New Photos Reveal Hidden Layers of Rosa Parks

Newly surfaced photographs from the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march are illuminating previously unseen aspects of Rosa Parks' influential role in the Civil Rights Movement. These images, captured by acclaimed photographer Matt Herron, depict Parks participating in the historic five-day, 54-mile trek, an event pivotal to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This release offers a crucial reminder that Parks' activism was a continuous thread, woven throughout the movement long before and after her defining act of defiance on a Montgomery bus.

The collection, discovered on a contact sheet at Stanford University, includes images that were not previously printed or exhibited by Herron. Unlike the iconic photos of her defiant stand, these newer pictures show Parks engaging with fellow activists and everyday people, some taken from angles or moments that were initially overlooked. The photographs are now being shared with communities connected to the events, aiming to reconnect the work with the descendants and participants of the era, providing a tangible link to their families' history.

Among those featured is Doris Wilson, who was photographed receiving medical attention during the march for blisters incurred from extensive walking. The reunion of Wilson with Dr. June Finer, who treated her feet decades ago, highlights the deeply personal connections forged during these struggles. These rediscovered images serve as powerful validation, bringing to light the contributions of individuals whose stories often remain in the background of transformative historical narratives.