The Reason for the Struggle

Today I struggled through what was scheduled to be an 18 mile trail run at Red Mountain Park. I almost always complete my scheduled runs as intended. But today was not that day. I managed to finish 12 miles but just barely. I decided to call it a day.

"The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have sav'd my life." -- Falstaff, Henry IV, William Shakespeare

As I began my recovery at my car in the parking lot, I reflected on what went wrong. Yesterday, my family and I drove from Virginia home to Alabama spending 12 hours on the road. I was supposed to do this run yesterday, but with the long road trip necessitating an early start and a late finish, that clearly did not happen. Thus, the long run the day after the long ride.

After church, my family visited one of our favorite Mexican restaurants for lunch. Now, I knew that I would be running many miles not long after lunch, yet I ordered the greasy chicken quesadilla anyway. With sour cream. And tortilla chips. With cheese dip.

With a long trail race a little over a month away, I have been training with Tailwind in my hydration pack. Tailwind is a mix (think Gatorade on steroids) that should meet all the endurance athlete's calorie, hydration, and electrolyte needs. It has worked well for me on several runs in the recent past. It does not, however, work well if you fail to drink enough of it. It was a warm, spring afternoon with temperatures successfully clearing the 70 degree bar. I had been sipping Tailwind every mile throughout my run. I thought I was doing enough. But when I got back to my car, my hydration pack was still 2/3 full after 2 hours of running. Hydration fail.

As I further reflected on my run during my drive home, I realized something deeper about the struggles we all face from time to time. There are often factors in our past that are beyond our control that significantly impact our current experience. Twelve hours in a car wreaks havoc on the hamstrings. This was unavoidable. We see ourselves (but more often, others) struggling to get by without knowing or even considering how such past factors may be operating. 

As we witness the struggles of others (and sometimes ourselves), we are quick to point to bad decisions in the past as the cause of the current struggle. But do we understand -- truly understand -- the reasons for the bad decision? Why in the world did I order the chicken quesadilla? Was the decision influenced by others? Were the future consequences apparent at the time the decision was made?

Just as I failed to realize I was not drinking enough on a long run on a warm day, we sometimes do not comprehend that we are going off track even when we should know better. I certainly had not intended to drink an insufficient amount, but that's what I did.

Going forward, I will strive to examine what is happening (or what has happened) before I reach the point of struggling. Rather than beat myself up when I got home, I decided to give myself a pass this time. And hopefully, I will afford the same courtesy to others.

Pacing not Racing

I have run dozens and dozens of races. On most occasions my goal was to run as fast as I possibly could on that day. Many times I was trying to set a Personal Record (PR). A few times, however, I was just out there to enjoy the experience (the San Francisco Half Marathon comes to mind). When the time came to sign up for Mercedes 2016, I considered my options. In the fall I had just run three fast (for me) half marathons. There wasn’t enough time to train fully for a fast marathon. And I was planning to run 2 ultramarathons in the spring. So where did that leave me? I should run the Mercedes Marathon, but I should use it as a training run rather than a race. I knew that Trak Shak and Resolute Running were providing the pacers for the race, so I inquired about pacing. I simply wanted to learn more about pacing, but before I knew it I was signed up as an official pacer. Little did I know what would come from that encounter.

The first order of business was to ramp up my mileage so that I would be able to complete the distance. I had a good base, so a few, quality weekend long runs would be enough to get me where I needed to be. As I trained for the race, I knew that I would be assigned a pace group that was very manageable for me. The rule of thumb is to assign a pace group time 30-60 minutes more than a pacer’s recent best time. This meant I would likely be assigned anything from the 4 hour, 15 minute to 4 hour, 45 minute group. Knowing this fact completely took much of the pressure off my training. The constant pressure to hit a certain pace on each run was removed. I simply had to focus on accumulating mileage and time on my feet. And the gradual, unrelenting anxiety that leads up to race day was conspicuously absent as well.

I was paired with a running friend and teammate, Stacy Peterson Williams, for the 4:45 group. Neither of us had ever paced a race before, much less a marathon (although we each had run 5 marathons before). Our only anxiety was how to pace (or, rather, how not to fail at pacing). We did some runs with miles at our prescribed marathon pace. We planned as best we could. We talked with Alex Morrow of Resolute Running who gave us some tips. The two main things he told us were to bring in the group on time and to make sure the runners had a fun experience. Having completed several entertaining long runs together, Stacy and I were confident we would all have a good time (pun intended).

Race day promised cool temperatures and a big crowd. We were excited to meet some new runners. As we took the official Mercedes Marathon Pacers 2016 group photo, each pair of pacers was given their official sign. We had seven pace groups covering 15 minute increments from 3:30 to 5:00. The organizers had assembled a wonderful group of people. Some runners, like Suman Silwal, had paced many times before; some were rookies like Stacy and me.

3:30: Cary Morgan / Micah Morgan

3:45: Ann Thomas / Andrea Austin

4:00: Trey Whitt / Jabe McCcoy

4:15: Bradley Wells / PJ Strickland

4:30: Suman Silwal / Randy Stanford

4:45: Dean Thornton / Stacy Williams

5:00: Kat Richardson / Eric Thomas

We looked snazzy in our matching pacer shirts. It was time to run!

Trak Shak / Resolute Running Mercedes Marathon Pacers

As we made our way to the starting line, we were still not sure how many people would join us. It dawned on us as we lined up that we would likely have some half marathoners with us on the first loop. Double the fun! As we gazed toward the starting line, we saw the assembled mass of runners huddled together for warmth. Just above the collective heads of the crowd, we could see the pacing signs like small little beacons. We tried to meet a few runners who anticipated staying with us throughout the race, but the organized chaos prevented a full meet and greet. Before we knew it, the race had begun.

Unless you are in the very front or the very back, the first few miles of the Mercedes Marathon are very crowded. Runners are jostling for position. Some surge ahead, some get passed. For the first few miles, Stacy and I weren’t really sure who was with us, so we just tried to maintain our steady pace. For the 26.2 mile marathon, a time of 4:45 translates to a pace of 10:52 per mile. But anyone who has ever run Mercedes (or any other marathon) knows that runners end up running slightly longer than 26.2 miles. It’s simply not possible to run the shortest possible distance on the course (which is how it is measured). Past experience has taught me that most races are long by 0.01 miles per mile which would translate to a total close to 26.46 miles (26.2 + 0.262 miles). Planning on that distance, we planned to run a pace of about 10:48 minutes per mile.

As the miles rolled by, we began to get acquainted with some of the people around us. The most engaging runner was George, a 69 year old man from Georgia who had only taken up running a few years earlier. Running had helped him lose 60 pounds. He told us stories about himself and kept us thoroughly entertained (even though that was our job). If he got ahead of us or fell behind a little, he would call out for us to make sure we were still there. One of our running friends was worried that she would not be able to keep up our pace for the half marathon. Well, at around mile 6 she and another pacee (noun; 1. a person or thing that is paced -- yes, I made up this word) took off ahead of us and never looked back.

Being so familiar with the course, we were able to help those around us know what was coming. We were a mobile information kiosk:

• “When is that hill I keep hearing about?”
• “How long is the next hill?”
• “Exactly how many hills are on this course?”
• “Where is the next water stop?” (or, the opposite question...)
• “Where is the next porta-potty?”

Stacy and I worked well as a team. We passed the 4:45 sign back and forth every 2 miles. We alternated water stops with one of us holding the sign and keeping the steady pace while the other slowed to grab water or Powerade. If one of us get a little ahead of pace, the other would offer a gentle reminder to slow down. We each scanned the runners around us looking for anyone struggling or in need of diversion.

At the Full/Half marathon divide at Pepper Place on 2nd Avenue, we were separated from some of the half marathoners who had been with us. As we ran along our parallel routes, we could tell one of them was struggling to maintain pace. As Stacy and I debated which of us would go over to help her, George promptly scrambled to her side offering her words of encouragement. (He was again doing our job!) She smiled and kept on running.

At mile 12.5 we heard sirens and car horns blaring behind us. We looked back to see several police cars with lights flashing. We briefly wondered what sort of emergency had happened until we realized that the leader of the marathon was heading down the home stretch. We marveled at his fast and easy stride as he swiftly moved past us on his way to the finish line. Stacy and I did our best to encourage the runners around us as it dawned on them that we still had another lap to go.

While the first loop of Mercedes can feel a little crowded, the second loop can feel a little lonely. When the 3000+ half marathoners turn off for the finish line, the 1000 or so marathoners and relay racers carry on. We continued to have runners surge ahead of us while others dropped back to us trying to hang on. Stacy and I took turns telling stories trying to distract and entertain.

As we passed through the BUTS aid station at Avondale Park (I never did get my piece of bacon), we knew we were in the home stretch. Stacy and I really ramped up the good vibes and encouragement for our merry little band of pacees. Debbie, with a PR of 5:07, was trying to break 5 hours for the first time. Terry, who had fallen back around mile 18, managed to keep us in sight while mustering the energy to rejoin us near the end. Allen, running in long gym shorts, had stayed beside or just ahead of us the whole race and continued on as steady as a metronome. Several times over the last few miles, I checked on Kenneth who showed signs of fatigue and discomfort but never lost our group or complained out loud. Michael, once thought lost, rejoined us and even forged ahead a little. In the last 2 miles we even picked up several new runners as they fought their way to the end. At mile 23, Chris was all smiles as we caught up to him. I gave him a hearty handshake and exhorted to fall in line with us. He said he would try. At mile 24, we caught David doing something between a jog and a walk. He was able to pick up his pace and join us for the next mile with a good attitude on his face and in his voice. But he soon fell behind our group. At mile 25, Richard was walking with a visible limp. Stacy called him by name, imploring him to follow us to the finish. Taking stock of his pain, he managed to start running again and join us.

When we made the next to last turn from 20th Street onto Park Place, Stacy and I fell back slightly to allow our group to enjoy their moment of glory. Michael surged ahead like he was running a 5K. Terry ran with new vigor passing us for the first time in the race. Allen, Richard, Kenneth, and Debbie steadily made their way across the finish line. Debbie finished in 4:43, a PR of 24 minutes! As Stacy and I came down the final straightaway, it was bittersweet. We had had such a good time we didn’t want it to be over. But, as we discussed during the final stretch, 26.2 miles -- even at a comfortable pace -- is still 26.2 miles. It felt good to finish. As we turned around, we felt great joy to see David and Chris finishing strong right behind us.

And then it hit us: it was over. We made our way to the after-party in Boutwell. We found a table of friends and dug into our barbecue sandwiches. We told stories from the race and listened as others did the same. We sought out the pacers of the other groups to ask about their experiences. They all had much the same thing to say: what an honor and joy it was to help others reach their goals.

In the aftermath of the race, Facebook and Twitter exploded with stories of success and enjoyment. Runners and pacers alike described what a great experience it was. Here is just a sample of the comments after the race:

Runner in 4:30 group: “Suman and Randy were great. Thanks for getting me across the finish line for my fastest Mercedes in the past 6 years.”

Pacer in 4:30 group: “I had so much fun pacing this bunch and more!!! A life of a pacer is not all about carrying that sign, it is about motivating runners to finish their first or next marathon on time while having a lot of fun! 4:29:12 finishing time!  4:30 group had fun pacing... It was fun time start to finish. We had few first timers, few PRs, and few repeaters who ran 4:30 last 3 times.”

Runner in 4:00 group: “I need the contact info for Trey who commanded the 4:00 group today. I want to give him & the other gentleman who helped some kind of gratuity for their help. As I was coming up 20th street at the end I almost broke-out in tears for getting a sub-4.”

Runner in 3:45 group: “Thank you again for pacing yesterday! There is no way I could have finished without you and the rest of the group pulling me along!!"

Runner in 3:45 group: “I ran with you in the pace group today. I didn't see you after the race but wanted to say Thanks so much!!! For your encouragement!!! I couldn't have done it without you. Finished at 3:42 which was a 11 minute PR. So good to meet you. Thanks again!!!!”

Pacer in 3:45 group: “I have had four people who ran with [our group] tell me they were able to PR!”

Message to Pacer in 3:45 group: “My friend Bethany said that you were just chatting away and being so sweet to everyone and she was about to die but she kept up with y'all till Mile ten. She was doing the half and got a PR.”

Pacer in 4:15 group: “Likely one of the most rewarding things I've got to do... especially when we got bring across this young Japanese guy who was cramping so bad he couldn't hardly walk... he was crying and so thankful, it was his first marathon!”

Pacer in 3:30 group: “I start with some sort of costume. I also try to talk the whole time. I tell stories of our engagement/wedding. I throw out hypothetical questions such as one I heard on the radio, ‘Would you rather have $50k in cash or $100k in Amazon gift cards?’ I'm constantly trying to cause a distraction. They seem to enjoy it.”

Runner: “I had fun with the 4:30 group on the first loop, and then I lost them and eventually got caught by [the 4:45 group]. I fell off a bit at the end, but I almost caught up. I finished right behind you at 4:43:37, a 35 minute PR for me. From the gentle encouragement to Suman's rowdy coaching, thank you to all the pacers!”

Pacer in 4:45 group: “Pacing Mercedes was SO MUCH FUN!! Met some amazing runners along the way and had a great time with co-pacer Dean! First time pacing for us both, and we were honored and thrilled to do it. Hearing we helped a few people make it to the finish line and even PR made it just that much better! Running people are the best people! Congrats to all the runners that ran their hearts out today!”

If you are looking for a new and rewarding running experience, I highly recommend leading a pace group. The physical rewards are much the same, but the emotional and interpersonal rewards are unique and wondrous. So, here’s to all the pacers that have helped me in the past. I don’t think I adequately thanked you enough for your efforts. I’ll definitely be back for more.

Teammates Not Individuals

Running is often described as an individual sport, and it certainly can be. There are few other sports in which an athlete can pit himself or herself against the entire field as well as against other individual competitors. More often than not, however, runners toe the starting line to compete against only one other person -- themselves. Most runners do not compete against other people; they compete with them. Increasingly, running is becoming a team sport. This is true nationally and locally.

The day before the Mercedes Marathon, I watched the Olympic Marathon Trials in Los Angeles as eventual winner, Amy Cragg, worked hard to keep her friend and teammate, Shalane Flanagan, by her side as the race came to a close. Flanagan was fading, but Cragg refused to let her slow down or quit. Only when it was clear that Flanagan would finish in the top 3 to make the Olympic team did Cragg take off on her own to break the tape and claim the victory. At the end, Cragg was there to catch Flanagan in her arms as she collapsed across the finish line. Teammates, not individuals.

Locally, there has been a recent increase in the number of people banding together to run. The number of local Group Runs in Birmingham has increased. Groups like the Birmingham Ultra and Trail Society (BUTS), the Village Runners and BRATS can become more family than friends. More and more people are signing up with running coaches such as Cadence Run Coaching, Resolute Running, and Run University. Runners get more than coaches when they sign up; they also get teammates. These teammates can help each other tough out a long run. They can help each other complete a speed work session they never thought possible. And they can help each other get through a difficult race.

When you become a teammate, you come to appreciate the give and take, the reciprocal nature of the relationship. In the times that you need help, someone is there to lend a hand. In the times you reach a goal, someone is there to celebrate with you. But in those times when a teammate is striving or struggling, you can be there to offer support and encouragement.

   

One of my recent weeks of running could not have been more emblematic of this dynamic. On Tuesday, our team had speed work at the track. The morning was unusually warm and humid for this time of year. No one was hitting their paces, and almost everyone was struggling mightily. But, through encouragement and laughter, no one quit or gave up. We got through it together. On Thursday, I joined several teammates for a trail run at Red Mountain Park. I was still feeling the effects of the speed work session from two days before, so I was not feeling my best. Within our small, merry band of trail runners were three people who had run or qualified for the Boston Marathon. For the record, I have not in the past nor will I ever even dream of qualifying for Boston. These faster and more gifted runners ran alongside the rest of us. They never complained about our “moderate” pace. They took turns dropping back to make sure our slowest runner never felt alone at the end of the pack. Teammates, not individuals. On Friday, the following day, I had the honor of paying it forward for a friend who is trying to get into running. He is attempting to run his first 5K without walking. We met for his scheduled training run (short for me, but long for him). Just as my teammates had done for me the day before, I slowed my pace to match my friend. I tried to make sure he had the best experience possible. He persevered through a tough run, and I had the best of times. And I’ll be there by his side on race day.

Running so often crystallizes the human experience. There are those who are fast and those who are slow, but we all run the race. We achieve more than we ever thought possible by following those who have done it before. The process is more manageable together than alone. We receive the most joy in helping others. Teammates, not individuals.

Stumble and Fall

I had the great pleasure of spending the morning on the trails of Oak Mountain State Park on a cool, crisp, clear day. I parked at the North Trail Head and took off up the rugged and steep Blue Trail. I was headed for King's Chair. Reaching the edge of the overlook, I took a few minutes to admire the view and reflect.

On the way down from King's Chair, it occurred to me that I had not fallen on a trail in awhile. I had hardly even stumbled on my way up. I found this amusing since I had recently fallen while running on the roads...twice. As I made my way along the South Rim on the Blue Trail, I was a extra careful with my footing not wanting to ruin my trail streak.

I also paused for a moment at the highest point in the park, Shackleford Peak, to take a few pictures and to rest for a bit. I knew that the toughest section of trail in the entire park lay before me: the descent on the White Trail. Fortunately, I had made the descent many times. I knew the trail well. I was familiar with its jagged rocks and sheer drop-offs. I knew the spots where I was likely to turn an ankle or stub my toe on a protruding root. I took my time. I was cautious. I carefully placed my feet on solid ground. And I did not fall.

As I reached the smooth trail at the bottom of the hill, I smiled at having avoided a tumble. I reflected on how I had averted trouble. I had experience. I had fallen in certain spots before. I was aware. I proactively looked for difficult situations and avoided them. 

I could not help but think about my life. I'm a little older now. I've made mistakes. But this experience has made me cognizant of the troubles I may encounter going forward. I know how to avoid the mistakes I've made in the past. I am familiar with the rocks in my life. I know the roots that have tripped me up before. And this has made me aware of other potential pitfalls that lay out there before me.

And so on I run while I still have strength. I could avoid stumbling altogether by not running trails. But, not falling is not the goal; successfully navigating the trails of my life is the goal. 

Funny how the words "trails" and "trials" are so close.

MLK Day Run 2016

For the past few years, some of my friends have honored Martin Luther King Jr. Day by visiting a few historic sites in downtown Birmingham. Last year, we invited a wider audience and formalized our tour. The tour includes many sites of interest with regards to the history of Birmingham with special emphasis on those sites with significance to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

I encourage you to visit the places listed below. Enjoy this virtual tour of Birmingham. Make plans to join us on MLK Day 2017.

• Railroad Park

• Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city.
• Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation.
• Hailed as "Birmingham's Living Room," Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham's downtown area with Southside and UAB's campus.

• Negro Southern League Museum (NSLM)
• Tells the story of African-American baseball in America through the eyes of Birmingham, Alabama
• Exhibits highlight everything from the legacy of Jackie Robinson and the integration of Major League Baseball to individual players with local ties like Willie C. Young, a one-armed Birmingham native who pitched for the Birmingham Black Barons.
• The Birmingham Black Barons were the longest running team in Negro League Baseball history. They were charter members of the Negro Southern League in 1920 and still had a team in the league in 1962 when it folded.

• Lyric Theatre
• Built in 1914 for B.F. Keith’s Vaudeville circuit, the Lyric is one of the few theaters still existing that was specifically built to maximize the acoustics and close seating needed for vaudeville shows.
• Major stars such as the Marx Brothers, Mae West, Sophie Tucker, Will Rogers, and Milton Berle played the Lyric. Berle said it was ‘as fine a theater as any in New York.’
• During the 1920s it was the custom to attend shows at the Lyric Theatre on Monday nights – if you could get a reservation. Tickets cost from 25 to 75 cents.
• In summer, air was fanned over two tons of ice a day to keep customers cool.
• Though seating was segregated the Lyric was one of the first places in the South where blacks and whites could watch the same show at the same time for the same price.
• Grand Opening Ceremonies on January 14, 2016

• Alabama Theatre
• The Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama, is a movie palace built by the Paramount-Publix Corporation in 1927.
• First public building in Alabama to have air conditioning
• Originally constructed to show silent films, the Alabama features an ornate Mighty Wurlitzer organ.
• In 1998, the Alabama underwent a complete restoration. Gold leaf and other paint was cleaned or replaced, seats were replaced or recovered, and some carpet and drapes were replaced.

• Alabama Walk of Fame
• 19 stars
• Actors including Tallulah Bankhead, Kate Jackson, and Jim Nabors
• Authors including Fannie Flagg, Truman Capote, and Harper Lee
• Only 1 African-American -- Nell Carter

• Eddie Kendrick Memorial Park
• Memorial garden to singer and Birmingham native Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations.
• Though Kendrick was born in Union Springs, his family moved to Birmingham while he was a boy. He met Paul Williams in their church choir in the late 1940s. They helped form the Temptations in Detroit in 1961.
• #1 hits included “My Girl”, "I Can't Get Next to You", and "Just My Imagination"
• The park uses Kendricks' family name sans the "s", which was added early in his career.
• Park features a bronze sculpture of Kendricks by local artist Ron McDowell, as well as sculptures of the other Temptations, set into a granite wall. The singers' cuffs each have a letter on them, together spelling "BHAM" from left to right.
• Inscribed on the granite are the names of Temptation's hit songs. Recorded music can be heard throughout the park, featuring songs by Kendricks and the Temptations.

• Carver Theatre/Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
• Erected in 1935.
• The theatre design was redrawn in 1945 and incorporated all of the modern comforts and features, including 1,300 of the latest model theatre chairs and the newest development in air conditioning, sound, and projection.
• The Carver was one of several theatres in the Fourth Avenue area offering first-run movies to African-Americans.
• The City of Birmingham began the renovation of the Carver Theatre as a performing arts theatre and the new home of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and museum in 1990. The Carver Theatre operates as a non-profit, multi-use community theatre, open for bookings by local and national groups.
• This art-deco museum honors great jazz artists with ties to the state of Alabama. Exhibits convey the accomplishments of the likes of Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton and Erskine Hawkins and the music that made them famous.

• Black Masonic Temple
• Built in 1923, this Neo-classical Revival, seven-story stone, brick and steel structure served as a principal center of social and cultural life in the era of segregation.
• Black doctors and lawyers had their offices here, as did other prominent African-American community leaders and organizations.
• The building, which still serves as home to Birmingham's African-American Masons, was a staging ground for much of the Civil Rights activities in Birmingham. The city's first major gathering of civil rights activists took place in the building in 1932.
• Designed by a black architect and built by a black construction firm, the temple is highly regarded for its architectural significance.

• Kelly Ingram Park
• Four acre park, just outside the doors of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, served as a central staging ground for large-scale demonstrations during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.
• First known as West Park and later called West End Park, it was one of the University of Alabama football team's home fields between 1901 and 1904. The 1902, 1904, and 1905 rivalry games against what would become Auburn University were played there.
• The park was renamed in 1932 for local firefighter Osmond Kelly Ingram, who was the first sailor in the United States Navy to be killed in World War I.
• Reverends Martin Luther King, Jr. and Fred Shuttlesworth directed the organized boycotts and protests of 1963 which centered on Kelly Ingram Park.
• It was here, during the first week of May 1963 that Birmingham police and firemen, under orders from Public Safety Commissioner Bull Connor, confronted demonstrators, many of them children, first with mass arrests and then with police dogs and firehoses.
• Images from those confrontations, broadcast nationwide, spurred a public outcry which turned the nation's attention to the struggle for racial equality and helped insure the passage of Civil Rights laws and bring an end to public segregation.

• Sculptures & Statues
• “Three Ministers Kneeling”
• The sculpture depicts the moment on April 7, 1963 (Palm Sunday) when three ministers, John Thomas Porter, Nelson H. Smith and A. D. King, led a group of 2,000 marchers protesting the jailing of movement leaders Martin Luther King, Jr, Ralph Abernathy and Fred Shuttlesworth. When they were confronted by Public Safety Commissioner Bull Connor and his police, the three immediately knelt to pray on the sidewalk.

• “Ground Zero”
• You are standing at Ground Zero on the 1963 civil rights struggle in Birmingham. When African-American leaders and citizens resolved to fight the oppression of a strictly segregated society, they were met with vitriol and violence despite their own determinedly peaceful approach.

• “The Foot Soldiers”
• This sculpture is dedicated to the foot soldiers of the Birmingham Civil Rights movement. With gallantry, courage, and great bravery, they faced the violence of attack dogs, high powered water hoses, and bombings. They were the fodder in the advance against injustice, warriors of a just cause. They represent humanity unshaken in the firm belief in their nation's commitment to liberty and justice for all.
• We salute these men and women who were the soldiers of this great cause.

• “The Children’s Crusade”
• On May 2, 1963, more than 1,000 students skipped school and marched on downtown, gathering at the 16th Street Baptist Church. Bull Connor responded by jailing more than 600 children that day. So the next day, another 1,000 students filled the park in which you stand now. With his cells full and his back against the wall, Connor responded savagely.

• “Water Cannons”
• Bull Connor ordered the fearless “Child Crusaders” to be blasted with high-pressure fire hoses, and he once again loosed the dogs on the young demonstrators. When the media finally exposed the nation to the cruel scene, President John F. Kennedy attempted to intervene, but a defiant Connor continued to brutalize and imprison indiscriminately.

• “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
• “...Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice; say that I was a drum major for peace…”
• His dream liberated Birmingham from itself and began a new day of love, mutual respect and cooperation.
• “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” -- April,16 1963
• “...I am in Birmingham because injustice is here.”
• “I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
• “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed... We must come to see, with one of our distinguished jurists, that ‘justice too long delayed is justice denied.’”
• “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”

• “Four Spirits”
• A memorial for the four little girls killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing: Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley.
• Inscription on bench: "A Love That Forgives" was the title of the sermon for September 15, 1963, the day the bomb went off.
• The sculpture shows one girl tying a bow on the dress of another girl who is releasing doves into the air.
• The six doves being released stand for each of the four girls and two boys killed the same day, Virgil Ware and Johnny Robinson.

• Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
• The Institute showcases a walking journey through the "living institution", which displays the lessons of the past as a positive way to chart new directions for the future. The permanent exhibitions are a self-directed journey through Birmingham's contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and human rights struggles.

• “Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth”
• No one did more to bring about positive change in Birmingham than the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. In his struggle for equal rights, he survived a series of assaults, including the bombing of his home and a brutal armed beating by the Ku Klux Klan.

• 16th Street Baptist Church
• Organized in 1873 as the First Colored Baptist Church of Birmingham, Alabama. 16th Street was the first black church in Birmingham.
• In 1880 the congregation moved to its present location at 16th Street and 6th Avenue North.  The present church was completed in 1911.
• Because of segregation, the church, and other black churches in Birmingham, served many purposes.  It functioned as a meeting place, social center and lecture hall.
• Due to Sixteenth Street’s prominence in the black community, and its central location to downtown Birmingham, the church served as headquarters for the civil rights mass meetings and rallies in the early 1960’s.
• On Sunday, September 15, 1963, at 10:22 a.m., the church became known around the world when a bomb exploded, killing four young girls attending Sunday School and injuring more than 20 other members of the congregation.  Later that same evening, in different parts of town, a black youth was killed by police and one was murdered by a mob of white men.  It was a shocking, terrifying day in the history of Birmingham and a day that forced white leaders to further come to grips with the city’s bitter racist reputation.
• The tragedy of that Sunday produced outpourings of sympathy, concern and financial contributions from all parts of the world. More than $300,000.00 was contributed for the restoration of the damaged church. It was reopened for services Sunday, June 7, 1964.

Birmingham Civil Rights Timeline (www.bhamwiki.com)

Birmingham Civil Rights Timeline (al.com)