NFTA honors civil rights icon Rosa Parks during Black History Month

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — All month long, WIVB News 4 will be celebrating Black History Month.

We’re focusing on a special recognition from the NFTA, which is honoring legendary civil rights activist Rosa Parks.

The NFTA is honoring Parks with a seat that’s reserved for her.

For the first time, on every bus and paratransit bus you’ll find a sign that’s located near the front honoring Rosa Parks and her contribution to the Civil Rights movement in her courageous actions in 1955 in the Montgomery Bus Boycott to not go to the back of the bus. It’s a decision that cost her her freedom and her job.

This is something that other transportation agencies are doing across the state in Albany and New York City as well.

“We’ve come a long way. African Americans have come a long way in this country,” said James Morrell, director of public transit for the NFTA. “But I think what’s more important is to make sure that we teach the younger kids what happened in the past — not just what they read, but some symbol. And I think this is a great symbol.”

Returning again this year is the NFTA’s Black History Month art contest, a platform given to local artists. Last month, the NFTA unveiled this year’s winner, Jalen Law. Law’s work will cover a bus all year long and can also be seen at bus shelters.

“We’re trying to think of ways on how we could celebrate Black History Month in a really big way and also engage the community and we thought, you know what, we have some really great local artists here,” said Crystal Edwards, NFTA customer relations manager.

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Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. See more of his work here.

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