Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Cynthia Wesley were then interred during joint funeral attended by over 8,000 mourners. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. ). As part of the movement, African American churches served as its spiritual backbone and were used as meeting places for the black community. It wasn't until 1977 that anyone was charged, at which time a Klan leader was convicted for the murders. 0 cemeteries found in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA. "Wow. Addie Mae was buried at Birmingham's Greenwood Cemetery. In the months leading up to the church bombing, the Civil Rights Movement had made strides in the city of Birmingham. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! Fred Shuttlesworth, left, and Ralph Abernathy as they attend funeral services at the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church for three of the four Black girls killed in the church bombing. When the debris was searched for survivors, the bodies of the four young girls were found: ; Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Carole Robertson. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. In 1998, the Collins family requested that Addie Mae's body be exhumed and moved to another cemetery. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. They marched with Martin Luther King Jr. through overpowering water hoses and vicious dogs. Images of this reality led to reform of the segregation laws, including in schools and at lunch counters. After decades of neglect, the cemetery records were found to be incomplete and the location of the body had been lost. Photo byThe Washington Post Photo/Hal Yeager/Getty Images. Try again later. Birmingham, Alabama: Graveside services at Woodlawn cemetery as body of Cynthia Dianne Wesley was buried . Although most Americans do not know her name, Addie Mae is a national icon of sorts. Victims (from left): Denise McNair, 11; Carole Robertson, 14; Addie Mae Collins, 14; and Cynthia Wesley, 14, are shown in these 1963 photos. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. The bomb went off on a Sunday morning, killing Denise McNair, 11, and Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins and Cynthia Wesley, all 14. . Those disparities stem from laws that allow for medical schools to take possession of bodies of the homeless (who are more likely to be black than white) and "presumed consent" laws, which allow hospitals and coroners to assume that a dead person would want to donate their body parts. He means they may not have physically planted the bomb, but by contributing in other small or large ways to the racist and hatred-filled climate in that city, they, too, should be considered guilty for harming those girls. But there had been nothing so evil as the dynamiting of children during Sunday School.. Inicio; Servicios. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Three day after the bombing, funeral services were held for Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, both 14, and 11-year-old Denise McNair. Check out how leafcutter ants work in spectacular close-up video, Weird science and tech are bringing magick back, Look into the empty eyes of an ancient, giant fish, Start your musical journey with the Populele Smart Ukulele, now only $159.99, Enjoy a new vantage view of your computer with this portable 15.6-inch OLED screen, now only $396, This beautifully refurbished MacBook Pro is a great price for a limited time, Terms At Flers Courcelette, some of the 40 or so primitive tanks advanced over a mile into enemy lines but were too slow to hold their positions read more, During the Korean War, U.S. Marines land at Inchon on the west coast of Korea, 100 miles south of the 38th parallel and just 25 miles from Seoul. Add to your scrapbook. Sorry! (Tom Self/ Birmingham News), Original caption: The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing kills four girls and also leaves a scene of devastation. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Read about what we do with the data we gather in our Privacy Policy. Gangs of black and white youths battled in the street, and businesses went up in flames. Now lunch counters were no longer closed to blacks, and a federal court had just ordered white schools in the city to admit black children. Fred Shuttlesworth. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Oops, we were unable to send the email. At 10:22 a.m., a bomb exploded under the steps of the church. The tragedy sparked a surge of support for federal civil rights legislation, and it led to an intensive voting rights campaign in Selma, Alabama. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Idaho Murders: What Led Police to Bryan Kohberger, Adnan Syed: A Complete Timeline of His Trial, Appeal and Killing of Hae Min Lee. She befriended Condoleezza Rice, a fellow elementary school student who later became U.S. secretary of state. The federal Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, passed in 1968, effectively led to the end of grave robbing and the deliberate bias that went with it. Try again later. Denise McNair, 11, staged plays, dance routines and poetry readings in her familys carport to raise money for muscular dystrophy research. A fourth suspect, Herman Frank Cash, died in 1994, before he could be charged. She attended the 16th Street Baptist Church with her parents, Julius and Alice, as well as her six siblings. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, both 14, had been chosen to serve as ushers. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Cynthia Wesley were interred during joint funeral attended by over 8,000 mourners. On September 15, 1963, Collins and three other African-American girls were killed in a terrorist attack perpetrated by members of the Ku Klux Klan. The murders touched off nationwide outrage. Resend Activation Email. Oops, we were unable to send the email. There is a problem with your email/password. In 1963, when Addie Mae Collins died, it was still relatively common in the South to harvest bodies from cemeteries and the cemeteries chosen were usually the ones that served the black community. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Martin Luther King Jr. said he hoped the deaths "may well serve as the redemptive force that brings light to this dark city.". The bomb collapsed a basement wall, killing Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson - all 14 - and Denise McNair, 11, in a lounge they used for changing into their choir robes. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Your irresponsible and misguided actions have created in Birmingham and Alabama the atmosphere that has induced continued violence and now murder. A few days before the bombing, Wallace had said the nation needed a few first class funerals to resolve its race issues. Vernon Merritt photo, More than 1,600 people attended the memorial service for Carole Rosamond Robertson on Sept. 17, 1963. Make sure that the file is a photo. Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, & Cynthia Wesley, Includes text, author, text categories, vocabulary terms, text dependent questions with answers, Includes text, author, vocabulary terms, text dependent questions. In the rubble of the 16th Street Baptist Church were the bodies of Addie Mae Collins, 14, Denise McNair, 11, Carole Robertson, 14, and Cynthia Wesley, 14. Cherrys trial was delayed after judges ruled he was mentally incompetent to stand trial. She was a member of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham which was, due to the spacious basement auditorium, the center for meetings of the civil rights movement. Astrological Sign: Aries. She sang in her elementary school chorus, played the clarinet, and was a member of Jack and Jill of America, a civic-minded youth and family organization. (Tom Self/ Birmingham News), Original caption: Destruction is seen in the immediate aftermath of the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., Sunday, Sept. 15, 1963. Cross said he believed the violence could have been prevented if civic leaders had spoken out forcefully against the bombings across Birmingham in recent years. Martin Luther King Jr. had delivered his I Have a Dream speech to the largest civil rights march in history only 18 days earlier. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Two young Black men were killed that night, one by police and another by racist thugs. In a few minutes, the worship service would begin. Who will be eaten first? One of the chapters in this book is all about the cadaver trade and how black Americans have historically made up a disproportionate percentage of those cadavers. Every last one of us is condemned for that crime and the bombing before it and a decade ago. At about 10:22 AM, as 26 children were entering the basement assembly room for closing prayers, the bomb exploded, blowing a hole in the east side of the church and injuring dozens. Four girlsAddie Mae Collins (age 14, born April 18, 1949), Carol Denise McNair (age 11, born November 17, 1951), Carole Rosamond Robertson (age 14, born April 24, 1949), and Cynthia Dionne Wesley (age 14, born April 30, 1949)were killed in the attack. To this day, the location of Addie Mae's body remains a mystery. This is a carousel with slides. The church bombing was the third in Birmingham in 11 days after a federal order came down to integrate Alabamas school system. Ministers homes, a black-owned hotel, and other churches had been wrecked. The resulting explosion killed four girls Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Denise McNair. Another two suspects were charged and convicted in 2001 and 2002, a fourth suspect died before charges were brought. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. First off, Medical Apartheid is a must-read, detailing the disturbing history of how medical science has used black Americans, living and dead, as part of experimentation and training. Soon afterward, the read more, Nikita Khrushchev becomes the first Soviet head of state to visit the United States. Try again later. Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Fifteen sticks of dynamite were planted in the church basement, underneath what turned out to be the girls restroom. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Members of the Ku Klux Klan planted a box of dynamite at the church, which was a major organizing center for the black community and civil rights protests. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. The lives of all four girls intertwined and tragically ended at 10:21 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, 1963,when a bomb planted by Klansmen outside the ladies lounge at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham exploded, instantly killing them and injuring 20 others. Thomas told those gathered "The greatest tribute you can pay to Carole is to be calm, be loving, be kind, be innocent. Photo by AP Images. cemeteries found in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. C.E. Known as "Bombingham" for the 50 racially motivated bombings that took place there between 1945 and 1962, Birmingham, Alabama remained completely segregated in the early 1960s and was a prime focus of the civil rights movement. Now he spoke quietly to a crowd of 8,000 at a joint funeral for three of the bomb victims. Addie Mae Collins was one of the four Black girls, murdered in a racially motivated terrorist attack perpetrated by members. Martin Luther King Jr. is followed by Revs. This browser does not support getting your location. In October 1963, Chambliss was cleared of the murder charge and received a six-month jail sentence and a $100 fine for the dynamite. Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Cynthia Wesley were then interred during joint funeral attended by over 8,000 mourners. She also participated in Saturday dance lessons and the science club. A statement from Alabama's congressional delegation denounced the bombing. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Sarah Collins Rudolph was in the bathroom with her sister Addie Mae Collins during Sunday School when a bomb exploded in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. In the basement ladies lounge of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, four girls were chatting nervously and straightening their fancy white dresses. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Addie Mae Collins' younger sister, Sarah, had been with the four girls when the bomb exploded, but survived the attack as did the other 22 children in the basement. designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated You can always change this later in your Account settings. The family of Carole Robertson attendfuneral services for her on Sept. 17, 1963, in Birmingham. Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, both 14, had been chosen to serve as ushers. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Cynthia Wesley were interred during joint funeral attended by over 8,000 mourners. During the next two weeks, Khrushchevs visit dominated the news and provided some dramatic and humorous moments in the history of the Cold War. There was a problem getting your location. And weve watched with horror as a wave of deadly violence takes the lives of innocent people time and time again in Charleston, South Carolina; in Charlottesville, Virginia; in Poway, California; in El Paso, Texas and in Pittsburgh. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. She died on 15 September 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. Boing Boing is published under a Creative Commons Wallace and his advisers have been sowing the seeds of this disaster," the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law stated. Windows were blown out of nearby businesses as was a stained glass window at the church depicting Christ leading children. Three men were convicted of murdering Addie Mae Collins long after her death, in trials held between 1977 and 2002. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. To honor the girls sacrifice and the powerful impact it had on the civil rights movement, their names were inscribed on the circular black granite table of theCivil Rights Memorialacross the street from the SPLCs headquarters in Montgomery. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Today, we have a president who doesnt bother to disguise his embrace of white nationalists. Blanton was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). "It would have given the extremists an opportunity to reconsider," Cross said. The girls had been dressed in their Sunday best, ready to sing and act as ushers at the adult service, and only a few minutes before the explosion they had been together in the basement women's . This photo shows President Kennedy's visit to Redstone Arsenal on Sept. 11, 1962. Year should not be greater than current year. A memorial statue to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley the four girls killed in the attack now stands in Kelly Ingram Park, across from the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. Condoleezza Rice,who would later become U.S. secretary of state,was among her elementary school friends. "If these cruel and tragic events can only awaken that city and state -- if they can only awaken this entire nation -- to a realization of the folly of racial injustice and hatred and violence, then it is not too late for all concerned to unite in steps toward peaceful progress before more lives are lost," Kennedy said. Her family says someone is responsible for the disappearance of her remains. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. A former Ku Klux Klansman, Thomas Blanton Jr., 62,. In addition to the four fatalities, more than 20 people were injured. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising Before this day was over, the whole world would mourn. When the crew dug up the grave there was nothing in it. God still has a way of wringing good out of evil, he told the mourners. Please enter your email and password to sign in. In September 1963 when legal segregation was dying white supremacists responded with violence to Americas reckoning on racial injustice. "We've been expecting this all along.". When the debris was searched for survivors, the bodies of four young girls were found; Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, and Carole Robertson. So it should come as no surprise that weve seen this dangerous and inherently violent ideology once again become part of themainstream political realm. Drag images here or select from your computer for Addie Mae Collins memorial. There was an error deleting this problem. One. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Name: Addie Mae Collins Birth Year: 1949 Birth date: April 18, 1949 Birth State: Alabama Birth City: Birmingham Birth Country: United States Gender: Female Best Known For: Addie Mae Collins was. The Robertsons made funeral arrangements before learning that the other families were planning a combined service with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, delivering the eulogy. SPLC is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 63-0598743), Local Policing and Immigration Enforcement, Request for Legal Assistance Economic Justice, plays, dance routines and poetry readings, good student who loved reading and dancing. Try again. When Addie Mae Collins was born on 31 October 1884, in Texas, United States, her father, Robert Clay Collins, was 39 and her mother, Martha Ann Kennedy, was 22. Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Civil Rights Figure. No one can know with certainty who took the body or why, but many are convinced that her body joined the untold thousands of anonymous black cadavers on anatomists' tables. Later that day, 13-year-old Virgil Ware, riding on the handlebars of a bicycle in Docena, was shot by two young white men. (Tom Self/ Birmingham News) ORG XMIT: ALBIN, Original caption: Negros weep after 16th Street church bombing. Three men responsible for Collins' murder were brought to justice between 1977 and 2002. Sarah Collins, Addie Mae's sister, lost her right eye. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. She attended the 16th Street Baptist Church with her parents, Julius and Alice, as well as her six siblings. In May 1963, city and civil rights leaders negotiated the integration of public spaces, sparking widespread violence. Addie Mae Collins. Add to your scrapbook. The long struggle was won mainly because children were brave enough to march into the overpowering water hoses and vicious dogs of Police Commissioner Bull Connor. ChrisMcNair was an accomplished photographer and one of the first Black members of the Alabama Legislature. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA. Another 22 people were injured in. In a later statement, the FBI stated that their investigation had been impeded by the lack of witness cooperation in Birmingham. George Wallacefor creating the toxic climate that led to the church bombing. This is different from intentionally seeking out the bodies of black people because you think they're less human or that their consent matters less, Washington writes. In the end, more than 20 people were hospitalized with injuries. I happened to stumble across this story last week, while reading Harriet Washington's book, Medical Apartheid.