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==Notable bomb incidents== | ==Notable bomb incidents== | ||
===[[1949]]=== | |||
* [[March 24]]: The [[S. L. Green residence|home]] of Bishop [[S. L. Green]] at [[1st Street West|1st Street]] and [[11th Avenue West]] was destroyed by dynamite. | |||
* [[July 28]]: Three sticks of dynamite were thrown into the [[Milton Curry, Jr residence|home]] of [[Milton Curry, Jr]] at 1100 [[Center Street North]], but did not explode. | |||
* [[August 12]]: Curry's residence was again targeted by dynamite, this time damaging windows. | |||
* August 12: The [[E. B. DeYampert residence|home]] of [[E. B. DeYampert]] at 1104 Center Street North was damaged by dynamite on the same evening. | |||
===[[1950]]=== | |||
* [[April 22]]: Milton Curry, Jr's home was targeted a third time. The larger bomb nearly destroyed the house entirely. Two people inside escaped without injury. | |||
===[[1956]]=== | ===[[1956]]=== | ||
* [[December 25]]: [[Fred Shuttlesworth]]'s [[Fred Shuttlesworth residence|residence]] in [[Collegeville]] bombed, collapsing the parsonage. | * [[December 25]]: [[Fred Shuttlesworth]]'s [[Fred Shuttlesworth residence|residence]] in [[Collegeville]] bombed, collapsing the parsonage. The adjacent [[Bethel Baptist Church]] was also bombed, shattering windows. | ||
===[[1957]]=== | ===[[1957]]=== | ||
* [[April 10]]: Two days after [[George Dickerson]], pastor of [[1st Baptist Church Kingston]], bought [[George Dickerson residence|the house]] at 1143 [[12th Place North]] it was extensively damaged by a dynamite blast. | |||
* April: [[Ashbury Howard]] residence in [[Bessemer]]. | * April: [[Ashbury Howard]] residence in [[Bessemer]]. | ||
* April: [[Allen Temple]] | * [[April 28]]: The [[Allen Temple AME Church]] at [[9th Avenue Bessemer|9th Avenue]] and [[22nd Street Bessemer|22nd Street]] in [[Bessemer]] was bombed during a service, showering the choir with plaster debris. | ||
* July: A home under construction on [[Dynamite Hill]] | * July: A home under construction on [[Dynamite Hill]] | ||
* November: A home under construction in Bessemer | * November: A home under construction in Bessemer | ||
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===[[1958]]=== | ===[[1958]]=== | ||
* [[April 28]]: [[Temple Beth-El]], 54 sticks of dynamite placed, but failed to go off | * [[April 28]]: [[Temple Beth-El]], 54 sticks of dynamite were placed, but failed to go off after being doused by rain. | ||
* May: [[Dora Muldin]] residence in Birmingham | * May: [[Dora Muldin]] residence in Birmingham | ||
* [[June 29]]: [[Bethel Baptist Church]] in Collegeville | * [[June 29]]: [[Bethel Baptist Church]] in [[Collegeville]] was targeted again. Guards managed to move a paint can full of dynamite from the church to a ditch before it exploded, but nearby windows were still blown out by the blast. | ||
* July: [[William Blackwell]] residence | * July: [[William Blackwell]] residence | ||
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===[[1962]]=== | ===[[1962]]=== | ||
* January: [[New Bethel Baptist Church]] | * [[January 16]]: [[New Bethel Baptist Church]] at [[13th Avenue]] and [[Sipsey Street]] was hit by two sticks of dynamite, causing minor damage. | ||
* January: [[St Luke's Zion Church]] | * January 16: [[St Luke's AME Zion Church]] at 3937 [[12th Avenue North]] was damaged by two sticks of dynamite. | ||
* January: [[Trinity Church of God]] | * January 16: [[Trinity Church and Kingdom of God in Christ]] at 2505 [[24th Street North]] was damaged by two sticks of dynamite. | ||
* January: 4-unit apartment house under construction | * January: 4-unit apartment house under construction | ||
* December: | * [[December 14]]: [[Bethel Baptist Church]] was bombed a third time, the explosion occurred across the street, but still shattered windows at the church and parsonage. | ||
===[[1963]]=== | ===[[1963]]=== | ||
[[Image:Gaston Motel damage.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Bomb damage at the Gaston Motel]] | [[Image:Gaston Motel damage.jpg|right|thumb|225px|Bomb damage at the Gaston Motel]] | ||
* March: [[Howard Robinson]] residence in Birmingham | * March: [[Howard Robinson]] residence in Birmingham | ||
* [[May 11]]: [[A. D. King]]'s [[A. D. King residence|residence]] in | * [[May 11]]: [[A. D. King]]'s [[A. D. King residence|residence]] at 721 [[12th Street Ensley|12th Street]] in [[Ensley]] was hit by two bombs that exploded minutes apart. The home was destroyed. | ||
* [[May 11]]: [[A. G. Gaston Motel]] | * [[May 11]]: [[A. G. Gaston Motel]] | ||
* [[August 10]]: [[St James United Methodist Church (Warrior)|St James United Methodist Church]] in [[Warrior]] was destroyed by arsonists. | |||
* August: [[Loveman's]] department store | * August: [[Loveman's]] department store | ||
* mid August: [[Arthur Shores]]' [[Arthur Shores residence|residence]] | * mid August: [[Arthur Shores]]' [[Arthur Shores residence|residence]] | ||
* [[September 4]]: Arthur Shores' residence. Bomb exploded while repairs were underway from previous blast. | * [[September 4]]: Arthur Shores' residence. Bomb exploded while repairs were underway from previous blast. | ||
* [[September 12]]: [[A. G. Gaston]]'s [[A. G. Gaston residence|residence]] in [[Robinwood]] | * [[September 12]]: [[A. G. Gaston]]'s [[A. G. Gaston residence|residence]] in [[Robinwood]] | ||
* [[September 15]]: [[16th Street Baptist Church]], 19 sticks of dynamite [[1963 church bombing|exploded on Sunday morning]], killing 4 | * [[September 15]]: [[16th Street Baptist Church]], 19 sticks of dynamite [[1963 church bombing|exploded on Sunday morning]], killing 4 young girls. | ||
===[[1964]]=== | ===[[1964]]=== | ||
===[[1965]]=== | ===[[1965]]=== | ||
* [[Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church]], bomb disarmed | * [[March 21]]: [[Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church]], at [[10th Avenue North]] and [[Center Street North|Center Street]] was targeted during Mass by a bomb containing 50 sticks of dynamite. It was disarmed while the priest continued the liturgy. | ||
* March 21: Another 50-stick bomb was left at [[A. D. King]]'s [[A. D. King residence|residence]] in [[Ensley]], but failed to explode. | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
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* "[http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/u?/p4017coll2,545 20th Bombing Here Against Negroes]" (September 16, 1963) ''Birmingham Post-Herald'' - accessed via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collection | * "[http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/u?/p4017coll2,545 20th Bombing Here Against Negroes]" (September 16, 1963) ''Birmingham Post-Herald'' - accessed via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collection | ||
* "Complain 18 Unsolved B'ham Bombings in 6 Years." (September 19, 1963) ''Jet'' magazine. Vol. 24, No. 22 | * "Complain 18 Unsolved B'ham Bombings in 6 Years." (September 19, 1963) ''Jet'' magazine. Vol. 24, No. 22 | ||
* Temple, Chanda and Jeff Hansen (July 16, 2000) "Ministers' homes, churches among bomb targets." ''Birmingham News'' | |||
{{stub}} | {{stub}} | ||
[[Category:Birmingham nicknames]] | [[Category:Birmingham nicknames]] | ||
[[Category:Civil rights events]] | |||
[[Category:Crimes]] |
Revision as of 17:39, 18 July 2009
This article is about the Birmingham nickname. For the 2002 novel, see Bombingham (novel).
Bombingham was a derisive nickname for Birmingham given because of numerous "unsolved" bombings of African American leaders' homes and meeting places during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and '60s.
The nickname was used predominantly by African Americans.1 The name had been in use earlier, but by 1963, even before the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church, the name was making the national press.1 With the 16th Street Baptist bombing, there had been 50 bombings in Birmingham since 1947 linked to race issues, all of them officially unsolved at the time.2
Notable bomb incidents
1949
- March 24: The home of Bishop S. L. Green at 1st Street and 11th Avenue West was destroyed by dynamite.
- July 28: Three sticks of dynamite were thrown into the home of Milton Curry, Jr at 1100 Center Street North, but did not explode.
- August 12: Curry's residence was again targeted by dynamite, this time damaging windows.
- August 12: The home of E. B. DeYampert at 1104 Center Street North was damaged by dynamite on the same evening.
1950
- April 22: Milton Curry, Jr's home was targeted a third time. The larger bomb nearly destroyed the house entirely. Two people inside escaped without injury.
1956
- December 25: Fred Shuttlesworth's residence in Collegeville bombed, collapsing the parsonage. The adjacent Bethel Baptist Church was also bombed, shattering windows.
1957
- April 10: Two days after George Dickerson, pastor of 1st Baptist Church Kingston, bought the house at 1143 12th Place North it was extensively damaged by a dynamite blast.
- April: Ashbury Howard residence in Bessemer.
- April 28: The Allen Temple AME Church at 9th Avenue and 22nd Street in Bessemer was bombed during a service, showering the choir with plaster debris.
- July: A home under construction on Dynamite Hill
- November: A home under construction in Bessemer
- December: One explosion damaged five houses on Dynamite Hill
1958
- April 28: Temple Beth-El, 54 sticks of dynamite were placed, but failed to go off after being doused by rain.
- May: Dora Muldin residence in Birmingham
- June 29: Bethel Baptist Church in Collegeville was targeted again. Guards managed to move a paint can full of dynamite from the church to a ditch before it exploded, but nearby windows were still blown out by the blast.
- July: William Blackwell residence
1959
1960
1961
1962
- January 16: New Bethel Baptist Church at 13th Avenue and Sipsey Street was hit by two sticks of dynamite, causing minor damage.
- January 16: St Luke's AME Zion Church at 3937 12th Avenue North was damaged by two sticks of dynamite.
- January 16: Trinity Church and Kingdom of God in Christ at 2505 24th Street North was damaged by two sticks of dynamite.
- January: 4-unit apartment house under construction
- December 14: Bethel Baptist Church was bombed a third time, the explosion occurred across the street, but still shattered windows at the church and parsonage.
1963
- March: Howard Robinson residence in Birmingham
- May 11: A. D. King's residence at 721 12th Street in Ensley was hit by two bombs that exploded minutes apart. The home was destroyed.
- May 11: A. G. Gaston Motel
- August 10: St James United Methodist Church in Warrior was destroyed by arsonists.
- August: Loveman's department store
- mid August: Arthur Shores' residence
- September 4: Arthur Shores' residence. Bomb exploded while repairs were underway from previous blast.
- September 12: A. G. Gaston's residence in Robinwood
- September 15: 16th Street Baptist Church, 19 sticks of dynamite exploded on Sunday morning, killing 4 young girls.
1964
1965
- March 21: Our Lady Queen of the Universe Catholic Church, at 10th Avenue North and Center Street was targeted during Mass by a bomb containing 50 sticks of dynamite. It was disarmed while the priest continued the liturgy.
- March 21: Another 50-stick bomb was left at A. D. King's residence in Ensley, but failed to explode.
References
- "Freedom--Now." (May 17, 1963). Time. Accessed January 30, 2007.
- Birnbaum, Jesse. (September 27, 1963). "Where the Stars Fall." Time. Accessed January 30, 2007.
- "20th Bombing Here Against Negroes" (September 16, 1963) Birmingham Post-Herald - accessed via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collection
- "Complain 18 Unsolved B'ham Bombings in 6 Years." (September 19, 1963) Jet magazine. Vol. 24, No. 22
- Temple, Chanda and Jeff Hansen (July 16, 2000) "Ministers' homes, churches among bomb targets." Birmingham News