To begin with, Birmingham was considered one of the most racist cities in the South (Morris 252). For example, the Klu Klux Klan had a strong presence and “friends in high places” in the community. In addition, some believed that Birmingham’s Eastview 13 Klavern of the Klan was the most violent. Due to the fifty bombing that had “rocked” black churches and homes in Birmingham, it was know as “Bombingham” (Hampton and Fayer 124). By provoking these racists, attention for the movement would be gained through the press, and would eventually, attract the attention of the entire nation and the federal government.
Secondly, the SCLC had a well established organization in Birmingham. According to Rev. Wyatt Walker, the SCLC “had a budget of about a million dollars and a staff consisting of about one hundred full-time people”, in 1963 (Morris 253). “Birmingham was a tremendous organizational operation”, said Rev. Walker (qtd. in Morris 253). Rev. Walker also felt that Birmingham was so successful because the SCLC was completely in charge (Morris 252). Furthermore, one of the SCLC founders, Fred Shuttlesworth, had been fighting white supremacy in Birmingham since 1956 (Fairclough 112). Therefore, he was well know and determined to change the ways in Birmingham.
Next, Birmingham was chosen because of the presence of Commissioner Eugene “Bull” Connor. King’s main strategy was to trigger “the unsophisticated redneck” to use violence against protesters so that the federal government would have no choice but to force the local segregationists to meet their demands (Morris 252). Connor played directly in King’s hands. After packing the jails, he brought in firefighters and ordered them to turn the hoses on the protesters. K-9 forces were also brought in and allowed to attack protesters (Cozzens 2).
While the nation watched, the demonstrations continued and the violence worsened. Because the jails had been filled, the police were at a loss of what to do. Finally, despite the objections of city officials, the Birmingham business community agreed to integrate lunch counters and hire more blacks because they feared damage would be done to their downtown stores (Cozzens 2) . Dr. King had won a major battle for true freedom.
Works Cited
- Cozzens, Lisa “Birmingham” 1997, modified June 29, 1998
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Fairclough, Adam. To Redeem the Soul of America
Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1987
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Hampton, Henry and Steve Fayer. Voices of Freedom
New York: Bantam Books, 1990
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Morris, Aldon. The Origins of the Civil Rights Movement
New York: The Free Press, 1986
