Theresa Burroughs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Theresa Burroughs
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1929 |
| Died | May 22, 2019 Greensboro, Alabama, U.S.
|
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Activist |
Theresa Burroughs (born 1929 – died May 22, 2019) was an important person in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. This movement worked to get equal rights for all people, especially for African Americans. Theresa Burroughs helped make sure that Black people in Alabama and other Southern states could vote.
Contents
Who Was Theresa Burroughs?
Theresa Burroughs was a brave activist who fought for fairness. She believed everyone should have the right to vote. She was known for her courage and her work in her community.
Fighting for Voting Rights
In 1965, Theresa Burroughs joined other people who were marching for civil rights. They tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. This march was very important for voting rights. During this event, she was attacked and arrested by police. This showed how difficult it was to gain equal rights back then.
The Safe House Museum
Theresa Burroughs started the Safe House Black History Museum. It is in Greensboro, Alabama. This museum is very special because it was once a secret hiding place. In 1968, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was hidden there. He needed to be safe from the Ku Klux Klan during his visit to Alabama. Theresa Burroughs hid him in her mother's home. This house was right next to her beauty shop.
Her Life and Legacy
Theresa Burroughs was a cosmetologist. She owned a beauty parlor called "In Beauty's Care." She opened it a few years before she hid Dr. King. She was also a childhood friend of Coretta Scott King, Dr. King's wife. Theresa Burroughs' parents were Mattie and Napoleon Turner. She passed away on May 25, 2019, in Greensboro, Alabama. She was 89 years old. Her work helped change history and made a difference for many people.
