Rosa Parks is a black civil rights activist from Alabama
famous for refusing to give up her seat on a bus. In 1955, while riding the bus
home from work, the driver ordered her to move to the back of the bus so a white
man could have her seat. She refused and was arrested. This led to outrage in
the black community, who boycotted public transportation in the city of
Montgomery. It was a turning point in the US civil rights movement, as after a
year of boycotts, segregation on busses was ruled unconstitutional. During the
boycotts, Martin Luther King Jr. emerged as a leader in the black community, and
was praised for his tactics of peaceful civil disobedience.
The song is about the entertainment industry. Parks is not
actually mentioned in the lyrics and has nothing to do with the song, but she is
referred to in the chorus of "Move to the back of the bus."
Parks sued Outkast over this, claiming it exploited her
image. The case was settled in 2005, with Outkast and their record company
agreeing "To enlighten today's youth about the significant role Rosa Parks
played in making America a better place for all races." Parks was 92 when the
case was settled.
Rosa Parks Sued OutKast
Yep, that is right. Civil rights icon, Rosa Parks, sued music group OutKast
in 2003 for their song “Rosa Parks.”
The US Supreme Court allowed a court ruling that reinstated Ms Parks’ claims,
made in 1999, against OutKast and three Bertelsmann AG companies. Ms Parks said
use of her name without permission was false advertising and infringed on her
right to publicity. It defamed her character and interfered with a business
relationship, she said. Ms Parks is also taking action against LaFace Records,
the record producer, Arista Records and BMG Entertainment, which distributed the
music.
Ms Parks said the album’s ”profanity, racial slurs and derogatory language
directed at women” handicapped her future business dealings, caused emotional
distress and tainted her legacy.
A federal judge dismissed her 1999 lawsuit, saying constitutional free speech
rights under the First Amendment covered the use of Ms Parks’ name.
Although an appeals court upheld the dismissal of the claims of defamation
and interference with a business relationship, it reinstated the rest of the
case. Lawyers for OutKast and the other defendants then appealed to the Supreme
Court, saying the appeals court unconstitutionally allowed public figures to use
trademark and right-of-publicity laws to censor speech. But the Supreme Court
rejected the appeal without comment.
Ms Parks’ 1955 arrest for failing to give up her seat triggered a 381-day bus
boycott that first brought the Rev Martin Luther King Jr to national
attention.
Yep, that is right. Civil rights icon, Rosa Parks, sued music group OutKast in 2003 for their song “Rosa Parks.”
The US Supreme Court allowed a court ruling that reinstated Ms Parks’ claims, made in 1999, against OutKast and three Bertelsmann AG companies. Ms Parks said use of her name without permission was false advertising and infringed on her right to publicity. It defamed her character and interfered with a business relationship, she said. Ms Parks is also taking action against LaFace Records, the record producer, Arista Records and BMG Entertainment, which distributed the music.
Ms Parks said the album’s ”profanity, racial slurs and derogatory language directed at women” handicapped her future business dealings, caused emotional distress and tainted her legacy.
A federal judge dismissed her 1999 lawsuit, saying constitutional free speech rights under the First Amendment covered the use of Ms Parks’ name.
Although an appeals court upheld the dismissal of the claims of defamation and interference with a business relationship, it reinstated the rest of the case. Lawyers for OutKast and the other defendants then appealed to the Supreme Court, saying the appeals court unconstitutionally allowed public figures to use trademark and right-of-publicity laws to censor speech. But the Supreme Court rejected the appeal without comment.
Ms Parks’ 1955 arrest for failing to give up her seat triggered a 381-day bus boycott that first brought the Rev Martin Luther King Jr to national attention.
Rosa Parks settles suit over OutKast CD
Friday, April 15, 2005 Posted: 5:13 AM EDT (0913 GMT)
 |
|
|
Under the settlement, OutKast and co-defendants SONY BMG Music Entertainment, Arista Records LLC and LaFace Records will help develop educational programs to "enlighten today's youth about the significant role Rosa Parks played in making America a better place for all races," according to a written statement.
The groups will work with the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute to promote Parks' legacy.
The settlement in the case that has dragged on for years implies no fault by the defendants, said Archer, former Detroit mayor and Michigan Supreme Court justice.
The 1999 lawsuit alleged defamation and trademark infringement because the Grammy-winning group OutKast used Parks' name without her permission in the song title "Rosa Parks." The chorus is: "Ah-ha, hush that fuss. Everybody move to the back of the bus."
Parks, now 92, made history in December 1955 when she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus. Her arrest triggered a 381-day boycott of the bus system by blacks and led to court rulings desegregating public transportation nationwide.
OutKast contended the song is neither false advertising nor a violation of Parks' publicity rights and is protected by the First Amendment.
According to court records, Parks has suffered from dementia since 2002.
After watching the video clip and reading the articles respond to the question below:
1. Do you think Rosa Parks was a hero or just a lawbreaker?
2. Do you think that the OutKast, video for the song "Rosa Parks" disrespects the legacy of civil rights icon Rosa Parks. Why or why not?
Rosa parks was a hero because her actions was one of the sparks of the civil rights movement. I think that the clip disrespects Rosa parks because she has been through so much and should be left alone during these recent times
ReplyDeleteshe was a hero because her action ignited the civil rights movement.
ReplyDelete1. i think Rosa Parks was a hero. the reason i have came to this is, her refusal to give up her seat led to a major boycott towards public transportation. the reason this is good , is it was the first step towards showing the nation that african americans are ready to be treated equal and fight back for their rights. this also helped Martin Luther King Jr rise up to be the leader in the black community.
ReplyDelete2.i think this song did disrespect the legacy of civil rights icon Rosa Parks because of the simple lyrics "ah ha hush that fuss." the reason i find it disrespectful towards Rosa Parks is it sounds like they are telling her to stop fighting back give in and just move to the back of the bus.
Rosa Parks in my opinion was a hero! She stood up and stood by what she believed in, when most people would not. She even went to the extreme by allowing herself to get arrested for not getting out of her seat on the bus. I think this song does disrespect Rosa Parks because after everything she worked so hard to fight for, and all the things she went through standing by what she believed in. The song seems as if they are telling her to stop fighting for what it is that she believes in.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say Rosa Parks was a hero, but I would not say she is a lawbreaker. Yes she had sat in a seat that was only for whites, but she was tired. I respect her for what she has done but it wasn't like she was fighting for rights, the only thing she was fighting for was the seat she was currently sitting in. As a fellow African American I know that what she did helped the civil rights movement but she didn't do it on purpose to help it just happened to give people the strength and courage to begin to fight for what they wanted.
ReplyDeleteAbdur Atiq -
ReplyDeleteRosa Parks is a hero in my opinion because, her courageous act to refuse to give up her bus seat to a white passenger led to the formation of movements to end segregation and racism in 1955. Rosa Parks is known as a national hero and as a shy girl who stood up against racism and fought for freedom. She had the guts to do something nobody else would do and that proved a lot. She was one of the most inspirational people and still is one of the most inspirational person today.
Rosa Parks was a hero because she stood up for what she believed in and she took risks in order to prove what she thought was morally correct. In my opinion, OutKast disrespected Rosa Park's name because they talked about irrelevant and inappropriate things that tainted her image and associated her with them.
ReplyDeleteI would say Rosa Parks was a hero. She had the courage to do what many people couldn't think about doing. She went to the front of the bus and didn't get up because she felt it was wrong and it was. She inspired people to follow her and stand up for themselves. And Yes I find this song disrespectful because it seem like it told her to stop fighting back. And I don't like that.
ReplyDeleteosa parks was a hero in my opinion. She stood up for what she thought was right. Without her being a brave women I believe that the issue with black and white people on the buses and transportation would still be the same. Someone was obviously going to be brave enough to stand up for what is right sooner or later and that is why I believe Rosa did it because no one was as brave as her. I do think the song disrespects Rosa parks because they are just stating things about rosa parks that must be very offensive to her and what she has done for her and all of us.
ReplyDeleteRosa Parks is a hero. she stood up for what she believed in. she became a leader rather than a follower. Rosa Parks didn't like how society treated African-Americans so she did something about it. i believe this song disrespects Rosa Parks because it doesn't reveal the message about equality and freedom, that she showed.
ReplyDeleteRosa Parks was a hero and still is up until today.She broke the law for all the right reasons. She made history because she refused to give up her seat to a white man and did not listen to the bus driver when he told her to get to the back of the bus. This is very important and inspirational because she is the reason that public transportation are desegregated. It is also very inspirational because she stood up for what she believed in, she could've just simply moved to the back of the bus. For standing up for herself I think she is a strong African American Hero.
ReplyDelete#2.The song Rosa parks by Outlast did disrespect Rosa Parks. I also feel like it was unintentional. Though the song almost had completely had nothing to do with Rosa Parks it still was disrespectful. I say this because in the song they say"Ah Ha, Stop that fuss, Everybody move to the back of the bus". I feel like if you are going to say that in a song elaborate on it, tell people what do you mean by saying that. Rosa probably really felt disrespected because that what the white man on the bus probably told her.
She is a hero because she stood up for what she wanted which was to sit in the front of the bus which started the civil rights movement. Yes I think the song disrespected her legacy because she made a change for the black community she ignited the civil rights movement
ReplyDeleteI think rosa parks was a hero because she stood for what she believed in and since she refused to go to the back of the bus, she improved transportation now for us. I think this song by outkast was disrespectful towards rosa parks because it seemed as if he was telling ms. Parks to just give up and just go to the back of the bus.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteosa parks was definitely a true hero. She started something i think nobody really have the guts to do at that time.
ReplyDeleteOn one hand, i understand why parks felt disrespected by outkast song "rosa parks" due to the fact that they use foul language and inappropriate use of her name. I mean, who wouldnt 'feel some type of way'? But on the other hand, rosa should be happy because she did something people noticed and created songs about it all over. Outkast just used it in the wrong way. So the topic is arguable.
Rosa Parks in my eyes is a hero . She took a stand up so that African Americans can have equal rights. She was a big impact in history that changed the world today . I think Outkast song was very disrespect and portrayed Rosa Park in a wrong way
ReplyDeleteI believe Rosa Parks was a hero because she faught for what she wanted and that was to end racism and segregation. This song is disrespectful in my opinion because they make it seem like what rosa park did was joke and don't take it serious.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Rosa Parks is a hero and she stood up for what she thought was right and it wasn't fair how they were segregating black and white. Rosa Parks is a inspiration and started something big.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the song outcast wasn't the best song and if i was rosa parks i wouldn't think kindly of it. it was rude towards her.
I think rosa parks was a hero becouse she fought for civil right movements.
ReplyDeleteI thinks this song does disrespect rosa park, becouse she worked very hard to fight for civil right movements.
ReplyDeleteRosa park was a hero in my opinion. Because she stood up for what she believed in. But the song was very disrespectful because they were basically making fun of her.
ReplyDeleteRosa Park was a hero not a lawbreaker. I think that the OutKast, video for the song "Rosa Parks" disrespects the legacy of civil rights icon Rosa Parks. It also exploits her image.
ReplyDeleteYes I belive that rosa parks was a hero for what she did, She had went to jail for what she believed in and the song made fun of her historical moment of not giving up her seat.
ReplyDeleteRosa parks was a hero, she stood up for herself in a time period when no other black person would, she was tired from and did not want to sit in the back of the bus. Also this song does disrespect the legacy towards the civil rights movement, I didn't really see any connection in the song.
ReplyDeleteRosa Parks was an extraordinary hero because she stood up against racism and fought for freedom during the civil rights movement. She made a difference in today's society because now we can sit anywhere on the bus.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it states the song had nothing to do with her .... In my opinion, I felt like it did and that the song disrespects Rosa Parks because they use her name in such a foul way that it portrays her image of something that she is not.
Rosa parks was a hero for what she did. She proved her point and motivated the civil rights movement. Yes, she broke the law but the law was unequal and not right for all the citizens.She stood up for what she thought was right.
ReplyDeleteI think this does disrespects rosa parks image and point she was trying to get across. These artist made sitting in the back of the bus some type of joke or party and that isn't what rosa parks was trying to display with her civil disobedience.
ReplyDeleteTruthfully thing rose park is a lawbreaker yes I do think the out kast video was very disrespectful to the legacy civil right they took one one of a very serious moment and made it in to a joke :'(
ReplyDeleteI think in my eyes that Rosa Parks is a hero. She took a major step in history by showing her actions and how racism had to end. She took a stand up so that African Americans can have equal rights. I think that the outkast video shows a disrespectful way of what Rosa Parks actually did for the civil rights movement and demonstrated her in a negative way.
ReplyDeleteWell technically she is a lawbreaker. But she can also be classified a as a hero. She stuck to what was the right thing and that was to not let the people treat her like dirt.
ReplyDeleteRosa Parks stood up for her rights as an American citizen. She wanted to be treated equally. She did what she had to by breaking an unjustice law she changed and touched many lives. Rosa Parks was an inspiration to many Americans for her confidence and bravery to do such a thing. This video disrespects everything Rosa Parks lived and risked her life for. I am dissapointed that some artists today dont realize how important she is to African American history. She took a big step to change the ways Americans lived.
ReplyDeletei think that she was not exactly a hero but instead someone who stud up for what she believed in despite the fact that it got her through in jail and anyone who would rather do jail time then let someone take advantage of them has a lot of pride and deserves respect. i do think that this music video has tarnished everything that Rosa Parks stood for and that its vulgarity only contradicts what she did in the first place.
ReplyDelete1.rosa parks is a hero to the civil rights time because she was tired of all the oppression that was a civil disobedience stand against the rascit time. 2 the song was disrespectful because it made it made it feel like what rosa parks was fighting for was cool but it is not that's a shame.
ReplyDeleteI would consider Rosa Parks a hero. She stood up for what she believed in. She helped motivate the civil rights movement. She wanted all people to he treated equally. I do think the video by Outkast was disrespectful towards Rosa parks. It made a joke out of her actions .
ReplyDeleteI consider Rosa Parks to a hero. She's a hero because she stood up to what was wrong with society at that time, Which was having to give up your seat for whites. She knew black or white that everybody is the same. So she eventually got tired of it and stood up to what was wrong with society, even though she knew she'd end up in jail.
ReplyDeleteThe song Rosa Parks by OutKast was disrespectful towards Rosa Parks because it made her seem like somebody she isn't. They illegally used her name, and made her name known in the rap/hip-hop culture which isn't that great of a culture in certain people's eyes, so I can see why this would've affected some of her business meetings.
I think Rosa Parks was a hero in my opinion. Most people would not even attempt to try and do what she did. What she did led to a major boycott towards public transportation and was a major spark to the Civil Rights Movement. I think video for the song "Rosa Parks" disrespects the legacy of civil rights icon Rosa Parks. I say that because it sounds like they are telling her to stop fighting and just get on the back of the bus.
ReplyDeleteRosa Parks is without a doubt a hero. She was brave and strong enough to act how she wanted. Despite being an African American Woman in those times, she was strong and did what she thought was right. It takes a strong courageous person to stand up for what they truly believe in, and even more so to go against the tide of society. Being on the outside can be just as good as being with the crowd. The video did disrespect her because it wasnt said from HER point of view. It was said by someone else, who didnt expirience it. The video is a mockery.
ReplyDeleteI would say Rosa Parks is a hero because the white man would always look for away to make an African American useless, although she did break the law it was for a good cause and it started the civil rights movement. It's very inspirational because not many people would have the courage to do what Rosa Parks did.
ReplyDeleteThe song outlast did was utterly disrespectful and it damaged her legacy because what the song said" don't make a fuss move to the back of the bus" that crossed the line because she started the civil rights movement.
Rosa Parks is more of an icon because she stranded up for what she beloved in and did what she thought was right. She's seen as a hero and fought for what she thought was right.
ReplyDeleteRosa parks fought for everyones rights by fighting for her own. This made her a hero since she was in jail for a long time. This song makes her look like a jawbreaker since it doesn't show exactly what she did. She caused many more boycotts and was a great cause in which why blacks got equality
ReplyDeleteRosa parks is a true hero. She stood up to the racism by sitting in the front of the bus, where only white people can sit.this proves bravery for an African American women
ReplyDeleteRosa Parks was a hero because she stood up for what she believed in. In my opinion, OutKast disrespected Rosa Park's.
ReplyDeleteRoss parks was and still is looked up to as a hero in my opinion. I say this bcause she stood up for what she believed in and she did why she thought was right at the end of the day. The video did disrespect her because they were making fun of the way she did it and why she did it.
ReplyDeleteRosa was hero for standing up for herself
ReplyDeleteRosa parks was both a her and a lawbreaker. Rosa parks broke the law because she sat in a whites only section of the bus. But she is a hero because she stood up for what she believed in which affected the black communitea during her time period. What she did is helping people in todays present day society.
ReplyDeleterosa parks was a hero and a leader she led people to follow her beilefs and protest , and this video is a great response to the civil rights activist
ReplyDeleteRosa parks is a hero because she stood up for what she believed in against what she felt was unfair and wrong , in my opinion outkast disrespected her
ReplyDeleteRosa Parks became an icon for equality when she refused to relinquish her seat on the bus in 1955. Whether or not she was a "hero" per say for simply standing her ground, I can't say, but she did trigger an uprising in the black community which helped to advance their civil rights. She definitely has some weight to her name, and OutKast's use of it seems disrespectful when you look at the state of the music video. Though the lyrics do bring up some interesting aspects of being bridled by the convictions of the past and if you interpret them a certain way, the song leaves a message of "we have to stop looking at the past as our model, and though I'm glad I'll never have to suffer so harshly for my rights I shouldn't need to be held up to that example." They're trying to enforce the idea that no person, despite their racial background, should be put under the cookie-cutter stigma expected of them, and I think Rosa Parks was wrong to prosecute them for using her name as a clever connection for a worthwhile message.
ReplyDeleteTo me Rosa Parks is a hero because she stood up for what she believed in and also she showed bravery for the African American people and because of her cause of not getting up out of her seat, the effect was that she got arrested and fought through to get equal rights as white people and outcast disrespect her because they made it seem like if she was ignorant and try to put negative impact on her
ReplyDeleteI believe that rosa parks was a hero! Because she stood up for what she believed in and could care less what anybody else had to say about it. She fought for our rights to sit where ever we felt like it on the bus. That was also one of the things that caused the civil rights movement. I think the video definitely disrespects rosa parks because she has been through so much! For us as African Americans and they are just finding the negative out of it. She even got arrested for us just to prove to them she won't stop till she got what she wanted and for us to be able to sit in the front, back, middle wherever!
ReplyDeleteI think rosa parks is a hero because it's because of her and other civil rights leaders that just couldn't stay quiet nomore to the rude and disrespect we was getting . I feel even tho it was jus her name used they should have got her permission to use it and the way they sung the song made her have another image to her name .
ReplyDeleteRosa Parks is a black civil rights activist from Alabama, famous for refusing her seat on the bus In 1955 coming home from work. she refused and was arrest for not letting the white mam sit in the front of the bus, where she was sitting before he came.
ReplyDeleteRosa parks is a hero because if it wasn't for her we would of never had segregation. What Rosa Parks did influenced Martin Luther King Jr along the way. she fought for civil rights movement. I do think that this song was disrespectful towards her legacy because, it sounds as if they just wanted her to follow the rules and move to the back of the bus and not fight for whats right. The verse i think that says this is when they say, " ah ha hush that fuss".
ReplyDelete