Recently uncovered archival photos by the late civil-rights photographer Matt Herron are now seeing the light of day — revealing Rosa Parks walking in the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting-rights march alongside countless fellow activists. Once tucked away on old contact sheets, the images have been donated to the Rosa Parks Museum and made public, giving us an up-close, grassroots look at one of the movement’s most powerful journeys for freedom.
Beyond the Bus Boycott: A Fuller Picture of Resistance
For many, Rosa Parks is forever tied to the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott. But these photos broaden the narrative, reminding us that Parks — and thousands like her — sustained decades of activism. The images capture men, women, and children walking in solidarity; their faces marked by determination, hope, and shared purpose.
Taken from contact sheets long stored away, the frames were never published — until now. Their release adds texture, humanity, and renewed context to civil rights history. Suddenly, the Movement feels less distant. It feels alive.
Why This Matters Today
Our understanding of civil rights history often centers on singular events or iconic images. But history was built by communities. These photos democratize memory — underscoring that movements are collective, not just led by celebrated figures.
In an era of renewed voting-rights debates and racial justice activism, revisiting these images can help draw lines between past struggles and present fights. They serve as both education and inspiration, particularly for youth who might feel disconnected from mid-20th-century history.
See The Photos
Read more and see the photos via Associated Press here!
Uptown Sunday celebrates Rosa Parks not simply as a symbol of resistance, but as a whole woman whose courage stretched far beyond a single moment on a bus. These newly released images remind us that the Movement lived in everyday people, and we uplift Parks as a testament to the quiet strength that still fuels our push for justice today.
