Those who attended the annual Rosa Parks Breakfast on Saturday morning not only got a tasty meal, but also learned a lot about the civil rights leader and the civil rights movement.

The breakfast was hosted by the Greater Mt. Triumph Missionary Baptist Church, and the keynote speaker was Dr. Ullysses McBride, president emeritus of Reid State College. Dr. Reginald Sykes, president of Alabama Southern Community College, introduced McBride.

In his remarks, McBride noted that Rosa Parks was influenced by the writings of Confucius, a Chinese philosopher who lived more than 500 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.

“The statement that she felt impacted her the most was when Confucius wrote, ‘You’ve got to know when to say when,’” McBride said.

McBride noted that Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat to a white passenger was one example of when it was finally time to “say when.”

“I can see her saying, ‘Not today, Mr. bus driver, not today,’” he said.

Zickeyous Byrd, an educational specialist with the Alabama State Board of Education, served as the master of ceremony. Byrd is also a former principal of Escambia County High School.

“I count myself more than blessed to have the opportunity to
share this day with you,” he said.

While McBride recounted the story of Parks through the word, another speaker told the story through song and costume.

LaShanda Marshall, a member of the Psi Omicron Omega chapter of the Alpha Kappa Sorority, dressed up as Parks and told her biography through a mixture of spoken word and songs.

“I was not physically tired,” said Marshall, as Parks. “I was tired of giving in.”

Marshall used several spirituals and songs, such as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Victory Is Mine!” to add color to the history lesson.

Other speakers who participated in the breakfast included Dr. Anthony Morris, the principal at Escambia County Middle School; Rev. Alphonzia Williams Sr., pastor at Mt. Nebo Missionary Baptist Church in Monroeville; Mona Simmons, human resources transportation director with the Escambia County Schools; Rev. Willie Hawthorne, pastor of Greater Mt. Triumph Missionary Baptist Church; Bishop Willie Williams, pastor of Jones Street Holiness Church; Latrice Bush, administrator at ECMS; Rev. Robert Davis, pastor of Mt. Gillard Baptist Church; Lillie Johnson, the breakfast’s principal founder and organizer; Teresa Dees and Atmore Mayor Jim Staff.