Segregation was very prevalent during this time. Whites and Blacks had different churches, schools, stores, elevators and even drinking fountains. Places often had signs saying "For Colored Only" or "For Whites Only". The bus system was set up where blacks would sit at the back of the buses while whites would sit at the front. Blacks would have to give up their seats if whites came on the bus and there were no seats available. Also, if there were seats available at the front blacks were not allowed to sit in them.
Rosa was deeply affected by the unfair treatment of blacks and the unfair and rigid justice system that existed. Racism, dementia, the splitting up of her parents, being arrested and memories of her grandfather holding a shotgun when the KKK came up their street also impacted on Rosa.(http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_were_some_challenges_Rosa_Parks_that_she_had_to_overcome). In fact, she had to live with racism and was scared of the members of the KKK who had burned down black school houses and churches. Rosa and her husband Raymond were adamant that they had to do something about it. Consequently, they joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Crucial Experiences, episodes, pre-occupations and challenges
Fighting for Equal Rights
Rosa is known as the “first lady of civil rights” in American history. (http://msmagazine.com/blog/2013/02/04/happy-100th-birthday-revolutionary-rosa-parks/) Rosa and her husband believed that all persons should be treated equally irrespective of their colour and so knowing that the Freedom train was not supposed to be segregated she took a group on the train and had them join the same line as the white