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I've posted about this before but Rosa Parks lived long enough to sue OutKast in 1999 over their use of her name in their song 'Rosa Parks'.
Per the link it isn't clear if she wanted to sue or if it was her caretaker and legal representation. I really hope it wasn't her idea.
Looks like her family didn't think it was her choice so I'ma take that at face value.
Huh, I never read too much into it but it definitely sounds like that might be the case.
This Billboard article from the time of the 2005 legal settlement mentions:
"The settlement ends a legal dispute that some of Parksâ own relatives had criticized, saying she wouldnât have minded the use of her name in the song âRosa Parksâ had she not been mentally impaired. "
...
"After that lawsuit was filed, some of Parksâ relatives began questioning her well-being and the actions of her caretaker and the lawyers who filed the suit, and alleged she is probably unaware of the lawsuits."
So perhaps while she did technically live long enough to sue OutKast, she was suffering from dementia at the time and it's possible that she was unaware of the actions taken in her name.
The more you know!
It really shouldn't be TOO surprising, but she was a bit of a fighter. Particularly when it came to her civil rights in most matters, but also in reguard to her own name and likeness.
I was around for all of this, and I know this. But it still seems very strange.