Rosa Parks taught us that you don't have to be a politician or a community leader or someone of great status to be remembered in history. A person can make history with a simple act. Rosa contributed greatly to Black History by one act of courage: refusing to give her seat in a bus. This happened on December 1st, 1955. 

Because of segregation, it was against the law for an African American like her to sit in the seats labeled "White Section". She did not break that rule seating on the middle of the bus, but if the bus got full and more white passengers got on, any black passenger had to give up his/her seat immediately. Rosa didn't. Of course, she got arrested and later convicted of violating the laws of segregation, known as “Jim Crow laws.” Rosa appealed her conviction and since she was in the civil rights movement she challenged the legality of segregation. Her arrest influenced an agreement  that black people would boycott the "Montgomery Buses" until fair seating was arranged. Since African Americans made up about 75 percent of the riders in Montgomery, the boycott posed a serious economic threat to the company.

This boycott may seem insignificant if we compare it to all the battles black people had gone through to stand up for their rights.  this simple act of Rosa Parks was fundamental to ignite the Civil Rights Movement. Today we still remember her courage and we are reminded that anyone can make a difference in this world.



http://www.thehenryford.org/exhibits/rosaparks/story.asp 
http://www.rosaparksfacts.com/montgomery-bus-boycott.php 

  Documentary: In Plane Sight (2004)
  
I'm not really infatuated with watching documenteries. However, this documentary had a huge impact on me because it came out 3 years after the events of 9/11, event that shocked a lot of people, including myself. I was in 8th grade and still remember every detail vivdly and how my whole class reunited in an office and watched everything on TV. The following day everybody was talking about the tragedy because nobody understood what happened and how it happened. I remember that our history teacher brought newspapers to the whole class and discussed it with us. The images that were printed are pictures that I haven't forgotten; specifically images about people throwing themselves down are images I will carry in my mind forever.   But nobody understood what was behind this really. Even I kind of got hung up on finding an explanation. Tipically, a lot of theories were told. But on the 5th anniversary (2005) this documentary came up in a class discussion and the professor made copies for all of us. I still keep mine. It talks about conspiracy theories behind the attacks and opens our eyes to evidence and facts that were overlooked or that the government tried to hide. That's why I liked it so much. It helped me question the events and research to find the truth behind it! Watching it may lead you to other possibilities and/or theories, but that's the point: to make you question the facts and maybe make sense into something that never made sense to much of us. 

I actually found that there's a Director's Cut footage on YouTube. Im not sure if it is the original or not but when you get the chance, please watch it. It'll make you think!!!!

  Disney certainly has been a big part of my life and some of my greatest childhood memories can be associated to Disney.... my movie collection (which I still treasure today), my 1st trip to Disney world, my decorations, my pin collection, etc. etc. Yes! Disney is a part of me.

However,  Disney has relied on propaganda to help sell their products. It is only natural. They are not the 1st to do it, so we can't really hold it against them. The question here is.. to what extent?   The documentary "Mickey Mouse Monopoly" brought up questions that most people probably have never asked themselves, mainly because they are blinded by the "magical world of Disney". Even I, a die-hard fan of everything Disney related, have noticed some recurrent themes in movies. For example, one recurrent theme in princesses fairy tales is showing the girl as a damsel in distress that  no matter how strong or intellectual she is, she will always need the presence and help of a man to rescue and complete her. The documentary did a good job explaining the impact that it has on little girls that grow up feeling like they need a prince to rescue them so they can live happily ever after. I mean, deep down, women today still believe that. I've seen it happen and think that is really, really disturbing!! Even MY favorite... Little Mermaid :( shows the submissive role of women who have no voice in a patriarchal society. I know, it is true!!.

These are valid points. But Disney has a special place in my heart for many reasons and I have to defend many valuable memories through three following arguments: FIRST, these factors are only analyzed and scrutinized by adults who know the social implications. Children don't have the malice to see these factors as an issue. As a kid I watched the movies just because I liked them. Like s favorite toy, a favorite movie, or a favorite story. No need to look beyond that. SECOND, why the attack on Disney movies? Most of the classics were written a long time ago in different times in history by different authors, so the stories are not really Disney related. Has anyone read the REAL story about The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen?? Would the movie be as successful if Disney presented the real story? No. Because it is not appealing and it is fantasy after all. LAST but NOT LEAST, are Disney movies the only one with hidden messages that may be harmful for children? Umm.... what about Looney Tunes? Everybody loves them. But how do Bugs Bunny, Daffy, and the others make children laugh? They teach children to be mischievous and the episodes show that it is okay to pull cruel pranks, to be a bully, to steal, to lie, to shoot someone and in some cases to kill, just for the sake of LAUGHTER!!!! So, actually any cartoon or movie our children watch and play with can have a huge impact on their social behavior.