Son brought his civil rights icon mom to Rosa Parks Museum — she froze when she saw her picture on the wall

Women who are bold and fearless in taking risks make history. Abiding by what has already been out there in the world, following rules written by individuals of yesteryear while keeping your own opinion under wraps, is a sure-shot way to oblivion. An Emmy-winning filmmaker, author, podcaster, and activist, Loki Mulholland — who goes by the username @lokimulholland on Instagram — shared a video of his mother visiting a Rosa Parks museum, looking at photos that left her surprised.

Loki is the son of the Civil Rights icon, Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, who participated in the Civil Rights Movement and fought for justice and racial equality. Posted on May 4, 2025, the clip begins with Loki telling Joan, “I want you to walk around the corner real quick,” proceeding to ask her what she sees when she peeks inside one of the sections. “Well, I see some guys I knew who got killed in Mississippi,” she utters in a nostalgic tone. Loki asks her to “keep looking,” and what she sees next colors her soul with pride.

“Oh, there I am… Lunch counter in Jackson, Mississippi. And there’s the back of my head with sugar being dumped on it like I wasn’t sweet enough already,” she joked with a straight face, and others giggled. Loki asks her to get closer to the photos to explain the details when Joan says, “I got in good trouble.” He asks her if she was “part of the freedom rides” and “march on Washington,” to which she agrees and mentions being a part of the DC Office. Loki reveals that she was “connected to the Cheney Goodman and Schwerner” and was a “part of the Selma to Montgomery March,” to which she adds that she also joined marches after James Berry was shot.

According to The Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation’s website, a recipient of the 2015 National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award, Joan participated in more than 50 sit-ins and demonstrations by the age of 23. She was not only disowned by her family for her valor but also attacked, shot, cursed at, and hunted down by the Klan. She has worked with some of the most renowned names in the Civil Rights Movement: Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, John Lewis, Diane Nash, and Julian Bond. While times are different now, Joan continues to embody the spirit of equality and change, as evident in the video where she's wearing an old mugshot of herself on her t-shirt.

After watching the video of one of America's most courageous women, people reacted. @melanin_monroe83 joked, “She said ‘I got in good trouble.’ Yes, ma’am. Yes, ma’am,” and @icli_rising wrote with laughter emoticons, “…as if I wasn’t sweet enough already.” @tonyestese commented, “I love her T-shirt with her own mugshot on it,” while @erickayanibeckwith_ wrote what deserved attention: “A well-behaved woman never makes history!” Finally, @artislife1070 expressed, “You always wonder what happened to the white ppl who also were in that fight with us for civil rights, and to see a living legend such as her is truly an amazing thing. Thank you for sharing. Bless her!”

You can follow Loki Mulholland (@lokimulholland) on Instagram for more lifestyle content.