FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — For more than a quarter century, Condra Ridley has brought history to life, sometimes with a paper bus, often with a song, and always with a message of unity.
Since 1999, Ridley has portrayed Rosa Parks in a 30-minute first-person monologue designed to help children and families connect with the Civil Rights Movement in a more personal way. What began as a creative suggestion from her supervisor at the Allen County Public Library evolved into a signature performance that has reached classrooms, community centers, and churches across northeast Indiana.
“I had always known about Rosa Parks,” Ridley said. “But stepping into her voice, telling the story as if it were 1955 makes people listen differently.”
Bringing Rosa Parks to Life
The idea took shape under the guidance of librarian Nancy Magi, who encouraged Ridley to move from traditional storytelling into first-person historical interpretation. Ridley immersed herself in research, studying Parks’ life and the broader Civil Rights Movement. To make the program engaging for young audiences, she wove in freedom songs from the era…