Rosa Parks leaves a legacy

To measure the impact of Rosa Parks, try this: See if you can find a segment of high art or popular culture in which she hasn’t served as an inspiration.

Her landmark role in the civil rights movement has been interpreted by musicians, poets, authors, filmmakers and modern artists.

She wasn’t always happy with the references made to her. The Outkast song “Rosa Parks” prompted a lawsuit on her behalf, while jokes about her in the movie “Barbershop” spurred a testy debate.

But that’s what happens when you’re a pop-culture figure. People can’t stop talking about you.

“As Americans, we all recognize the importance of what she’s done,” said Cecilia Donohue, head of the English and communication arts department at Madonna University in Livonia, Mich. “It’s going to be remembered and interpreted by all sorts of people.”

Parks, who defied authorities by refusing to move to the back of a Montgomery, Ala., city bus in 1955, died Monday at age 92.

She was played by Angela Bassett in a TV movie about her life, “The Rosa Parks Story” (2002).

Countless documentaries, such the acclaimed PBS series “Eyes on the Prize” (1987), have included footage of her. She even appeared as herself on the CBS drama “Touched by an Angel” in an episode dealing with racism.

The Neville Brothers had a song, “Sister Rosa,” on their 1989 album, “Yellow Moon.”

Earlier this year, a lengthy, complicated lawsuit was settled concerning the use of her name by Outkast. Although the song isn’t about Parks, its chorus includes the lines: “Hush that fuss, everybody move to the back of the bus.”

As part of the suit’s resolution, more tributes to Parks will be produced, including an educational TV special and a CD featuring songs by Outkast and other artists.

In 2003, Parks stayed away from the NAACP Image Awards because she was upset about comments made in “Barbershop,” one of the nominated films.

In the comedy, an outspoken character played by Cedric the Entertainer complains about Parks becoming famous for doing nothing but sitting down.

Some positive things came out of discussions generated by the “Barbershop” flap, according to Khary Kimani Turner, founder of Detroit’s Black Bottom Collective band.

“I think the good thing was it opened up the door to a lot of discussion between the civil rights generation and the hip-hop generation,” Turner said.