"We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."
--Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
from "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"
We in and near Birmingham, Alabama have a pet peeve: Every now and then somebody revives the old film footage of the civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham during the 60s, and invariably they show those scenes where Bull Connor's henchmen are attacking people with dogs, fire hoses, and clubs. We just hate that!
For a long time, I've thought, like many others, that those films, those memories, are Birmingham's legacy from the Civil Rights movement. But I've come to realize that while maybe that's part of it, it's not all--not all by a long shot.
I don't believe Dr. King, if he were here today, would say that police dogs and fire hoses are what he remembers of Birmingham in the 50s and 60s. I think he would say he remembers the brave people who shouted for freedom and demanded justice in the face of white-sheeted threats from cowardly terrorists, the heart-breaking heresy of burning crosses, and the danger of shotgun blasts in the night. I think Dr. King might consider Birmingham almost a mecca of the Civil Rights movement--a place where Freedom, once awakened, would never lapse back into its coma.
We in the BIrmingham area should feel proud, I think, when CNN or ABC or FOX pulls out those dusty old films. Let's not hang our heads in shame anymore. Let's not complain that that's all people see when they think of Birmingham. Maybe that's all we see. Maybe others see the martyrs and heroes that Dr. King saw. I see them now. Thank you, Martin, for showing them to us.
This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.
On 01/22/2008, nita said ...
Wonderful post! I really enjoyed it.
Martin Luther King Jr. Has always been one of my hereos. Ever since I learned about him when I was in 3rd grade.
You have been awarded! xoxo Nita
On 01/22/2008, Rian said ...
That is a beautiful photo of Dr. King. Our lives are enriched by him walking in this world.
On 01/22/2008, LizW said ...
How beautiful, Susan.
On 01/23/2008, isay said ...
great post.
On 01/23/2008, Gayle said ...
This was very insightful. I appreciate what you wrote about Birmingham.
Furthermore, it applies universally to many situations involving change/growth. Thank you for sharing this.
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