Rosa Parks and I: Women Who Eat Cake for Breakfast by Kaci

Rosa Parks and I: Women Who Eat Cake for Breakfast by Kaci - October 2021 Scholarship Essay

One of the most monumental lessons I have learned in my life so far is the power of one’s voice, and the strength it takes to stand up for yourself and challenge societal norms. A historical figure who embodies this trait is Rosa Parks, the First Lady of Civil Rights, who refused to give up her seat to a white man in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Society expects for minorities to stand back and allow elites to walk all over them, forcing the idea of “staying in your place.” Rosa Parks was not only discriminated against due to her race, she was also viewed as weak and subordinate to her male counterparts. She demonstrates the courage it takes to challenge not only racism, but also feminism. This bravery is inspiring, and her confidence pushes me to want better not only for myself, but for all of those who feel stuck in social injustice.
Rosa Parks taught me that it is crucial to stand up for ourselves. If we do not challenge societal norms, nothing will change. Her defiant act exemplifies that not only is it okay to revolt against stereotypes, it is admirable and absolutely necessary. This motivated me to fulfill a new motto in my own life, one that I call: “Eat Cake for Breakfast.” This is also the title of the Ted Talk that I perform in the talent portion of pageantry. People don’t expect you to eat dessert for breakfast, in fact, some would frown on this action. My main message is to do the unexpected and challenge social standards, encouraging others to find their passion and chase their dreams without fear of failure or disappointing others.
I believe Rosa Parks is the epitome of this notion, and perhaps was the original embodiment of someone who ate cake for breakfast— a champion of defying societal experiences and altering her expected pathway in life. Although I live this out on a much smaller scale than Rosa, I like to parallel our perspective, aligning our intentions of changing the way society functions, removing derogatory stereotypes, and truly standing strong in our beliefs. I guess you could say Rosa Parks gathered the ingredients, and enabled me to bake my cake and feed my message to so many people. Together, through eating cake for breakfast, we can be more like Rosa— resilient, confident, and revolutionary.