You probably already know the story of Rosa Parks, the “first lady of civil rights,” the woman who resisted racial segregation by refusing to give up her seat on an Alabama bus in 1955. But, until now, few people knew what happened to Parks after that historic day, or that she had an unlikely friend in Mike Ilitch, founder of Little Caesars Pizza.
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In 1957, after her resistance sparked a 381-day boycott of Montgomery, Alabama’s buses, Rosa Parks moved to Detroit. Years later, in 1994, Parks was robbed and assaulted in her Detroit home at the age of 81. Damon Keith, a judge and real estate developer, helped move Parks to a newer, nicer Detroit apartment complex.
USA Today
When Little Caesars founder and Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch heard about what had happened to the “first lady of civil rights,” he reached out to Keith and quietly offered to pay for Parks’ housing indefinitely. He told no one, even after Parks passed away in 2005.
CNN
Last week Mike Ilitch passed away at the age of 87. Now, Damon Keith is sharing the story of Illitch’s generosity, posthumously praising him for his kind heart.
Share this incredible story of thankless generosity today!
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