Claudette Colvin, who helped end racial segregation in the US by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person, has died. She was 86 years old. Colvin's protest, which led to her arrest, transpired in 1955 when she was just 15 years old while living in Montgomery, Alabama. This event occurred a mere nine months before Rosa Parks' similar act of defiance, which ignited a city-wide boycott of public transportation and a Supreme Court ruling against racial discrimination.
Colvin's arrest remained largely unknown until 2009, when her story gained broader recognition due to the publication of a detailed book about her life. She leaves behind a legacy of courage that helped change the course of American history, stated the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation.
Just one year after her arrest, the US Supreme Court ruled that segregation on buses must end. Colvin was one of the plaintiffs whose testimonies were pivotal in this landmark case.
Reflecting on her experience, Colvin shared in a BBC interview that she was neither frightened nor nervous, but felt a powerful sense of righteousness. Once asked about her decision to remain seated, she articulated that it felt as though prominent historical figures like Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth were guiding her choice to stand her ground.
Following her activism, Colvin pursued a career in nursing in New York and passed away in Texas. Her courage at such a young age paved the way for future generations in the ongoing struggle for civil rights.
Colvin's arrest remained largely unknown until 2009, when her story gained broader recognition due to the publication of a detailed book about her life. She leaves behind a legacy of courage that helped change the course of American history, stated the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation.
Just one year after her arrest, the US Supreme Court ruled that segregation on buses must end. Colvin was one of the plaintiffs whose testimonies were pivotal in this landmark case.
Reflecting on her experience, Colvin shared in a BBC interview that she was neither frightened nor nervous, but felt a powerful sense of righteousness. Once asked about her decision to remain seated, she articulated that it felt as though prominent historical figures like Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth were guiding her choice to stand her ground.
Following her activism, Colvin pursued a career in nursing in New York and passed away in Texas. Her courage at such a young age paved the way for future generations in the ongoing struggle for civil rights.
