Ke’Andra Brewington Hunter Wayne Dru Loman

Q: How did the youth from the 16 th Street Baptist Church affect the Civil Rights Movement? A: It made blacks AND whites frustrated and sad. Especially when you hurt children, it takes the situation to another level. Q: What was the major event in the movement in which the youth from the 16 th Street Baptist Church participated in? A: This is different than what other groups researched because the youth didn’t know that this was going to happen. The girls were in a situation where they had no clue. What everyone else is researching is where the youth planned to make an impact. The girls were just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

The 16 th Street Baptist Church was a seminal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. The bombing occurred on Sunday, September 15, 1963 at 10:22 A.M. at the 16 th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. The Ku Klux Klan (as referred to as the “KKK”) planted a bomb in the church basement killing four girls.

An unidentified caller called the church and a 14 year old girl picked up the phone (serving as the Sunday School Secretary) Carolyn McKinstry. The caller only stated two words, “Three minutes.” Then, Carolyn hung up the phone and walked 15 steps to the adjoining sanctuary. Carolyn McKinstry had no clue what that meant.

The bomb killed four girls. Which Carolyn McKinstry had spoken to moments earlier before the bomb exploded. The girls killed were (as pictured left to right) 14 year old Addie Mae, 14 year old Carole Robertson, 14 year old Cynthia Wesley, and 11 year old Denise McNair.

 There were four members of the “KKK” that were convicted. In 1977, Robert Chambliss was convicted of the murder. In 2001, Thomas Blanton was convicted. In 2002, Bobby Cherry was convicted. All of the suspects are now dead. (suspects pictured in order how are listed above )

Herman Cash was also convicted but died before he could serve his jail time in A white male was seen getting out of a white and turquoise Chevrolet car and putting a box under the steps of the church. It was the bomb. That man was Bobby Cherry. Bobby hid under a set of cinder blocks steps on the side of the church. Bobby Cherry and Thomas Blanton both confessed bombing the church.

mbing.htmhttp:// mbing.htm contact info: Googleimages.com Adamson, Heather. The Civil Rights Movement. Minnesota, Capstone Press, Print.