This biographical graphic novel, Rosa Parks (NBM Comics Biographies), starts as a cab driver talks to his passenger about the meaning behind the struggles the black community still faces. But of course, the young man does not realize the past that allowed him to be where he is. And the driver continues to tell the life story of not only Rosa Parks, but the people and events that allowed the path to begin. We follow the memories of the driver as a child as he meets Parks, listening to his parents, and learning of the Bus Boycott. We see how he starts understanding why it is the right and wrong thing to do by giving up your seat on the bus. But also, he learns what it means to be free.
Matteo Mancini and Mariapaola Pesce do not just give us information about Parks, and does not just say, “she was born, she stood up by sitting down, she had/didn’t
have kids, was/wasn’t married, etc.,” but highlights the events that were important. We see how Parks was an everyday person, but a fighter. We see how she spoke up, and how she felt about things like how she was not the first person to say, “I paid for my ticket and I’m staying,” but a young 15-year-old girl named Collette Colvin was, and how she was not the right “look” or background for the NAACP to support publicly. And, of course, there is much more.
The flipping between “now and then” is mostly smooth, though a few bumps now and again, but the artwork helps show this change. The images are dreamy, but you know the images details (though minimal) and the message. The cab ride is set in boldly surreal colors, whereas the past is more realist and softer tones. The illustrations have character and set the tempo and tone of that position.
While maybe not for the sensitive or young reader, but most ages can handle the content and presentation of the work.
