Seated on a 1950’s replica bus, I am following Mrs. Parks.

It’s 60 years now: wrapped in the embrace of Rosa Parks and Muhammad Ali

Activist Rosa Parks held onto me in a lingering maternal embrace. As our hearts beat next to each other, I became lost in the hug. At the time, in 1988, she was 75 years old and slight in build. I was 23 and fit. Yet, hers was the more powerful grip—one that defied her age. 

The nearby street sounds faded that day in Tuskegee, Alabama. So did the laughter of uniform-wearing school children who were standing by to honor one of the signature Black women in history, world history. Her motherly cocoon insulated me from all distractions. When I emerged back into consciousness and my role of professional journalist, I realized I might have stepped over a boundary in asking Mrs. Parks to accept my hug. I loosened my arms from around her body, but she continued to hold me. (Click the tab - at left - to read how Ali helps me enter TV sports reporting.)

Now decades later, the thump-thump of her heartbeat and the smoothness of her check against mine remain with me. I feel honored by her extended attention. In those moments, Mrs. Parks transferred something to me. Part of it is the necessity of attacking barriers.

Mrs. Parks spent seventy of her 92 years doing social-justice work. I know I am supposed to follow her focus on voting, education, and workplace equality. I attack by helping people write their stories to bring out empathy to get him/her/them better treatment.

It’s your turn; what’s your story about job justice?

• Did you receive the advancements you deserved OR

• Were micro-aggressions and disrespect the routine?

Would you please share a story? I’m working toward Listen to Others as you would have them listen to you® so we can grow to understand each. You can read about the “economic lynching of my career,” a term I coined and explain in Civil Rights Baby: My Story of Race, Sports, and Breaking Barriers in American Journalism.

Change agents, unite.

“Nita is a tour de force of a human being.”—Todd Brown, PhD, Founder, The Inspire Project

“Nita Wiggins taught us that we can do anything we put our minds to despite the obstacles or unfair treatment that may come our way.”—Carmesha Blackmon, Bennett College