Short And Long Term Effects Of The Birmingham Bombing

The Birmingham Church Bombing is possibly one of the most significant events in history throughout the segregation period, majorly for the African American communities that were affected by this time. The causes, nature, shot-term and long-term impacts of this bombing all play a role in its significance both at the time and today.

As of the late 1960’s, Birmingham in Alabama was known to be one of America’s most segregated and racially discriminatory cities, due to the racism present in this city, it meant that there were many events of segregation that caused this bombing. At that time, the governor of Alabama, George Wallace was a leading figure of desegregation. Birmingham, in history has one of the strongest and most violent chapters

The bomb sprayed mortar and bricks from the front of the church and it led to the interior walls of the church caving in. Many of the parishioners were able to evacuate the building as it filled will smoke, essentially saving themselves as the church was engulfed in itself. Four bodies of young girls were found beneath the rubble in a restroom which was located in the basement. There was 14-year-old Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Carole Robertson as well as 11-year-old Denis McNair. Sarah Collins who was also in the restroom with the other girls at the time and was 10 years of age did not die, although lost her right eye. 20 people lost their lives to the Ku Klux Klan that day, and although they succeeded with that event, it only grew the African American’s even stronger and more resilient as a

It was revealed later that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had information relating to the identities of the bombers by 1965 and took no action upon this vital knowledge. J Edgar Hoover, the then-head of FBI disapproved of the civil rights movement. In 1977, Alabama Attorney General Bob Baxley reopened the investigation and KKK leader Robert Chambliss was brought to trial and then was convicted of murder, he died in prison in 1965. The case was yet again reopened in 1980, 1988 and 1977 when 2 other KKK members, Thomas Blanton and Bobby Frank Cherry were brought to trial. Blanton was convicted in 2001 and Cherry in 2002. A fourth suspect, Herman Frank Cash died in 1994 before he could be convicted and brought to trial. Historians speak in annoyance about how the legal system was so extremely slow to give justice. The effect of this bombing was significant and immediate, although the effects dragged on as well. Outrage that was built over the deaths of the four innocent girls increased support behind the continuous struggle to end segregation, support in which would aid lead to the passage of both the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In that sense, the impact of the bomb was generally the pure opposite of what it’s perpetrators had