In this time period there was a lot of racial tension, segregation and discrimination going on. Kenny, on page 122, says that he once saw a picture of white people being nasty towards a black student peacefully trying to get to class. Also, one of the biggest events that happened in the book-- the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. This was a big bombing in a Birmingham church, which many black people attended. In the book, Joetta had gone to that same church, but had left before the bombing took place because she saw Kenny wave at her. The bombing was caused by some white people who were very racist and wanted black people to just stop protesting. Because of this event, 4 little black girls died, others were blinded, and sent straight to the