She Sat Down to Take a Stand
By Barbara Tortorella

Rosa Parks was a tiny African American woman who was fed up the injustices against her people. She took a courageous stand when she refused to move to the back of the bus. She was tired of what was done to her during her whole life.

She was scared and afraid but she wouldn’t move. Her action awakened a nation as well as the world. For 381days African Americans boycotted buses.
Who will awaken our nation to the plight of our elders? Who will be the hero for our seniors? Seniors need a strong voice. No senior should have to struggle to pay for medications or to pay the cost of heating their home.

People who care for seniors should be paid well. Why should an athlete be paid millions of dollars? When my mother had her stroke and was in a nursing/rehab home for four months, I saw how hard the staff worked. Many worked double shifts so they could make ends meet. It’s not right. Our values are way off.

Rosa Parks stayed seated because she was fed up. So I say to seniors, “Are you fed up?” Do you have the strength and organizing capacity to make a strong stand? Can you, as a community, stand together and like Rosa Parks, not be moved? You need a community wide effort to succeed.

Don’t let fear be your guide. Find the courage and fortitude to speak up and change things for you and for future generations of seniors.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Barbara Tortorella is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with C.A.R.E., LLC and a motivational speaker. You may call Barbara at (781) 659-1393 or email her at MSHoboken@aol.com.