16th Street Baptist Church Bombing: Justice Served?

If we can only get to know ourselves, to know that in us is a sovereign power, is an authority that is absolute, then in the next twenty-four hours we would have a new race, we would have a nation, an empire, resurrected, not from the will of others to see us rise, but from our own determination to rise, irrespective of what the world thinks

-Hon. Marcus Garvey

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1963. Birmingham, Alabama. The 16^th Street Baptist Church.
Four little black girls.

I wasn’t there, but I can still feel the tremors in my soul. The rippling under-current caused by the explosion that claimed their young lives radiated through every African-American all over the world. This is during a time of racial and civil unrest. Yesterday, the rumbling could be felt again. Like thunder before the rain, there was rumbling. With the conviction of Thomas Blanton Jr., a shout should have been heard around the world.

Finally, there is a measure of justice.

I really had to reach deep to try to understand this horrific event. Four little souls sacrificed by the Creator to teach the nation a lesson. This is not about being black anymore. This is about unity. We stood as one, at that time, raising high in the air our clenched fists. We grieved together and wept for the families that wouldn’t see a graduation or a wedding.

In that same spirit of togetherness, let us now rejoice over the long awaited conviction of the man who stole our beautiful children and stifled their laughter. Nearly 40 years have passed, yet we remain distant members of the congregation at the 16^th Street Baptist Church. Their names forever etched in our minds: Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, and Cynthia Wesley. They were the daughters of a weary nation. Their memory imprinted forever on the pages of our own history.

It’s been a long time coming. But it is here. And in its wake, let us not forget all of those men and women, boys and girls, who suffered and struggled for us to have many of the liberties we so often take for granted. Let us not focus on how long it took, instead let us channel our energy into creating and instigating more change. For as we all know, no matter how long it takes coming, a "change gon' come". Indeed, it is inevitable.

                                                                        by Bridgette Hogan
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Bridgette is a contributing writer of Blacksonville.com