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Tavis: Finally tonight, a few thoughts about the life and legacy of the mother of the Civil Rights Movement, Rosa Parks. I had the wonderful pleasure to spend a significant amount of time with Ms. Parks over the years. As many of you know, she lived in Detroit, but during the winter months, would come west to California where it was a little bit warmer, and she could navigate her way through those months a little bit better.

So because she lived around the corner from me, relatively speaking, with a friend of mine, I got to know Ms. Parks and spend some significant time with her. I recall having a conversation with her one day on the eve of the publication of my very first book, a little tiny book, a collection of my radio commentaries called 'Just a Thought.' I just so happened around the same time Ms. Parks had her book coming out, her autobiography.

And we, in the midst of a conversation, decided that we would do a joint book signing. I suspect it was probably my idea to talk her into that. But she agreed, and so I arranged a book signing for us here at a local bookstore. We arrived on the day of the signing. As you can imagine, throngs of people waiting to meet Rosa Parks. So we walk our way into the bookstore, and I pull out a chair for Ms. Parks and I seat Ms. Parks at the head of the line, where the people are about to start getting books signed.

I take the seat farthest away from where the line is to begin. Ms. Parks looks around and leans over to me and whispers in my ear, 'Tavis, why don't we change seats?' I didn't know why she was saying that, but I eventually figured it out. Had people gotten their books signed by Ms. Parks first, they would have left. They would never have come to see this guy named 'Travis Smiley.' (sic) Who they did not know and had never heard of. So by suggesting that we change seats, she was making sure that I was going to be included in that moment, and not overwhelmed by her personality.

Her generosity that day moved me in ways that I've never forgotten, and my very first book signing, for my very first book. After that, of course, Ms. Parks and I got to be even closer, and from time to time I would escort her to church on Sunday morning. She was such a woman of faith. And so she would spend Sunday mornings going to church here in LA for the months that she was here. Always trying out different churches, meeting different people, going different places. And I had the occasion on a few opportunities to escort her to church on Sunday morning.

Nothing like spending a Sunday morning with God, and Rosa Parks. One day, my mother was out visiting me, speaking of great stories. My mother was in the kitchen cooking. My mother is a great cook. And she was here visiting from Indiana one day, she's watching right now, I'm sure. Hi Mom. My mom was visiting one day, and she'll recall being in the kitchen with me talking, when the doorbell rang. I wasn't expecting anyone, so I went to the - door that is, and looked out the little peephole to see who was outside.

There was a driver standing there. And I said, 'May I help you' through the door. He said, 'Mr. Smiley?' And I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'There's a special visitor who would like to come say hello to you.' Now I don't let people roll up on my house unannounced like that, but I said, 'I'm not expecting anyone, sir. I don't usually let people in my house who I'm not expecting.' He said, 'I understand that, Mr. Smiley, and I wouldn't be ringing your doorbell if it weren't somebody special. I think you'll be okay. Let me go to the car and get her.'

He walks back down my walkway, approaches the car, opens the door, and to my surprise, out pops Rosa Parks. I go running back to the house, 'Mama! Mama! Guess who's coming to dinner?' I said, 'Rosa Parks is walking in the house right now.' My mother, as always, said, 'Boy, stop lying.' I said, 'Mama, I'm not lying. Rosa Parks is coming to dinner right now.' My mom had rollers in her hair, she runs to the bathroom, takes the rollers out. Comes back to the kitchen. I let Ms. Parks in the house, and Ms. Parks sat and had dinner with me and my mother.

I called the folk at my office just around the corned and said, 'If you wanna meet Rosa Parks, she's at my house having dinner right now.' What a moment that was having dinner with my mother and the mother of the Civil Rights Movement, Rosa Parks. A day I'll never forget. Finally, I was so honored when I was doing commercial radio to be involved in ensuring that Rosa Parks would receive the highest civilian honor that Congress can bestow upon any person. It's called the Congressional Gold Medal. Bill Clinton had honored Ms. Parks in '96 with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

But a few years later, Congress had not found its way, after all these years, to honor Rosa Parks in the highest way they could. For other leaders, yes, but not Rosa Parks. And so we started a radio campaign one day to get legislation passed to bestow upon Rosa Parks while she was still cognizant, and could appreciate it, the Congressional Gold Medal. And every day on the radio, we would call out the names of member of Congress from every state, from California to the Carolinas, who had not signed on to support that legislation.

As it turns out, the legislation eventually passed, and it passed with the highest number of votes of any person to have ever received the Congressional Gold Medal. And God knows if anyone deserved it, Rosa Parks did. I believe when someone once said that every race should be judged by the best they've been able to produce, and not by the worst. It is clear that Rosa Parks is one of the greatest Americans that the black community has ever produced. Her courage, her conviction, her commitment stands as an example to me, and to generations to follow, about what can be done.

She was really just an ordinary woman, but she had extraordinary courage. She'll be sorely missed. I have a lifetime of memories that I'll always hold on to. That's our show for tonight. You can catch me on the weekends on PRI, Public Radio International. Check your local listings. See you back here next time on PBS. Until then, good night from Los Angeles. Thanks for watching, and, as always, keep the faith.