FNED 502 Social Issues in Education

June 19, 2018

Mighty Times: The Children's March

A Documentary Film by by Hudson and Houston

This documentary tells the story of how young African AMerican people of Birmingham braved arrest, fire hoses, and police dogs in 1963 and brought segregation to its knees. In 1963, Birmingham, Alabama, was the “do-or-die” battleground for the Civil Rights Movement. Heavy intimidation by Birmingham authorities left the Movement Struggling.

Because African American Lives was so restricted in the South leaders used a word-of-mouth system to organized a group of about 4, 000 African American school-aged children. They did this under secrecy .The radio was used to spread secret messages about meetings for D-Day. The radio was used a a vehicle to spread awareness of what the current situation in Alabama. The children were invited to desert classrooms at exactly 11 a.m. on “D-Day,” May 2, 1963, touching off a week of mass demonstrations and rioting that shocked the nation. Police tried to stop them. Yet, the children prevailed.

More than 100 eyewitnesses contributed to the storytelling. Other notable participants and organizers like James Orange, Gwendolyn Webb, James Bevel, Harry Belafonte, Dick Gregory, and Andrew Young became part of this group. Their hope and goal was to inspire young children to march to take stands on vital human issues which were affecting their communities and their lives. Racism was a result of the devastating impact of discrimination upon our society.

Dr. King wanted freedom. He wanted to end segregation, he wanted racial equality for all citizens not only in the South, but also across the nation. He decided to go to jail hoping that many protesters would followed his footsteps. Unfortunately his plan did not work. Due to the fact that african american citizens did not have the right to a peaceful life, one without fear of what will happen to them once they stepped out of their houses.  

Children were fed up and were ready to jump in and help change history. They volunteered to be Martin Luther King’s messengers. Once students united, lft their classrooms and started to come in from all over the city, people got excited and started to follow the children. They were headed to Birmingham with a purpose to get arrested. Children movement was growing by the minute. Children packed 16th Street Baptist Church. Children recognized the power people have when they come together for a just cause and they took this upon them and did something.

Children came in by the dozens. The government sent police to take them out to the Streets . “When the police arrested us, they thought we were going to be afraid and start to cry” “They had strange looks to see that people were happy and singing and happy to be arrested” About 973 children were arrested by the end of day 1. Day 2 1922 were arrested. Parents were worried and asked Dr.King what are we going to do my child in in jail. Dr. King calmly told the worried parents not no hold them back from doing what they were doing. The children will be alright. Let them go to jail as they are doing a job for all American and for all mankind. While in jail children kept on singing songs as a way of demonstrating that they were not afraid of being in jail. The children were willing to get water sprayed. All they wanted was equal right. The rights to be a free person just like everybody else.

The City of Birmingham long battle to end injustice, mistreatment against its black citizens came to an end. The City and the white people of Birmingham agreed to integrate. The President Kennedy addresses the Nation And put and end to Segregation.  “all American be afforded to have equal rights” The government was defeated by the Children. The government agencies were not prepare to see children to become the voice that would stand up against injustice. They did not expect children to be the driving force of what became a movement. Children marched for equality and prevailed.

After watching this This documentary I realized  that it was the children who were greatly responsible for integrating Birmingham. This documentary show how communities which are positive about having a bright future  come together to have their voices heard. I am so proud of the children who participated in the march  for doing the right thing. Shame on the local law enforcement who did nothing to end discrimination. They were abusing power and thought they could erase the existence of  many African Americans from the face of the earth. The children kept of singing “freedom” and they got it. People and children of Birmingham Alabama could now benefit from the same rights white people enjoyed. Unfortunately, lives were lost on the process, but the survivors could now walk freely without feeling fear for their life.

People being sprayed with water to stop them from marching.

School- aged children were put in jail just because they wanted to be free.

Children Marched and led the way to social justice and racial equality!