16th Street Baptist Church service

I attended the Sunday service at the 16th Street Baptist Church, the oldest and most well known of the churches in Birmingham. Those who know me closely may snicker (Chuck went to church? On his own? While traveling?) but I attneded for the histporical significance of the church and also to get a current picture of the role of the church for African AMericans in the South. During the Civil Rights Movement, black churches served as the focal point for spreading news, imploring citizens to act, and developing strength in the community. I think I can say with coinfidence that the church is still fortifying strong communal bonds in the black community today. The service was full of music, children, and communal response. I had never seen anything like it before.

Kelly Ingram Park - Remembering the Children's Crusade

As I walked around this park, across the street from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, I was pretty floored by the impact the sculptures and fountains had. The images form the Children’s Crusade are among the most powerful that I use in class throughout the year, and the sculptures associated with the movement are just as awesome. The statue of the dog attacking a young man takes your breath away. The number four is dominant throughout the park, serving as a constant reminder of the “4 Little Girls” that perished in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
I had an unsolicited by much appreciated tour from a local man named Mr. Sanders. He gave me additional insight that isn’t obvious to the casual tourist. He made two interesting observations as well. First, he stated a few times that the monuments and memorials deal with revolution and reconciliation, because you can’t have reconciliation without a revolution. Second, he pointed out the park is named for an Irish American sailor from Birmingham who was the first American sailor killed in WWI. The color of the skin doesn’t matter, he said – just what someone does for others.

You can't walk through this park without feeling something - sad and/or about the events that are commemorated, impressed and proud of the courage the protesters demonstrated, inspired by the message of nonviolence and reconciliation ... I loved the experience. More walking in the footsteps of history.

Birmingham ...

is newer than I thought. It was developed as an industrial site after the Civil War. I always assumed that it was around during the war, supplying iron goods to the Confederacy.

• has a beautiful park (Vulcan Park) that overlooks the city. The massive statue to Vulcan, god of iron, towers over the city. The statue was built for the St. Louis World’s Fair and came home to Birmingham afterwards.


• is hot in June.


• doesn’t open on Sunday until 1:00 in the afternoon.


• has some great barbeque. Mike O – I didn’t get Ollie’s, but Jim and Nick's was tasty tasty.

is a place that I would like to see again ... in the fall.