Across the Street in Birmingham AL (2 of 3)
Across the Street (2 of 3)
Directly across the street from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, is Kelly Ingram Park. The park marks the beginning of the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail; a self-guided walking tour of the downtown area which takes in key spots along the routes taken by civil rights protesters.
Several installations are bisected by the walkway, so you actually walk through them. This is an especially effective way to give an idea of what civil rights demonstrators faced.
The narrow space in this installation conveys the violence protesters experienced when they came face to face with police dogs as they attempted to peacefully protest.
In contrast, one might assume that the subject matter of this installation is more benign...
until you read the words beneath the figures of the two children: "I Ain't Afraid of Your Jail."
Peering through the bars of the wall on the opposite side of the sidewalk places them within the jail they do not fear. (In May 1963, 1,000 school children marched, and over 600 children were jailed, after protesting downtown. The following day 1,000 more students met even more severe consequences when they tried to continue the protest in this park.)
It's moving to wander through this lovely outdoor space and come across art work which evokes a visceral reaction to these not-so-distant historic events. One is left with the sincere hope that they are never repeated, but with a gnawing sense that lessons still need to be learned.
Directly across the street from the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, is Kelly Ingram Park. The park marks the beginning of the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail; a self-guided walking tour of the downtown area which takes in key spots along the routes taken by civil rights protesters.
This statue is dedicated to those who
worked on the front lines for change.
The park itself contains several statues and installations depicting powerful imagery of events associated with the fight against the oppressively segregated experience of the African American community. These pieces of art are each well executed and designed to evoke a reaction to the events they commemorate.
Several installations are bisected by the walkway, so you actually walk through them. This is an especially effective way to give an idea of what civil rights demonstrators faced.
The narrow space in this installation conveys the violence protesters experienced when they came face to face with police dogs as they attempted to peacefully protest.
until you read the words beneath the figures of the two children: "I Ain't Afraid of Your Jail."
Peering through the bars of the wall on the opposite side of the sidewalk places them within the jail they do not fear. (In May 1963, 1,000 school children marched, and over 600 children were jailed, after protesting downtown. The following day 1,000 more students met even more severe consequences when they tried to continue the protest in this park.)
It's moving to wander through this lovely outdoor space and come across art work which evokes a visceral reaction to these not-so-distant historic events. One is left with the sincere hope that they are never repeated, but with a gnawing sense that lessons still need to be learned.
A cornerstone in the wall at the park reads:
"Place of Revolution and Reconciliation".
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