Rosa Parks was an African American civil rights activist known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Born on February 4, 1913, in Alabama, she became a symbol of the civil rights movement when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in 1955. Parks' act of defiance sparked a year-long boycott of the city's bus system, leading to the eventual desegregation of buses in Montgomery. She continued her activism throughout her life, fighting for equality and justice until her passing in 2005. Rosa Parks remains a revered figure in American history for her courage and dedication to the advancement of civil rights.