preview

Dudley Randall's 'Ballad Of Birmingham'

Decent Essays

Dudley Randall’s “Ballad of Birmingham” is an emotional poem that highlights the struggles of the African American population during the Civil Rights Movement in America. The poem serves as a tribute to the 4 young black girls that were killed in the terrible bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL in September of 1963 by the Ku Klux Klan. It delivers a strong message that there was no safe place to hide from the evils of racism, not even in a church. This horrible event was one of the turning points in American history, because it helped support the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ensured equal rights of African Americans before the law. This new law changed the social values of Americans and greatly reduced …show more content…

White supremacy groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, committed evil acts of violence towards the black population. “The Ballad of Birmingham” depicts one of these horrific events. Once the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964, discrimination was outlawed based on race, color, religion, gender, or national origin. It gave equal rights to African Americans. Eventually, much of the hatred between blacks and whites would cease. The equal rights of black Americans changed the social values of Americans during the 1960’s and 70’s. Blacks and whites were allowed to attend the same schools and use the same public facilities. There was more social interaction between them, and many became friends instead of enemies. Interracial relationships and marriages even began to be more common, although it was usually frowned upon. The desegregation of Americans eventually brought the separated country together. Racial segregation was a problem in America for many years. It caused many acts of violence in our country before the passing of the Civil Rights Act. Randall’s poem “The Ballad of Birmingham” is an emotional reminder of how black Americans lived in fear before desegregation. It also reminds us that we cannot hide from these brutal acts of violence, even in a sacred place such as a church. Although all Americans are now considered equal, we still deal with some racial tension every day, and Americans are still trying to find a safe place to

Get Access