Rosa Parks, symbol of civil rights struggle, set to win long battle

[emad]

Rosa Parks, symbol of civil rights struggle, set to win long battle to reclaim her name
By Andrew Buncombe in Washington
02 January 2005


A long-running legal battle between Rosa Parks, the civil rights era icon, and the hip-hop duo Outkast may be coming to an end.

Lawyers for both sides hope a deal may be reached following settlement talks with a mediator. Mrs Parks, now aged 91 and suffering from dementia, may not even be aware she is involved in a legal tussle.

The dispute relates to a 1998 song, "Rosa Parks", which made an oblique reference to the former seamstress's historic act when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. Her action and subsequent arrest triggered a 381-day boycott of the buses by the city's black population and helped spark the national civil rights movement.

The lyrics to the song, written by the band's two members, Big Boi and Andre 3000, includes the refrain "Ah ha, hush that fuss, everybody move to the back of the bus" but, other than the title, makes no direct reference to Mrs Parks.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=597252

[NJCher]

1. I'm sorry to hear Rosa Parks has Alzheimers

I just watched a movie about her the other day.


Cher

[supernova]

2. Awww, how sad

So sorry for Miss Rosa. :-( But I can't see how her lawyer would have a case, since the song doesn't directly mention her. They were obviously smart about that.

Still, it's disheartening to hear she's having money troubles.

[quaoar]

3. I didn't understand her complaint until I read this

Mrs Parks's lawyers sued in 1999, claiming she had not given permission for her name to be used and that the song's title amounted to false advertising.

Her lawyer, Gregory Reed, claimed Mrs Parks, who lives in Detroit, was particularly upset because the song used the word "nigga" and included coarse descriptions of sex.

And then the story goes on to talk about the financial problems of her foundation and how she fell $5,000 behind in rent for her apartment.

It looks like this is being driven by family members with an agenda.

[melnjones]

4. The article says

that at least most of the family members are against the lawsuit, so I wonder who is really feuling this thing.

[KDLarsen]

5. Someone who's after the money, perhaps?

Seeing that mrs. Parks may not live for much longer, and since I guess that her medical bills might take a big toll, perhaps some members of her family wants to make sure they get a bit of money?

[nine23]

6. The song in question was called "Rosa Parks".

It's her name and she has a right to protect it's use. If I had only this one story to go by (which I don't - I'm familiar with the case), I would say the family is not only justified but sincere in their lawsuit.