Dec. 1 – Rosa Parks Day: What are you doing with your seat on the bus

Opinion

Seventy years ago, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus. One seat. One quiet act that spoke louder than a thousand speeches. Her courage helped ignite a movement that reshaped a nation.

But her question isn’t just history: What are you doing with your seat on the bus?

As we mourn the loss of Community Leader and Apostle Derek Kelly, I find myself asking this question. Kelly helped co-found the Focus on Leadership program that prepared civic leaders to serve on the board with the support of Davidson Vision. I had the honor of being a leader in that program and working to create a curriculum for the program. He also served on a number of community boards, including what used to be the Lexington Housing Community Development Corporation, while I served as Executive Director. Kelly was also brave enough to run for County Commissioner.

Candidate filing begins today!

In 1998, Bishop Kelly connected to the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship under the leadership of Bishop Paul S. Morton. Bishop Kelly was appointed as the Director of Christian Education for the Northwest District & Director of Christian Education for the State of North Carolina. In December of 2005, Bishop Kelly was selected a Bishop-Designate, and in September of 2006, Bishop Kelly was duly consecrated as a Bishop in the Lord’s Church by His Eminence, Bishop Nathan J. Anderson. In August of 2016, Bishop Kelly was affirmed as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ by Apostolic Father, ArchBishop Ralph L. Dennis of Baltimore, MD. Bishop Kelly is the Chief Celebrant and CEO of Kingdom Impact Ministries Apostolic Network, Inc.

According to the church website Bishop Kelly received an Associate of Arts Degree in Biblical Studies from the Full Gospel Baptist College and completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion and Philosophy from Shaw University, graduating summa cum laude. Bishop Kelly completed Masters of Religion classes at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.

Kelly was certified as a teacher with the state of North Carolina teaching Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies. Bishop Kelly was married to Pastor Kimerely Darlene Kelly. She is the leader of the Women’s Ministry and Leading Lady of New Faith FGFC Salisbury and Lexington, and the Elect Lady of Kingdom Impact Ministries Apostolic Network. Together, they have three children: Marcus, Derius (Kenya), and Charity, along with two grandchildren: Reign and Kearston. Funeral arrangements are pending and we are asked to keep his family in prayer.

Today, in Davidson County and across the country, children in our community are still fighting for their seats—though the bus has changed. It isn’t always about segregation signs or separate water fountains anymore. It’s about access: access to quality schools, to after-school programs, to nutritious food, to healthcare, to safety in neighborhoods where opportunity shouldn’t be optional.

Every day, some of these kids are overlooked. English learners struggle silently in classrooms without enough support. Families are shut out of decision-making processes because of language barriers. Opportunities that others take for granted are handed to them only if someone notices, advocates, or fights for them. That’s an injustice Rosa Parks would have recognized instantly.

So, what does it mean for us to take our own seat on the bus? It means listening. Showing up. Reporting truth. Amplifying voices that often go unheard. At Davidson Local, we strive to do that—not just in words but in action: covering stories in both English and Spanish, providing accessible reporting for families with disabilities, and spotlighting initiatives that give children a real chance to thrive.

Rosa Parks’ bravery wasn’t about heroism—it was about claiming the space you’re owed and refusing to stand aside while others are pushed down. We owe our children nothing less.

This Rosa Parks Day, take a moment to ask yourself: Whose seat am I occupying? Whose seat am I holding open? Because there are young people waiting for someone to notice, to advocate, to act. And the bus isn’t going to wait forever.

Seventy years later, the question is still urgent. The work is far from done. But if we each hold our seat with courage, maybe those kids finally get the ride they deserve.