Ballad of Birmingham

Ballad of Birmingham is a 1965 poem by Dudley Randall. It was written in response to the 1963 bombing at 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. The poem was set to music by Jerry Moore in 1967.

Ballad of Birmingham depicts an African-American mother and her daughter conversing about a "Freedom March" in the streets of Birmingham. The young child asks permission to participate in the march, but her mother objects and describes the dangers that exist for the freedom marchers. Instead, she is sent to church, which is perceived to be a place of safety. Soon, after the daughter leaves for church, an explosion is heard. The mother unfortunately discovers that her daughter’s life has been taken from her in one violent act of racism. Consequently, the mother must accept reality and cope with the loss of her child.

References

• Randall, Dudley (1965) "Ballad of Birmingham." Rpt. in Gardner, Janet E. et al (2009) Literature: A Portable Anthology. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford, pp. 588-589 ISBN 9780312461867

External links

• "On Ballad of Birmingham" at english.illinois.edu