The following biography is one in a series of "My Hero Essays" written by students at Miami Lakes Middle School. Special thanks to teacher and web mentor Lottie Simms, Mrs. Ball, band director, and Mrs. Mayland, computer education teacher.

by Yasir K.

My hero is an extraordinary person because she stood up against racism and stood up for herself. This story started on a hot sunny day in 1955 in the southern part of the U.S. Rosa Parks was on her way to the bus stop. When she arrived on the bus she put her money in the slot and sat in the front of the bus. Back then black people were not supposed to sit in the front; they were supposed to sit in the back of the bus. The bus driver told her to move to the back but she refused to move. The driver called the police and they arrested her.

The next day Raymond, her husband, went to pick her up from jail. When they got home, Rosa spoke about her time in jail. She had stood up to drink water and the guard told her the drinking fountain was only for white people. This made her furious. This is why Rosa Parks is my hero.