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Claudette Colvin: Civil Rights Activist

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Did you know that Rosa Parks wasn't the first person to refuse to give up her seat on a segregated bus? Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat nine months after Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old African American girl. Claudette also refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus. She was 15 at the time and was also pregnant. Claudette had political ambitions and even dreamed of becoming the first Black woman to become president of the United States. Claudette Colvin is a monumental civil rights activist because she paved the way for many generations to fight for equality. She stopped segregation on buses and inspired many, like Rosa Parks. Before Claudette Colvin resisted giving up her seat as a white person, there were a lot of segregation norms. In the …show more content…

Finally, Claudette pushed forth the civil rights movement, especially in the courtroom. Britannica’s article claims that Colvin challenged bus segregation laws in court. In 1956 she and four other African American women participated in the class action lawsuit Browder v. Gayle, which reached the U.S. Supreme Court. Later that year, the Court ruled in favor of the women, making segregation on buses illegal. (Britannica) Claudette's participation in the lawsuit Browder vs. Gayle shows her effort to dismantle the segregation system of African Americans. The case outcome, of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of Colvin and the four other women that were discriminated against by bus drivers, represents a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement. Claudette Colvin was a huge part of the civil rights movement. She was the first black person to refuse to give up her seat to a white person. She also went to court and made it illegal to segregate on a bus. Claudette’s legacy extends beyond her actions in the 1950s. Her story inspires people around the world to confront discrimination and fight for civil rights in their

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