Birmingham, the 16th St Baptist Church

We have been fortunate to visit a few areas in our country where historical events occurred that changed the world.  The places that fit that description that we have visited are:

·         The trail from Concord to Lexington where our Revolutionary War began and the event  is often referred to as, “where the first shot was heard throughout the world.”

·         Yorktown where Washington cornered the British troops leading to their surrender ending the War.

·         Ft Sumter where the shelling began our Civil War.

·          Gettysburg, where the horrendous loss of life was perhaps the tipping point leading to the end of the South’s insurrection.

·         Pearl Harbor, the start of World War II.

·        Ground Zero New York City where the debris was being removed after the destruction of the Trade Towers.

Today, we visited another place where events changed the history of our nation.  We visited the 16^th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Same window that is in my home church in Lacrosse, WA,  Selbu Lutheran

 

Many areas of the country were facing internal turmoil during the 1960’s.  The center of the racial turmoil was Birmingham.   The 16^th St. Baptist Church served as headquarters for the civil rights mass meetings and rallies, efforts dedicated to breaking the bonds of segregation (Jim Crow laws)  in Birmingham.  Marches and demonstrations were common, often resulting in retaliation and brutality.  I remember seeing on TV and pictures in Life Magazine of the fire hoses turned on marchers, and police dogs turned on defenseless demonstrators.  National and international pressure fell upon the leaders of Birmingham.

 

 

 In 1963, though 40% of Birmingham was African American, not one policeman, fire fighter, or city leader was of African American decent.  But the domestic and international pressure only worsened the danger in Birmingham.  Several bombings occurred, all directed toward the African American community.  On September 15, 1963, three Ku Klux men placed a bomb under the church’s stairwell during Sunday school.  The bomb injured many but killed 4 girls, ages 10 – 14, all which happened to be in the room closest to the bomb.  They were in that room putting on their choir robes just prior to the church service.

The location of the bomb and a memorial to the 4 young girls.

A memorial to the 4 girls in a park across the street from the church.

 

The act so sickened many of us (including me at 16 years old at the time) that the issue of race relation and segregation took on new meaning and perspective.

The Church does not glorify or exploit the event. Nothing was for sale and there was no charge for admission.  The overwhelming message throughout the church was, “we are here to serve Christ and you.” 

It was a very deep and personal 90 minute visit to the 16^th St Baptist Church.  Again, the anger and wickedness of humankind was on display.  No reason to market it.  Anger and wickedness needs no marketing.  Their actions are so stark, brutal, and thankfully, unproductive.