It was
serious, deadly serious. Today we talk about terrorists, but this is
not new. The tensions in Birmingham, Alabama, in the 1950's and 60's
were so bad; whites and African Americans were afraid. Dozens of
bombings were committed by people that were never identified.
Birmingham, Alabama,
earned the nickname "Bombingham."
The bombings were meant to "send
a message" and instill fear so that no one would challenge
segregation, officially part of the "old south." Actually, different
forms of segregation existed all over America. Birmingham was a
particularly violent and hostile community.
Many don't like to talk about
it, but terrorists from within threatened Americans. Many forget that
bombings did not stop in the 1960's. In the 1990's there was a string
of church fires and bombings. Dangerous extremist groups still use
bombing in America to create fear and force their narrow opinions on
others.
The situation was especially bad
in Birmingham because the authorities in that community could not be
trusted -- many local government and law enforcement agencies were
full of Klu Klux Klan members. Klansmen often rode in city police cars
on patrols. Not all the police supported segregation and the KKK, but
they were afraid for their jobs and families. Eugene "Bull" Connor
was a diehard supporter of segregation. From 1948 to 1957, there were
48 unsolved racial bombings in Birmingham -- the most of any city in
the US. Given the connections between the KKK, local government, and
law enforcement, it is not hard to see why.
In 1958, seven private homes and
four churches were bombed in one month alone. African Americans were
moving into a predominately white neighborhood,
Fountain Heights. This is where most of the bombings occurred. This
part of town became known as "Dynamite Hill."
At his January, 1963,
inauguration, Alabama Governor Gorge Wallace proclaimed, "Segregation
today . . . segregation tomorrow . . . segregation forever."
No wonder this was one of the most violent states in America. Within
that hotbed of hatred, Birmingham was its most hostile, brutal city.
The law could not or would not
protect the citizens of Birmingham. The State Governor, George
Wallace, pardoned four Klansmen that were arrested, convicted, and
sentenced for abducting and torturing a black handyman. Governor
Wallace gave no explanation of this decision. This was justice in
Alabama.
While bombings became a regular
occurrence in Birmingham, the FBI was not tracking down the
perpetrators. The FBI's Director, J. Edgar Hoover, was conducting
surveillance of a man of peace, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. instead.
Some believe that the FBI was actually behind some of the threats that
Dr. King regularly received.
Martin Luther King once called
Birmingham "the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States
its ugly record of police brutality is known in every section of this
country."
In the spring of 1963, Martin
Luther King Jr. came to Birmingham to organize people for change. The
situation in Birmingham greatly disturbed Dr. King. He wrote," Its
unjust treatment of Negroes in the courts is a notorious reality.
There have been more unsolved bombings of Negro homes and churches in
Birmingham than any other city in this nation."
Dr. King, a peaceful man,
negotiated with some local businesses to give up their segregated
policies. He organized nonviolent protests and marches. The city of
Birmingham responded with more bombings. The
summer of 1963
was exceptionally violent and ugly, even by Birmingham standards.
In August, 1963, a string of
bombings in "Dynamite Hill" resulted in fighting. During the chaos,
police shot and killed an African American man. Many more were
wounded, injured, or arrested. Young people, both African American
and white
Elizabeth H. Cobbs, author of
the book, Long Time Coming,
stated "Most of us felt we were caught in a war zone. We could feel
the battle bearing down upon us."
No one felt safe, hatred
flourished, and mistrust dominated. It was clear that behind the
scenes, the Klu Klux Klan was in control and able to strike at
anytime, at any place. Birmingham had fully earned the ugly nickname,
"Bombingham."
By Bill Breitsprecher
©2006,
Breitlinks
All Rights Reserved
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