Rosa Parks Beyond the Bus: A Conversation with Author HH Leonards at Fogartyville in Sarasota

H. H. Leonards, Founder of O Museum in The Mansion, has just published a book with R.H. Boyd, the oldest black-owned publishing house in America — Rosa Parks Beyond The Bus, Life, Lessons, and Leadership and she will be visiting the Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center on her book tour of Florida. The book is a collection of personal stories and lessons compiled during the decade that Mrs. Parks traveled with the author and stayed with her at her home — The Mansion on O Street. In the book Ms. Leonards shares her remembrances, both delightful and somber, offering readers an intimate glimpse into Mrs. Parks’ life, her thoughts, her beliefs, and her immense wisdom that moved people to act. The book talk will take place on Monday, July 17 at 7pm at Fogartyville.  Pre-registration is available at Fogartyville.  There is a suggested donation of $5. 

H.H. Leonards is the founder of O Museum in The Mansion and co-founder of the 51 Steps To Freedom Trail. Mrs. Rosa Parks and her friends and business associates lived with H, at no cost, as part of O Museum’s heroes-in-residence program. In fact, the O Museum in The Mansion is a historic site on The African American Heritage Trail because of the time Mrs. Parks spent there.

Leonards has authored seven books and her writings have appeared in Newsweek, Saturday Evening Post, and Ms Magazine among others. She has been a featured speaker at The Rosa Parks Museum (AL), The National Museum of African American Music (TN), The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (OH), The Sonoma Valley Authors Festival (CA), The Southern Kentucky Book Festival, and the Southern Festival of Books (TN) she has also appeared on numerous radio shows, podcasts, and global TV news shows.

Photos from Fogartyville