B4 Rosa Here I Stand Analysis

“B4 Rosa – Here I Stand,” “Najee Dorsey.” Claudette Colvin was fifteen-years-old when she refused to give up her bus seat. A young girl living in Montgomery was one of first to come in contact with bus segregation and refuse, but not many people know that. “Black leaders believed her young age, complexion and low social standing did not make for a strong face for the Civil Rights Movement, so her act went largely unrecognized.” (Rushworth) Her age played a huge role in many reasons why she wasn’t as known as Rosa Parks, in her bus refusal. The painting gives off a feeling that it was hard to live in segregation. You can see the look of demoralization on her face. The painting makes you sort of feel the way she was feeling at that time even though we’ll never know her true emotions. The “B4 Rosa – Here I Stand,” uses multiple
The first 10 seats in the front of the bus were for whites only. That was the law and Colvin knew it.” (Kramer) Granted that she knew that, Colvin was still a victim of segregation. Even though she was told to move to another seat and she refused. Hence, her getting positioned off the bus and charged with numerous crimes. Not only was she just trying to get somewhere, she couldn’t get where she was going in peace. In effect, the painting shows the pain. The bus is in the background, even though it’s the most important item in the painting. The bus is pictured darker because that was the place that she encountered the segregation. You also see the darkness coming from off of it to show the unfair treatment. Therefore, Najee Dorsey, painted the picture to show the unjust on her face, all of it comes from what happened on the bus. She was discriminated due to her color. Her refusal may have caused her more charges, but it also gave extra hope to others to not give in to segregation. For the most part, the painting shows that in great