A town in Alabama called Birmingham was definitely an unfair place in the mid-nineteen hundreds. With parents having too much to lose for acts of rebellion children were the ideal heros during the civil rights movement. The children's march at Birmingham was an inspiration that would trigger other marches to come and “win” the civil rights movement. Who would have thought kids could change the course of the civil rights movement.
Mastermind of the March. Martin Luther King Jr., just freed from the jail, was the mastermind behind the march. He wanted to start an uprising by having the African Americans of Birmingham march in intentions of going to jail and being arrested. King found it necessary to fill the jails with protesters so that the city would no longer be able to enforce the law bringing an end to segregation. The adults had too much to lose if they marched like their jobs , what the protest needed was children. Children were the ones who really could not understand why whites would not allow them to play at the shiny new park, or go to the clean schools. Segregation gave these kids something to fight for. The children wanted to do something that would change how they were judged by the color of their skin. Kids witnessed their parents being a part of this movement and they also wanted in.
It’s Time. This march went on for multiple days, day one was known as D-day. On this day kids goal was to march from the 16th street baptist church to city hall. Countless parents did not want their children to participate in this march but the kids marched anyways. Word spread about the kids march secretly through a radio station where the broadcaster said “ Kids, there’s gonna be a party at the park. Bring your toothbrushes because lunch will be served”. The blacks knew this would be a big thing but no one expected kids from out of town. Once two kids held the sign saying “ it's time” there was no going back. Kids would come pouring out of classrooms and march their way to paddy wagons, and once the police ran out of jail transportation school buses would take them to jail. The kids sang “ freedom” while marching to motivate them and they kept the upbeat vibe on the way to jail. Day one went well with a total of 973 kids arrested.
Six Year Olds Behind Bars. Children participating in the march were sent to jail in buses and paddy wagons. When the jails filled the kids were taken to the fairgrounds. Just going to the fairgrounds felt like an accomplishment, for that was a place blacks were forbidden to go. Instead of worry and fear, like the police officers had hoped, the children sang their way to jail. In the cells the children played games together and sang. The boys, separated from the girls, would communicate with them in song. Many were crammed together in a cell, with lack of room. The jails were really dirty and mice lurked every corner. Very seldom were the kids released from jail and when they were they turned right around and went back to jail. Kids as young as six were arrested and not treated with any respect.
Hoses, Dogs, and Police. Double D-day’s the day Birmingham's head police commissioner “Bull” Connor pulled out the hoses and the police dogs. Firefighters were ordered to spray the kids marching with powerful hoses, hoses so powerful it took four firefighters to keep one hose steady. The main thing Dr. King stressed to these kids was a non-violent tactic so the kids shouted “ bring on the hoses” and still sang “ freedom”. The hoses did things like sending young kids flying or shaving off hair. Though It was worth the blow for total freedom. And when the hoses were not enough to scare away the kids violent police dogs were brought out. Police beat the protesting kids with batons and their dogs sent some marchers off to the hospital. But the kids did not back down till they filled the jails as Dr. King said it “The children are doing a job for all of America and all of mankind”. Day two 1922 kids arrested.
The Match That Lit the Fire. This march did more than end segregation in Birmingham it also inspired adults to march in future marches like the March on Washington for jobs and freedom. It gave hope and courage to those who wanted to march but were just not brave enough. All it took was kids to change where this movement was going. The kids were so well protected by their people when they were to face being expelled it was overturned by city leaders. After that protest “Bombingham” still faced many more hard times but this march had an impact. When all was set and done on May, 10th Birmingham business owners were forced to desegregate. The children's crusade was a civil rights “win” for the kids, and all of America.
Current Implications. On May 2 and 3, 2013 we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Birmingham Children's March. The big fifty made it on the Alabama Public radio. The station spent over a year perfecting this broadcast to educate the public what had happened the day the children marched. They stressed the importance of what the children did that day and talked about the events that should have never happened while the kids were protesting for equality. Now equality is almost completely in place.