Martin Luther King , Eulogy Sixteenth Street Baptist Church , 9/18/1963

Eulogy For The Young Victims 
of The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing

by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
September 18, 1963, Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama

Three days after the bombing that murdered four little girls on that fateful Sunday, September 15, 1963, at the 16th Street Baptist Church. Dr. Martin Luther King stood at the pulpit speaking these passionate words not only to those at the church and the literally thousands who stood outside the church. Dr. King spoke directly to the nation about how these murders were not acceptable to in any way, shape, or form. Dr. King indicted the silence that seemingly accepted the violence perpetrated against innocent blacks simply seeking what was rightfully theirs to have, equality.

Today, 56 years from the time this eulogy was delivered the memories of those 4 martyred little girls still resonate in this nation. A nation still is split along the racial faultline of hatred and inequality. Please listen to The Blackman Read Aloud Hour Project read Dr. Martin Luther King's memorable eulogy given on that Wednesday following this most heinous of racial crimes against humanity. We should never allow the life sacrifices of Addie, Denise, Cynthia, and Carole to ever be forgotten. It was their murders that motivating this nation to look deeply into the eyes of bigotry and hatred with the hopes of blinding those eyes eternally.​


[Delivered at funeral service for three of the children -
Addie Mae Collins, Carol Denise McNair, and Cynthia Diane Wesley - killed in the bombing.
 A separate service was held for the fourth victim, Carole Robertson.]