The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award given by the United States Congress. It is awarded to people who have made significant contributions to American society, culture, or security.
Rosa Parks received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999. She was the first woman to receive the medal since Margaret Chase Smith in 1949.
Parks' award was specifically in recognition of her role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The boycott began in 1955 after Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus to a white man. The boycott lasted for 381 days and ended with a Supreme Court ruling that declared segregation on public transportation unconstitutional.
Parks' arrest and the subsequent boycott were a major turning point in the civil rights movement. They helped to raise awareness of the issue of racial discrimination and inspired other African Americans to fight for their rights.
In addition to the Congressional Gold Medal, Parks also received numerous other awards and honors for her role in the civil rights movement. She was inducted into the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame in 1977 and the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1993. She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996.
Rosa Parks died in 2005 at the age of 92. She is remembered as a courageous and influential figure in the civil rights movement.