We all know Rosa Parks as the brave woman who refused to give up her bus seat for a white male in December of 1955. Her actions sparked a revolution and, as “the mother of the freedom movement,” her legacy for standing up for what you believe in continues to live on today. What you might not know, is that the owner of one of our nation’s largest pizza chains was discreetly paying her rent for over a decade.
In 1957, Parks and her husband moved to Detroit, Michigan where they continued to lead movements focused on ending segregation. That year, the U.S. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Thirty-eight years later, Parks was beaten and robbed of all her money—$103—in her apartment.
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When Mike Ilitch and his wife Marian, founders of Little Caesars, heard what had happened to the 81-year-old celebrated activist, they wanted to help. With Ilitch’s aid, Parks was able to move to a safer Detroit neighborhood. According to Judge Damon Keith, a recipient of the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal and an honorary Harvard doctorate in Law, the family continued paying Parks’ rent until her death in 2005.
Though not many people knew about this arrangement, it wasn’t out of character for Mr. and Mrs. Ilitch. Since investing their life savings into their first pizza shop in a Detroit suburb in 1954, community has always been important to them. “Mike Ilitch is totally committed to Detroit,” said Keith, who helped arrange Parks’ housing. “He brought the Little Caesars corporate offices here. He saved the Fox Theatre. He built Comerica Park, and he kept the hockey and baseball teams thriving here when times were tough. But of all the incredible things he has done for the city, people should know what he did for Rosa Parks.”
On February 10th, 2017, Mike Ilitch passed away at 87 in the Motor City. He is survived by his wife, Marian, seven children, 22 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Upon learning about Ilitch’s generosity towards Parks, we are reminded of the true meaning behind such acts.
Our personal image is always the focus of our minds in today’s connected world, as it seems like every important moment is captured by a photo, video or blog post. Mike Ilitch’s quiet monetary assistance to Rosa Parks allowed her to continue standing up for what she believed in, for herself and this country, without fear for her safety—all without acknowledgment until now. As we continue to work toward making the world a better place, let’s remember what’s important by focusing on the outcomes rather than the means and recognition.
