Throughout 2013, the Metro Birmingham Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other grassroots organizations honored the people, the churches and the organizations that played crucial roles in shaping the events leading up to the 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights Movement.
NAACP 50th Anniversary Commemorative Events (Yearlong Celebration)
The Metro Birmngham NAACP kicked off its yearlong celebration in January with the unveiling of a commemorative calendar, “When We Walk: Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement In Birmingham.
Saturday, January 5, 2013 – 150th Commemoration of the Emancipation Proclamation Speaker: Civil Rights Attorney, W.L. Williams, Jr.
– Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church,
Sunday, January 27, 2013 – Salute to Birmingham Civil Rights Mass Movement Meeting Churches, Part I
– 16th Street Baptist Church, 6
Honoring: 16th Street Baptist, Macedonia 17th Street, New Pilgrim Missionary Baptist, Zion Star Missionary Baptist, Christian Valley Baptist, Mt. Olive Baptist, Kingston, 46th Street Baptist, East End Baptist, St. Paul AME Smithfield, Abyssinia Missionary Baptist, New Rising Star Missionary Baptist, St. James Missionary Baptist, Mt. Ararat Missionary Baptist, Galilee Missionary Baptist, Sixth Avenue Baptist, Old Sardis Baptist, Thirgood Memorial CME, First Congregational United Christian Church, and First Baptist, Ensley
Saturday, February 23, 2013 – Economic Advancement Summit
“Silver Rights + Green Power = The American Dream”
– Miles College
Sunday, March 3, 2013 – 50th Movement for Unity & Equality, “Celebration of Greatness Honoring Pioneers of the Movement”
– Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Fairfield
Honorees: Rev. J.A. Salary (posthumously), Dr. Mattie Mashaw Gill Jackson, Reverend C. Howard Nevett, Mrs. Gladys T. Coleman, Mrs. Princess Mason Kemp, Alabama State Representative Lophenia Thomas (posthumously), Mrs. Elizabeth Myree (posthumously), Mrs. Carstella H. Scott, State Representative Demetrius Newton Sr., Dr. Jonathan McPherson, Judge U.W. Clemon and Dr. Richard Arrington, Jr.
Saturday, March 9, 2013 – Salute to Civil Rights Mass Meeting Churches, Part II
– Metropolitan AME Zion Church
Honoring: Metropolitan AME Zion, Metropolitan Community Church, Oak Street Baptist, Greater St. John Baptist, St. Luke AME Zion, St. Paul CME, Docena, St. Paul United Methodist Church, The 17th Street AOH Church and Shady Grove Baptist Church in Collegeville
Saturday, March 30, 2013 – 12th Annual Women’s History Celebration, Honoring Women of the Civil Rights Movement & Outstanding Community Service featuring Professor Angela Y. Davis
– Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.
Community Service Honorees: Loretta G. Herring, Eliza Mae Sanders (posthumously), Glenda V. Hopkins,
Ethel J. Taylor, Gwen Cook-Bibb, Beatrice Price, Judge Helen Shores Lee, Rev. Angela Wright, Majella Chube Hamilton, Angene Coleman, Dr. Jacqueline Stewart, Tina Kay Hughes, Virginia Volker and E. Ann Heard
Civil Rights Movement Honorees: Myrna Carter Jackson, Deborah S. Smith, Mary Oden Turner, Gwen Gamble, Evelyn Dilworth Williams, Janice Kelsey, Mamie Brown Mason, Elouise F. Gaffney, Catherine Burks Brooks, Ruby Cotton and Gloria Washington Lewis Randall
Saturday, April 27, 2013 – Salute to Civil Rights Contributors & Outstanding Community Service
– Miles College
Book Signing by J.T. Smallwood “The Bull Falls Twice” Dedicated to Carol Jean Poe (1950-2012)
Honorees: James G. Fisher, Shirley Holmes Sims, Christine S. Williams, Carol Ann Watkins, Claressie Berry Hardy (Foot Soldier), Rev. Joseph W. Walker, Jr., Kimberly Meadows Speights, Christina Coleman-Lovelace, Attorney Marshell R. Jackson, Dr. Barbara S. Wilder, Mrs. Ruth K Barefield Pendleton (Foot Soldier), Mrs. Emma S. Guice & Mrs. Gaye Blythe Porter
Saturday, May 11, 2013 – 50th Anniversary of the Bombing of the First Baptist Church (Ensley) Parsonage, featuring speaker Mrs. A.D. King (Naomi Ruth Barber, widow of former Pastor, Rev. A.D. King, brother of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Sunday, June 30, 2013 – 12th Annual Salute to Men of Distinction Honoring Men of Outstanding Community Service and Civil Rights, featuring speaker: The Honorable Steven W. Hoyt, President Pro Tem Birmingham City Council.
Dedicated to the pioneering civil rights work of Rev. Charles Billups (Foot Soldier)
Civil Rights Foot Soldiers: Robert Ashford, Omie R. Crockett, Sr., Erskine Lewis, Joseph Black, Wendell A. Jones and Brown Peterson
– 16th Street Baptist Church
Outstanding Community Service Honorees:
Dr. Ronald D. Agee,
Attorney Peter J. Davis, Attorney G. Courtney French,
Attorney Melvin Humes, Mr. JJ Johnson, Mr. Reginal Nall,
Attorney Freddy Rubio, Mr. Jerol Tyson, Chief Raymond Brooks,
Mr. Kim Earl, Mr. Micheal German, Mr. Valton Johnson,
Veteran Freddie Jones, Mr. William Robertson, Mr. Tony Smoke,
Mr. James R. Watts, Jr., Rev. Dr. Gregory L. Clarke, Rev. Thomas Beavers,
Jamarcus McCall, Alabama State Representative John Rogers,
Rev. Dr. W.M. Norwood, Mr. Percy Hornbuckle, Judge Tenant Smallwood
(posthumously), Rev. Dr. Robert T. Crossmyer, Rev. Anthony D’Angelo, and
Dr. George T. French, Jr., President, Miles College (Man of the Year)
Sunday, July 28, 2013 – Salute to Foot Soldiers, Part I & Inaugural Rev. Charles Billups Golden Foot Soldier Award, Dedicated to Mrs. Mamie Fail Brown Mason
– Miles College
Honorees: Dorothy Prince, Leven Taylor, Jr., Alexis P. Thomas, Johnny Jackson, Brenda Neely Gardner, Rev. Ervin Wilkerson, Sr., Sheila Selma, Muhammad Abdullah, Juanica D. Pearson-O-Hara, Grace Perry Jones, Brenda McCall Stewart, Alphonso Johnson, Joyce Croom, Barbara Basemore Moore-Thompson, Mary E. Cabil, Margaret Brooks Brown, Janice S.R. Biggs, Sammy L. Shelby, Sr., Fred Chamblin, Edna Chamblin, Alma P. Dennis, LaRevia Dennis Gray, Dorothy Jean Ruffins Turner, Lawrence L. Boyd, Nola S. Rives, Carolyn Rutledge Jones, Robert L. McGeddis, Jessie E. Shepherd, Gertrude J. Thompson, Edward L. Sanders, Ora Lee Rufins, Mrs. Hattie Pearl Wilkerson and Mrs. Marie J. Jones
Sunday, August 18, 2013 – Salute to Foot Soldiers, Part II & 21st Century Foot Soldiers/Youth Leadership Awards & Outstanding Community Service
– First Baptist Church Graymont
Foot Soldiers: Frances E. Foster White, Diane Jackson, Carol Jackson Walton, Shirley Holmes Sims,
Maggie Hunter, Eula Mae Henderson Williams, Carol Walker Williams, Betty Hobson Warren, Brenda Neely, Lydia Thomas Evans, Annie Reeves, Connie Leon Henderson, Elizabeth Jones and Willie Nell Brown Means
Outstanding Community Service: Rickey Dorsey, Renita J. Higgins, Curtis J. Starks and Doris M. Smith
21st Century Foot Soldiers/ Youth Leaders: Marcus DeVaughn, Demetria A. Collins, Reshad Hudson,
Amber J. Mayfield, Amos Rashad Hollinhead, Tracy D. Hampton, Alyson Renee Daniels, Brooklyn Kay Hornbuckle, Brian Jackie Harper II, Ashley Danielle Rodgers, Morgan Elizabeth Floyd, Hannah Kennedy Floyd, Khayla Jones, Tatyana Rena Turner, Carmen Catrice Wright, Megan Lynette MClung, Jaleah D. Rutledge, Alexandria Denise Carter and Corneshia Dominique Porter
Friday, September 6, 2013 – Dream Gala Part I Awards & Feast honoring Defenders of The Dream with Advocacy
– Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist
Honorees: Attorney W.L. Williams, Jr./Lifetime Achievement/
Civil Rights, Judge Helen Shores Lee/Lifetime Achievement in Human &
Civil Rights, Attorney J. Mason Davis/Lifetime Achievement in Human &
Civil Rights, Mr. Ronald Jackson, Esquire/Rev. Charles Billups Golden
Foot Soldier Award. Golden Physicians: Thomas c. Pendleton, M.D.,
Farrina Willis, M.D., Paul A. Amamoo, M.D., Vincent M. Bivins, M.D.,
Frederic G. Ransom, M.D., Clifton A. Latting, M.D., Tina Y. Simpson, M.D.,
Johnny W. Scott, Ph.D., M.D., Theotis Buggs, Jr., M.D.
Golden Educators: Principals; Sandra D. Kindell, Willie C. Goldsmith, Jr.,
Damita Dunn-Pitts, Nichole Davis Williams, Ph.D., Steve Brown, Caroly J. Denson
Golden Jurist: Attorneys; Cynthia Forma Wilkinson, David Gespass, O. Tameka Wren, Arnita Brown Foster, Bryon R. Perkins. Golden First Lady: Mrs. Hattie
H. Coleman and Mrs. Nellie Crenshaw
The Prom We Never Had: Class of ’63
Other events highlighting the people who made the Movement included a prom for the seniors of the Class of 1963. Birmingham school officials cancelled the prom as punishment for those young schoolchildren who dare march in mass demonstrations in early May 1963.
Those students, some as young as 7, were arrested for non-violently protesting against racial segregation and for freedom. Some of the children faced police dogs and powerful fire hoses. Their harsh treatment brought national attention to Birmingham and turned world’s conscience against the evils of hatred and racial discrimination. Without the children’s bravery, change might never have come to African Americans and other citizens.
CNN and other national media covered “The Prom We Never Had.”
Read more about this from Denise Stewart’s story, 50 Years Late, a Prom Comes to Birmingham, at The Root and on the prom itself, High School Prom, 50 Years Later, at CNN. You can also read our commentary on the event, Wanted: Inspired Children To Change The World (Again), at Birmingham View Blogs.
Remembering the Survivors of 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
Bishop Jim Lowe, pastor of Guiding Light Church, held special events for the now-grown children who survived the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing.
Four girls died in the tragic bombing on Sept. 15, 1963, set by a group of Ku Klux Klansmen who were angry over the beginning of school integration in Birmingham. But many more youths lived with the pain of that day, including Sarah Collins who lost her sister, Addie Mae Collins, and one of her eyes in the blast. The other girls who died were Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley.
Lowe, himself a survivor, allowed some of those now-grown children to tell their story as part of their emotional healing. And on Sept. 15, 2013, Lowe’s church held a special Sunday service for them. He asked his members and visitors from area white churches to show appreciation for the survivors and praying for their emotional healing.
His sermon was “A Love That Forgives,” based on the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers who sold him into slavery. It was the same sermon that would have been preached at Sixteenth Street Baptist before the bomb blast that shattered lives of the survivors.
Read more about this story on Birmingham View, Special Services at Guiding Light Honors 16th Street Church Bombing Survivors
