E16: Birmingham Children’s Crusade

Daring Dissent

In May of 1963, hundreds of African American children aged 4-18 took to the streets of Birmingham, Alabama to demand an end to some of the most vicious segregation laws in the country. They were met by fire hoses and attack dogs under the command of Public Safety Commissioner/racist super villain Eugene “Bull” Connor. The children kept coming. Listen in to hear about the inspirations behind this youth activism, the best strategies to take on racists, songs that inspired the movement, Dr. King vs. the Kennedys and how young people were the biggest catalyst behind the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

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Music Credit:

“This Little Light of Mine” by Doris McMurray - courtesy of Library of Congress

“Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn me Round” By Reverb - courtesy of Library of Congress

“We Shall Overcome” by the SNCC Freedom Singers, Pete Seeger, Dorothy Cotton

“Woke up this Morning” by the SNCC Freedom Singers

“I’m on my Way” by Mamie Brown and Carlton Reece

Theme song by Skilsel on pixabay.com

Background music credit to White Hot (freebeats.io)

Album Art by chnkyraptr

Source list for all episodes found here