we've placed that picture. I don't know what should serve as a permanent replacement, perhaps a crop? Seems a bit out of context but it might work. ❤HistoryTheorist❤ 23:42, 26 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Not at my computer at the moment, but there is a pretty decent crop that I linked above. Spookyaki (talk) 01:09, 27 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That was the crop I was about to insert as the lede image, but I chickened out and used the uncropped image. Alternately, you could insert an image of her in older age like the Italian Wikipedia did. ❤HistoryTheorist❤ 02:37, 27 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah, unfortunately I think there are significant drawbacks to both approaches, but I think if we’re going to use the fingerprinting image, the crop is probably preferable. Spookyaki (talk) 02:45, 27 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I changed it to give Parks some dignity at her lead image. This was why we argued that the historic photograph of her and Dr. King was essential for this page - it portrayed the joy of the Montgomery Bus Boycott perfectly. Randy Kryn (talk) 02:53, 28 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That's a good picture and works well as a lede image. ❤HistoryTheorist❤ 03:15, 28 June 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Unfortunately, looks like this one is probably also copyrighted. Looking at the source, my impression is that it was published in 1982 by the Schlesinger Library, which say that it may "not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means". However, the point is taken regarding the kinds of qualities folks want to see in the image, so for now, I'm replacing it with a crop of this image. It specifically shows Parks with a dignified smile at the anniversary of the March on Washington. It also features a slightly better view of her face than the previous image. Spookyaki (talk) 06:18, 5 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I know I'm over a month late for this, but I think that this would work better as an infobox image. The current one is noticeably grainy and strangely cropped. TheBritinator (talk) 17:22, 28 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I would really rather not mess with the picture further, but I'll loop in @Randy Kryn and @HistoryTheorist to get their thoughts. Spookyaki (talk) 17:44, 29 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I honestly don't care. I do agree that the suggested picture is clearer and higher quality and FWIW, it's used by the Italian Wikipedia. However, the current lede picture isn't horrible so if you don't wanna change it, that's up to you. ❤HistoryTheorist❤ 18:44, 29 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Liking the new opening image from 1955, when Parks's main notability occurred. Randy Kryn (talk) 11:24, 30 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, huh. Also pretty happy with this one, and does seem to have been published by AP during the PD time frame. Spookyaki (talk) 16:52, 30 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That also works well. TheBritinator (talk) 16:54, 30 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Of course it's not 1990s quality, but it illustrates the page well and I'm happy with it. ❤HistoryTheorist❤ 22:31, 30 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I will take a stab at copyediting. Let me know if there are any issues. Thanks. Littenberg (talk) 22:19, 3 July 2025 (UTC) All done. It looks quite good, and required only a small number of edits. Please make sure I have not done violence to the prose! I have one question: Why is there a See also link to the Indigenous peoples of the America portal? She did have a remote ancestor of some (unspecified) tribe, but it seems like a reach to me. However, out of an abundance of caution, I left it.[reply]

	Guild of Copy Editors
This article was copy edited by Littenberg, a member of the Guild of Copy Editors, on 4 July 2025.Guild of Copy EditorsWikipedia:WikiProject Guild of Copy EditorsTemplate:WikiProject Guild of Copy EditorsGuild of Copy Editors

Also not 100% sure to be honest. Probably due to her distant native ancestry, but she doesn't seem to have any particular affiliations with any Indigenous nations. I will remove it unless anyone strongly objects. Spookyaki (talk) 22:31, 4 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

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In the section about her bus protest, in the third paragraph the date of the incident is incorrect. Rosa Parks refused to move in 1955. There are documents on the page to support this. This appears to be the only place where the date is typed incorrectly as 1943. 50.38.47.208 (talk) 21:41, 2 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That's because the 1943 date is referring to a different incident that occurred in 1943 with the same bus driver. Spookyaki (talk) 21:51, 2 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

 Not done I was going to say this. The ‘43 incident is part of the context for the ‘55 incident (it’s the same driver). Unrelated, @ IP user making the request: please make your requests in the “change x to y” format, and always provide reliable sources when appropriate. Slomo666 (talk) 21:58, 2 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

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I request for Albertina Sisulu to be added to the See also section, please. 2A0A:EF40:127F:CA01:AC17:92C6:5C23:5A9 (talk) 15:39, 18 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

 Not done for now: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the {{Edit semi-protected}} template. x2step (lets talk 💌) 19:32, 18 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

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She invented Fortnite, the multiplayer battle royale game. Iluvlebron53 (talk) 15:40, 3 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]

 Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. meamemg (talk) 15:52, 3 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]

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she made fortnite Iluvlebron53 (talk) 15:41, 3 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]

 Not done: Please stop. LizardJr8 (talk) 15:54, 3 December 2025 (UTC)[reply]

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I request for where it says "Jim Crow racial segregation laws" to be changed to just "Jim Crow laws" in order to shorten the rest of sentence at the start. ~2026-50376-5 (talk) 01:19, 24 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Partly done "Jim Crow racial segregation laws" was implemented for the benefit of non-Americans who might not know what Jim Crow laws were. However, I see what you mean by the sentence being too long. Made a slight adjustment to hopefully make it easier to read? Spookyaki (talk) 02:16, 24 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Looks good to me! Marking as answered. - Umby 🌕🐶 (talk) 06:11, 24 January 2026 (UTC)[reply]

I found a better portrait of Rosa Parks from the Library of Congress (File:Rosa Parks, November 1956 (cropped).jpg, original image at File:Rosa Parks, November 1956.tif) that has fallen into public domain due to non-renewal. I verified its publication in 1957 newspapers and was unable to find any copyright renewal. Pinging people who commented multiple times in the most recent image discussion, plus Nikkimaria (mentioned above as the image licensing expert): @Spookyaki, HistoryTheorist, Randy Kryn, and Nikkimaria: Should we replace the current image? Thanks. Daniel Quinlan (talk) 03:23, 4 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

• Personally, I agree that the newly suggested image makes sense in the infobox. She's smiling, well lit, not halftoned, and this is contemporaneous to her protests. The only potential shortcoming is the lack of glasses, but given that they aren't all that visible in File:Rosa Parks 1955 2 (cropped).jpg I don't think it's a major issue.  — Chris Woodrich (talk) 03:37, 4 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

• When you were looking at copyright renewal, what were you searching for? My hesitation is that the original source of the image does not appear to be identified. Nikkimaria (talk) 03:39, 4 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

  @Nikkimaria: I searched for "Rosa Parks" since both photographs were labeled as "Mrs. Rosa Parks" in the newspaper articles where it was used. Crisco 1492 also did a similar search which is now linked in the image summary. Daniel Quinlan (talk) 03:47, 4 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

• • Hi Nikkimaria, the source identifies the image as being from the Rosa Parks papers. The border of the original uncropped image is consistent with an image in a personal collection, and the written date is before the earliest identified publications. As the photographer is unidentified, but would not have been a staff photographer for a specific publication based on the information presented, I searched for "Rosa Parks". Daniel identified several publications that reused the image. New searches for The Call and The Morning Call likewise do not show any renewals. — Chris Woodrich (talk) 03:53, 4 February 2026 (UTC)edited 03:59, 4 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Looks fine to me! Might wait until after TFA though. Spookyaki (talk) 04:14, 4 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Now that the article is no longer the TFA, I updated the image. Also, since we're not using the photograph derived from the bond-posting photograph as the infobox image, I added the uncropped bond-posting photograph to the article. Daniel Quinlan (talk) 23:52, 6 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

about when she was a child ~2026-10127-53 (talk) 22:53, 14 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

? Spookyaki (talk) 23:33, 14 February 2026 (UTC)[reply]

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In the section written about the Outcast lawsuit, change the incorrect amount of money from 5 billion dollars, to the correct amount of 5 million dollars ~2026-19595-47 (talk) 03:42, 30 March 2026 (UTC)[reply]

 Done. Thanks for catching the error. A. Randomdude0000 (talk) 03:58, 30 March 2026 (UTC)[reply]

This is not an error, or if it is, it's an error on the part of the source, which says $5 billion:

They became even more concerned when Parks’s name appeared on a $5 billion lawsuit against the Atlanta-based rap duo OutKast. OutKast’s 1998 album, Aquemini, included a hit song entitled "Rosa Parks," and although she was not mentioned in the lyrics, the chorus included the words, "Ah ha, hush that fuss/ Everybody move to the back of the bus." (Hanson 2011, p. 159)

If there is an alternative source that says $5 million, that's fine, but the source cited in the article says $5 billion. For now, I'm just going to remove the number altogether, since it seems contentious and the number isn't strictly necessary. Spookyaki (talk) 13:23, 30 March 2026 (UTC)[reply]

this is not on here and this is very important. ~2026-19781-41 (talk) 18:51, 30 March 2026 (UTC)[reply]

Is there a specific member of her family that you feel needs to be mentioned? Spookyaki (talk) 19:59, 30 March 2026 (UTC)[reply]