“Bombingham”: The Ruthless Society That Tore Apart a Peaceful Symbol

Engl 165-04 Fall '22, Engl 165-16 Fall '22

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On September 15th, 1963, a bomb exploded in a stairwell inside of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Four young girls were killed in the bombing, along with more than 20 injured. The event, which was covered in March Book 3, stood out to me as such an important event, almost as if it was the single event that served as the turning point of the Civil Rights movement. Although no one event acts as the turning point, it was this bombing, along with the murder of Virgil Lamar Ware that followed, which opened the eyes of the public to the brutal and grim crimes committed against African Americans.

Robert E. Chambliss, who was originally declared a primary suspect of the bombing, was not originally charged in the 60’s due to the reluctancy of witnesses at the scene. It was discussed that Hoover had withdrawn evidence from the crime scene, possibly altering the initial outcome of the event. In the end, Chambliss received life in prison in 1977 following a case that was reopened.

 

This reminds me of a similar case where someone was murdered in broad daylight. The witnesses, however, refused to serve as a witness, fearing for their safety. They all continued their days, not even attempting to call 911. The murderer was never caught, although the case serves as a reminder of the importance of justice. Placing myself in the parents’ shoes, it enrages me to hear that witness refuse to help bring justice to those who deserve it. It makes me feel as if there’s no hope left in society. Although times have changed, cases like this still happen today.

The initial information of the event, honestly, shocked me. The grim details and motives surrounding the event displayed what harsh crimes society could possibly commit. Information regarding George Wallace, Alabama’s Governor, made me question the confidentiality and legitimacy of the government throughout the Civil Rights movement. After doing research about the event, I couldn’t help but feel for the innocent girls who lost their lives following the event. Following the series of bombings, the public even nicknamed Birmingham “Bombingham.”

 
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Let Freedom Ring For All

March Blog Prompt

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The saying “Let Freedom Ring” is a metaphor that symbolizes the sound of a bell representing hope and equality. Martin Luther King Jr. used this metaphor in his famous “I have a dream” speech. This quote has been used to symbolize freedom for all Americans. At the time of his speech, freedom was not accessible to all citizens of the United States. It had to be fought hard for. Lives had to be sacrificed to achieve it and make a difference in this world. By Martin Luther King Jr. saying, “let freedom ring,” he meant it for every person in the world, regardless of race or gender.

Honestly, I do not know if I would be capable of doing what generations before us had to do to fight for equality and freedom. Many people had to risk their lives and were beaten senselessly for trying to go against the forces who disagreed at that time. I would like to believe I would have the courage to make a difference and fight for our rights, but it is hard to know for sure without being put in that position. If I was, I could only hope that I would be brave enough to take a stand and do what was needed to conquer freedom for myself and my people. 

I am not sure that today’s generation would have the backbone and be able to commit to such a hard and life-threatening challenge. Our generation can only imagine what previous generations endured through textbooks and what school teaches us. I think it is hard for any of us to understand what these struggles were because we have not had to see them, or at least not as intensely as our ancestors did. If the world was how it used to be and we saw how important making a difference was, then we could find the grit to fight; however, our lives do not compare to those of the past. 

Events like these are still important to be taught today because we need to see what occurred in history to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself. Equality is still not achievable for everyone, and it will be many more years before our world does see humankind as a whole. These issues still need to be taught and fought for until equality is achievable for all.

 
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Let Freedom Ring! The Freedom Rides and Their Influence Seen Today. (March: Book Two)

Engl 165-04 Fall '22

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The phrase “Let Freedom Ring” evokes the ideals of America. The ideal evoked in March is that every man is equal without regard to race, and that’s what the Freedom Rides were ensuring within southern states. John Lewis, a proponent of the Civil Rights Movement, and the author of March took part in the Freedom Rides in an effort to cement the ruling of Boynton v. Virginia which ended segregation on buses.

The Fight for Freedom Taken

The freedom that we take for granted today is almost inconceivable and incomparable to the people that grew up just a century ago. If that freedom were to be taken away at the drop of a hat tomorrow, I think most people would be in shock. They wouldn’t be able to wrap their head around it and they’d be angry. Angry enough to fight about it, and I’d be right there with them. Just like during the Civil Rights Movement, there would be different groups with different goals. Some groups would be willing to fight and kill for their freedom, while others like Dr. King’s movement and the Freedom Rides would fight with words and nonviolence. With that said, I don’t think that a group like Dr. King’s would be nearly as effective today because people have become used to their freedom, and taking a beating is less than appealing.

The Fight for Freedom Yesterday, Today

The Civil Rights Movement was a war for freedom and the Freedom Rides were an effort to cement the results of that war. The influence of that war, and the war itself can still be seen today. When you look at the news, almost every week there is a murder or an effort forming in response to a murder. Certainly, the Civil Rights Movement made waves in the politics of the nation, but the nature of the people in the nation didn’t change. The nature of men can’t be changed by other men, and it never will. The Civil Rights Movement itself is a testament to that fact. African Americans fought against their oppressors, men who tried to change their nature.