Also American

Person · 1939–

Claudette Colvin

The 15-year-old who refused to give up her bus seat nine months before Rosa Parks.

An overlooked spark of the [[civil-rights-movement]].

In March 1955 Claudette Colvin was arrested in Montgomery for refusing to move — and became a plaintiff in Browder v. Gayle, the case that actually struck down bus segregation. Movement leaders chose the older Parks as their public face.

The Civil Rights Movement

On the timeline

  1. December 5, 1955
    The Montgomery Bus Boycott

    Sparked by Rosa Parks, a 381-day boycott launches Dr. King and mass nonviolent protest.

  2. November 13, 1956
    Browder v. Gayle

    The Supreme Court affirms that bus segregation is unconstitutional, vindicating the boycott.

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