Reference no: EM133301105
Assignment:
Read this account of Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks' actions on December 1, 1955 regarding bus driver James Blake's demand that she give up her seat to a white passenger:
Rosa Parks had finished her day's work and was returning home. Around 6:00 pm, she boarded a Montgomery city bus, and took a seat in the "colored" section in the middle of the compartment. During the route, the front seats reserved for white people filled up. When the bus reached its third stop, several white passengers boarded. Seeing that all the "whites only seats" were filled, the driver moved the "colored section" sign behind the row where Parks and several other blacks were seated and demanded that they give up their seats and move further back. Parks recalled the driver as saying, "Y'all better make it light on yourselves and let me have those seats." She later described her reaction to the driver's demand, "When that white driver stepped back toward us, when he waved his hand and ordered us up and out of our seats, I felt a determination cover my body like a quilt on a winter night."
Three of the black passengers complied with the driver's orders. Parks said, "The driver wanted us to stand up......, but I didn't." Instead she moved to a window seat; The driver then asked, "Why don't you stand up?" To which Parks replied, "I don't think I should have to stand up." When Blake realized that Parks had no intention of moving, he asked again if she were going to stand up. Parks responded, 'No, I'm not.' Blake said, 'Well, if you don't stand up, I'm going to have to call the police and have you arrested.' To which Parks answered, 'You may do that.
In a word post:
1. What are the two formulations of Kant's Categorical Imperative.
2. Discuss how Rosa Parks' actions applied both forms of the Categorical imperative in solving the ethical dilemma of discrimination.