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History in the 205 by Hannah Richey Birmingham has been an important location of Black history in the south spanning since before the Civil Rights movement and after it. For the purpose of learning about one of the most important periods in Alabama history, here is a collection of a few place in and near Birmingham.
Kelly Ingram Park
Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Picryl
Kelly Ingram Park was the central location of the protests organized by Reverend James Bevel in May 1963. In 1992, the park was renovated alongside the founding of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute as “A Place of Revolution and Reconciliation.” Bevel was originally from Mississippi and became the director of Direct Action and Nonviolent Education for the SCLC and organized the Children’s Crusade. This was the event often shown in media about the Civil Rights Movement where Police commissioner Bull Conner used police dogs and fire hoses against children. The park has statues depicting the events of the protests as well as memorials of those who made the movement possible. The park has a guided audio tour available by calling 205-307-5455. The park is free to visit.
