Political Women Honor Rosa Parks at Gala

She stood up for her rights by staying seated. When Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus in 1955, she helped prod the black citizens of Montgomery, Ala., into protest and became one of the first symbols of the civil rights movement.

Friday night, Parks received the second Barbara Jordan Award from the Hollywood Women’s Political Committee at a gala dinner. Chaired by Anthea Sylbert, the gala was attended by film industry professionals, celebrities and politicians like Jordan, California Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp and Los Angeles City Councilman Zev Yaroslavsky.

Parks, 76, was sanguine. At a presupper photo opportunity, event organizers--who privately had expressed concern about her age--seemed relieved at the energy and vigor of the woman who is called “the mother of the civil rights movement” by the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Asked what she thought was lacking in today’s civil rights movement, Parks had immediate answers: “We can’t focus on just one thing. We have to bring every aspect together. Economic relief. Dedication. Political power. A combination of faith and a belief in not giving up. These are very challenging times, and they may get worse. I hope not.”

Singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett began the dinner with an a capella version of “Amazing Grace.”

Actress Alfre Woodard made opening remarks, then turned the stage over to Randy Newman, who performed four songs for the predominantly white crowd that packed the dining room of the Regent Beverly Wilshire.

(Regarding the racial makeup of the guests--especially in light of the fact that the group’s premier of “A Dry White Season” last month drew more of a mixed audience--women’s committee member Lynda Palevsky conceded it was a continuing problem: “We have to draw in more blacks but I’m not quite sure how we’re going to go about it.” She speculated that “A Dry White Season” might have attracted more black film professionals because of its subject, apartheid.)

“L.A. Law” actress Jill Eikenberry was next, introducing the evening’s host, Burt Lancaster. She spoke of his continuing commitment to the Southern California branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Referring to Parks, Lancaster said, “Nothing scares the government more than a better idea. And politicians have a name for people like this. They call us un-American. “

The keynote speaker was former Texas congresswoman Barbara Jordan, whose oratorical style is undimmed by her confinement to a wheelchair.

Freedom--its definition, its meaning--was the focus of Jordan’s speech. “What is it? Is it a gift? Is it a right? Can you lose it? Can you get it back?” she asked, in the stentorian tones of one who could be addressing Congress, the Yale Law School or the congregation of a church.

Referring to Parks’ jail sentence, Jordan made her point: “Freedom was not forfeited, but her liberty was detained. When the people govern, they must be free to challenge the governors.”

Produced by the women’s committee, a film relived the Montgomery bus boycott and the march on Washington. There were scenes showing the presence of the Ku Klux Klan, shots of blacks being repelled by police dogs and fire hoses, and taped congratulatory remarks by Jackson, former President Jimmy Carter, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), politician Andrew Young, entertainers Whoopi Goldberg and Harry Belafonte and others.

When Parks finally took the stage, she received a sustained standing ovation.

“I have lived the scenes you have witnessed,” she told the crowd. “I have also lived through and witnessed others just as atrocious, just as oppressive, just as humiliating as you have seen.”

The evening concluded with Parks’ admonishment to neither forget nor dwell on the past, followed by Patti LuPone’s rendition of “America the Beautiful.”