>What a splendid woman this was, and what natural serene beauty.
>
>But Americans seem to be confused as to what she did for the civil rights movement. I watched about her on the TV last week, and heard how she'd refused to give up her seat to a white.
>
>Yet EVERY American interviewed said that she was the "first to stand up".
>
>I'm confused. I thought it was the opposite.

She was the first colored woman to stand up to the caucasian man by not giving up her seat on the bus (i.e. by not standing up).

Could "first to stand up" have been taken out of context?