Beginning of Essay
“Ballad of Birmingham” was written in 1969 by Dudley Randall. This poem was written in response to the 1963 bombing of a southern church in Birmingham, Alabama. Although it deals with an unfortunate and upsetting situation, the poem has a catchy sound and u ....

Middle of Essay
.... relations were not good between African Americans and whites. African Americans were often the target of hate crimes and prejudice. The theme of the poem is not directly stated, it is to be understood by its audience. The poem tells the story of a young girl who asks her mother if she can participate in a Freedom March on the streets of Birmingham. Her mother refuses to let her go due to the fact that there is a high risk that the march is potentially dangerous. Instead of a march in the streets, the mother suggests that the daughter go to church and sing in the choir, where she will be safe. The poem takes an unexpected turn when the ....