There, but for the grace of God…
2010 March 5
An exploding bomb killed 11-year-old Denise McNair on a Sunday morning in 1963, when she was 11. The young girl was about to enter an assembly for the closing sermon at the Sixteenth Street (African-American) Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, with a group of kids. Three other little girls lost their lives, too.
It was the civil-rights era and the Ku Klux Klan wasn’t interested in efforts to stop segregation. The church had been a rallying point for the civil-rights movement.
Denise would be 58 today, a handful of years younger than I. Instead, her life was sacrificed, opening the door for many FOF women of the future to do things that women before them could only imagine.
I wish you were one of us, Denise. I saw your wonderful mom and dad interviewed on a TV special last night about “boomers.” They miss you. Know you are in all our hearts and souls.
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I just found your blog through Privilege. So glad I did. This really speaks to me as another woman over 50! I actually just turned 60. Yay for me. Enough of that.
I taught high school English for years, and our poetry unit always included a poem “Ballad of Birmingham”. {http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/59437-Dudley-Randall-Ballad-Of-Birmingham}. It is about the bombing of the church. It was such an opportunity for a teachable moment about the whole Civil Rights Movement. From that poem was born analysis of the famous MLK speech, his letter from a Birmingham jail, etc. Such poignant memories for those of us who do remember. Such an emotional unit, too. I hope it made an impression on the students.
I really like your blog. I’ll be back to visit often! xoxo
Hi Preppy 101 (What a great tag)
Happy birthday. I turn 63 on Monday.
I am going to read the poem right now. Thank you for that and for your kind words. Did you register on the site?
Best,
Geri
Thank you. One way for us to honour the memory of these girls is to continue to support the ideals of equality and human rights.
you’re welcome duchesse.