Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing Essay

On September 15, 1963, as many African Americans were getting ready for the sermon, an explosion went off in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, putting 4 young black girls in early graves. At this time in Alabama, everything was segregated with racism dominating the black population. Carolyn McKinstry, a survivor from this vicious attack against Blacks said, ”Everything was very, very segregated. I had no interaction with Whites on any level. Every aspect of life in Birmingham was segregated from the churches to the schools” (McKinstry 7). The bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church was one of the worst showings of terrorism and racial superiority in its time. This hardship brought along many injuries and loss …show more content…
It was simply just too close to home for a tragedy such as this to happen. Many of the victims were close to the community, so just the reality of what has been going on around them and feelings helplessness must've been unbearable. Unfortunately, the South contained the most violent Ku Klux Klan operation, with Birmingham as probably the most segregated city in the nation. Countless unsolved bombings and police killings had terrified the black population since World War II. The KKK made it evident that they were ruthless, and had the power to do damage if necessary. Many though, regardless of the countless threats and consequences, continued to fight for civil rights and freedom. King, a huge civil rights activist, foresaw that "the vulnerability of Birmingham at the cash register would provide the leverage to gain a breakthrough in the toughest city in the South" (Randal: About the 1963 Birmingham Bombing).
V: CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church was one of the most violent showings of terrorism and racial injustice in it’s time. This bombing still haunts our thoughts of the many injuries and loss of lives, the terror faced by black americans, and the outrageous examples of superiority by the KKK. Given the odds, many still persevered and fought for racial justice and true freedom for our

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