I thoroughly enjoyed the Dr Who episode “Rosa” which focused on an encounter with Rosa Parks. I have to confess that I was a little worried it would take something away from her famous bus protest, but this didn’t happen. Rosa Parks was clearly the one at the centre of the action and it was she, rather than the Doctor, who remained the hero of the story.
Rosa Parks is rightly regarded as a key person in the history of civil rights, but people often forget that her action was part of a larger movement. She had been the secretary of the Montgomery Chapter of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) since 1943 and had been involved in various actions and investigations. In the summer of 1955 she attended leader training with the Highlander Folk School and was mentored by a veteran organizer.
Like Neil Armstrong, there was a huge machine behind her which made her act of courage possible. She was not the first person to refuse to leave her seat, but she was the person selected by the NAACP for their legal challenge. Without the support of a wider group of organised people, her action would have been forgotten by history…
One of the most powerful moments in the Doctor Who episode, is when the Doctor realises that she needs to stay on the bus. She and her friends need to be on the bus so that the Driver has a reason to ask Rosa to move. The Doctor has to sit on her hands, keep silent and allow Rosa to speak for herself. Rosa is the one who can make a difference. The Doctor can only make a fuss…
Clergy and community organisers need to remember that our role is not to be the hero. Our job, like the Doctor, is often to step back and let others have their voice. The task is to be the support team who keep the focus where it needs to be.
Neil Armstrong wouldn’t have got to the Moon without an army of engineers. Rosa Parks would not have changed history without organised people behind her. We can find and support new heroes who will make a difference in our cities and communities… The world needs more people like Rosa – and more people who are prepared to step back and let them shine!
