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‘Rosa’s Ride’ takes Bucks pupils to civil rights era

From play, Bedminster youths learn of black woman who held firm.

By Dalondo Moultrie

Of The Morning Call

January 30, 2002

"Rosa’s Ride," a four-person play chronicling the life of Rosa Parks performed Tuesday for pupils at Bedminster Elementary School, provided an added spark for students to uncover their country’s history.

"It showed me to learn about her and what she did with Martin Luther King Jr.," said third-grade student Stephanie Gioia, 8.

Before the play, Stacia Hang gave Stephanie and her fellow third-graders a classroom introduction to the civil rights movement.

Then the play brought to life the story of Parks, an African-American who on Dec. 1, 1955, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a public bus in Montgomery, Ala. Events that followed ended the city’s racial segregation laws.

Flying Ship Productions, the New Jersey theater company that produced the show, performs for younger audiences in about 10 states. Most of its shows are in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, said Jonathan Luks, producer and playwright.

The company stages about seven plays throughout the year, totaling nearly 250 performances, Luks said. Flying Ship generally performs "Rosa’s Ride" near the beginning of the year.

"The show is only available from Martin Luther King’s birthday through the middle of March," Luks said. "It’s geared toward Black History Month through Women’s History Month."

Bedminster Elementary’s Parent Teacher Group funded Tuesday’s performance said Principal Ron Marina. The group thought that "Rosa’s Ride" would benefit the school, Marina said.

"When we saw something that dealt with Rosa Parks, and we always try to sensitize our kids to diversity and how America is a melting pot, we thought this would be very valuable for our kids," he said. "[Bedminster] is not that diverse, which is one of the reasons we do want the kids to get that experience."

Demetrius Kelly said it is her honor to portray Parks in the play. She said she feels privileged to be involved in enlightening students about such an important era.

Jacob Clements, 8, another of Hang’s third-graders, said he enjoyed the play and learned many historical facts.

"With Rosa Parks, I didn’t know all that," Jacob said. "I thought it was cool."