While the World Watched: Book in a Day 2019

rEADING 1

Innocence lost, a phone call, three minutes… next to Gaston’s Motel….Birmingham Alabama

In chapter we get a glimpse of the morning BEFORE the author goes to her church. We meet parts of her family briefly, including her parents, younger sister, and brothers. Her younger sister, as luck would have it, didn’t make it to church that morning because she wouldn’t allow her sister to iron her hair. We learn that the father is a teacher during the day and has a second job at a “whites only” country club. He is protective of his children, teaching them the “rules” of society in Alabama to be safe. We learn briefly of some her friends- who may attend the same church. Finally, we learn of the phone calls of the morning to the church, and one that she takes claiming “three minutes.”

rEADING 2

At the Church before the bombing

READING 3

Carolyn's name means strength. She is strong when at 9 she watches over grandma in her last days.

Names have power, and Carolyn's mane means the "strong one." She reflects on how her grandparents instilled confidence in her, and her abilities by reminding her of what her name means. When Carolyn is 9, she is given a task to help care for her Grandma, "Mama Lessie" as she dies. Carolyn had to watch her grandma lie in pain, in a closed in basement, at the hospital for two weeks. Reflections of her Grandma's life and what she taught Carolyn are recounted fondly.

rEADING 4

Beginning of hope after blood of innocent young girls who spilled in a church bomb.

It began with the bomb going off and Carolyn had no idea what happened at first. After exiting the building she realizes her brothers are missing. She went back in the church to search fo her brothers and she passed by the pile of rubble in the bathroom. Her 4 friends were buried under the pile and she did not even know. After getting back together with her family, her mother gave her the unfortunate news that her four friends, Denies, Carolyn, Cynthia and Addie had died. These were the friends she was planning to meet with that afternoon.

rEADING 5

I am alive and safe at home, but they are gone dead.

Carolyn grieves for her friends who have died, and she recalls details of the aftermath of the bombing. She
could not understand how it happened in the safe haven of her church. She started, for the first time in her
life, to understand the hatred that existed between blacks and whites in her town. Dr. King and a young
attorney blamed Governor Wallace and the citizens of Birmingham for allowing the bombing to occur,
because of their violent actions and contributions of hatred.

rEADING 6

“This tragic event may cause the white South to come to terms with its conscience.” –Dr. King

In this chapter Carolyn talks about how the families Addie, Denise, Carole and Cynthia begin to make funeral arrangements. Addie, Denise and Cynthia’s family hold a joint funeral service, while Carole’s family holds a private service. Carolyn talks about how she couldn’t attend the funerals and see the four little coffins of her best friends. Dr. King gives a powerful funeral message calling for justice but with a glimmer of hope.

rEADING 7

Path of justice, healing, and closure put on hold.

Carolyn Maull McKinstry explains the results of the investigation conducted right after the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. The FBI identified four members of the Ku Klux Klan that planted the bomb; Robert E. Chambliss, Bobby Frank Cherry, Herman Frank Cash, and Thomas E. Blanton Jr. The investigation was closed and sealed by the FBI office (J. Edgar Hoover) with no one charged for the bombing due to insufficient evidence

rEADING 8

The church bombings was just another act of violence. It was almost expected
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This chapter summarizes the violent and shocking events before the Sixteenth Street church in 1963. Martin Luther King Jr. was invited by Reverend Fred Lee Shuttlesworth to visit Birmingham where they planned peaceful protests that resulted in their arrests. Reverend Shuttlesworth had his house bombed twice. Although Brown vs. Board of Education had already happened, President Eisenhower had to send in the National Guard to escort black students into their school, and President Kennedy had to send federal marshals to protect a black student enrolled at the University of Mississippi. Emmett Till was brutally murdered by two white men who bragged about their actions, and then were found not guilty. McKinstry said these act of violence were commonplace, and the lack of local government support made her feel like “black life is irrelevant, insignificant, worthless. The loss of black life is of no consequence.

rEADING 9

Carolyn and her community start to organize and resist the oppressive institutions of hostile Birmingham.

In January of 1963 George C. Wallace, outspoken segregationist, became the Governor of Alabama. His victory sent a clear message to African Americans who had organized and fought for equal rights for years. Carolyn, being swept up in the excitement of the movement tests the waters of resistance by sitting in the “white section” of the bus and joining meetings with Martin Luther King Jr. and other prominent Civil Rights leaders at Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.

rEADING 10

“General” Bull Connor… fighting an army of laughing, dancing children.

“D-Day”- May 2, 1963: Thousands of youth (mostly children planned to peacefully protest at the 16th Street Baptist Church. Carolyn had been waiting for this day and is excited to participate, until she arrives and realizes that the “peaceful” element is not to be. Bull Connor, commissioner of public safety for Birmingham, has arrived with a small army to arrest and subdue the protesters- calling on the city school buses to transport them to jail with the regular vehicles run out of room, and the fire department to sprat them with high powered hoses. All the while, the youth smiled, dance and sang.

READING 11

Double D-Day Hundreds of children had dogs and hoses turned on them. They were arrested and housed at the fairgrounds in animal pens.

This chapter dealt with the second day of the Children’s March, May 3, 1963. Carolyn did not participate, because her father ordered her to go to school.
The children came in waves from the church. Bull Connor again ordered the dogs and hoses turned on the children. There were spectators there, both for and against the children. Hundreds of children were arrested, and because there was no more space in jail, the students were held in animal pens at the fairgrounds, some for weeks

READING 12

George Wallace refuses to accept orders of integration. Kennedy’s Civil Rights Address provides hope.

Kennedy: “U.S. Gov’t will take whatever
steps necessary to intervene.”
Wallace: “A few first-class funerals
needed.”
The Most Dangerous Racist in America
“George Wallace is perhaps the most dangerous racist in America - ”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

George Wallace, Alabama Governor, fights integration “fiercely” claiming state’s rights. He promises
Segregation today! Segregation tomorrow! Segregation forever! Wallace physically blocks doors at
University of Alabama to keep black students out. President Kennedy federalizes Alabama National
Guard and Wallace’s attempt fails. Kennedy addresses the nation with his Civil Rights Address in
support of equal rights. “Who among us would be content to have the color of his skin changed and stand
in his place?” Carolyn feels support from Kennedy, goes to a department store, orders hot dog, fries, and a
drink and is served! It IS a big deal to her. Wallace signs an executive order, stating that no student shall
be permitted to integrate the public schools of the city of Birmingham, Alabama. Pres. Kennedy issues a
report on desegregation in the schools of Alabama. Wallace’s response: Alabama needed a few first class funerals.

READING 13

Carolyn fears for her father's life after recent assassinations. She thinks of her past and dreams of her future

READING 14

President Kennedy is assassinated and this is very hard for Carolyn. She really looked up to Kennedy and saw him as a white person who may make change for her people.

Carolyn talks about the depression that overcame her following the bombing. She explain how the holiday's were a very happy time prior to the bombing but after she remembers very little happy times. She says that fear hunted the city. Se describe in several different ways how she is deeply saddened and cant seem to get out of the depressed funk. The community is very fearful and won't return to church. The shrapnel Bomb started to be used. This is a bomb made out of a 5 gallon bucket and explodes dynamite, nails, sharp metal bolts an sharp class. It scared the community even more as they fell the white people are out to kill rather than just put fear into them.

READING 15

BOMBINGHAM is a nickname for Birmingham, Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement.
The Klan used bombings to terrorize African Americans attempting to move into “white” neighborhoods and to
deter integration throughout the city. Carolyn McKinstry witnessed many of these explosions and their
aftermath. The blasts personally affected her neighborhood, friends, and her family. Carolyn relied on her faith
and her church community for support through this tumultuous time.

rEADING 16

Will the Violence Ever End?

The national reaction to the Civil Rights Movement haunts Carolyn but she finds hope in MLK's Nobel Prize speech. She departs for Fisk College in 1965 and copes with her pain by writing in her journal and drinking to dull her pain.

READING 17

The deaths of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy reaffirmed Carolyn’s depression and hopelessness.

Carolyn continues with the chronology of assassinations in the Civil Rights movement. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy are both killed in 1968 while Carolyn is studying at Fisk University. On the night of the assassination of MLK, Carolyn crouches in fear in her dorm hallway. She reflects on both of these men and the leadership they brought to the Civil Rights movement. She feels heavy with the loss of these great men.

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee while supporting unfairly treated sanitation workers.

Attending Fisk University, Carolyn has begun to see progress in the Civil Rights movement, as public places slowly become less segregated; schools, departments stores, lunch counters, and swimming pools; African-Americans could register to vote. Then it happened. The leader of the Civil Rights movement was assassinated in Memphis. In the span of a decade, at the age of 21, Carolyn experienced the death of her grandmother, her four friends, and three leaders that gave her hope.

READING 18

Carolyn suffers with depression even though she has a good life.

Carolyn met her husband, Jerome, while attending Fisk University. They got married, moved to Florida, and had two daughters. Even though Carolyn’s life was great and she had all that she could hope for, she still felt darkness inside her, which she tried to mask with alcohol. The depression, fear, and hatred for life were huge problems to which she reluctantly agreed to seek professional help due to her husband’s requests.

READING 19

Carolyn found strength in herself and the power and mercy of God to help her stop drinking and confront her depression.

Carolyn Maull McKinstry recalls the pain of losing her granddaddy after suffering a stroke. Her loss was huge. He was not only a grandfather, but a good friend. Carolyn continues to struggle with depression and alcoholism. She has a wake-up call when a neighbor rescued her daughter from being hit by a bus because she was not paying attention and let her play outside. She was having suicidal thoughts. She came to her senses after realizing that her girls needed her to raise them. She turned to the Lord for help. It was a two week battle to detox, but she had faith and struggled through. She gave all the credit to the grace of God and Jesus.

READING 20

Long Time Coming

Fourteen years after the bombings Bob Chambliss was brought to trial. He claims to this day to be innocent; however he was sentenced to life in prison, for his part in the bombing.

READING 21

Carolyn was excited about the move, but disappointed at how little progress had been made.

Carolyn was excited about the move back to Birmingham. She wanted to give her children all the opportunities she missed out on growing up there. She was excited to go back to her church. Birmingham had not made much progress. The city found ways with jobs, schools, and swimming pools to still practice segregation. Carolyn and Gerome took all possible steps to protect their children. Gerome started to notice just how much of a part Carolyn played concerning civil rights in Birmingham, when newspaper started asking her for interviews

READING 22

The Calling, Bell South, May 22, 2002 subpoena, retire, divinity school, testify vs Bobby Frank Cherry.

Children grown, Carolyn prays for a calling from God. A passing billboard said “Faith always takes the first step” inspires her. God’s will asks her to retire from Bell South, and attend divinity school. Shortly before retiring, Carolyn receives a subpoena in Bobby Frank Cherry’s case. As one of the bombers of the 16th street church, she is terrified to testify. Carolyn finds herself catapulted back to age fifteen when the tragic bombing occurred.

READING 23

Carolyn testifies at Bob Cherry’s trial. She helps restore the Birmingham Church

READING 24

We cannot stand idly by and still claim we love.

Carolyn Maull McKinstry’s epilogue from While the World Watched is one of great reflection. McKinstry’s relationship with God and Jesus Christ takes central focus as she heals from past pain later on in her adult life. Calling on all to love their neighbour more (following a description of a woman’s seemingly lonely demise), McKinstry discussed the Birmingham Pledge and its role in humanizing the fight for racial equality. We must fight for and with love.

READING 25

Jim Crow Laws

Synopsis: Yes, Ma’am, Yes, Sir, you have the right of way
Separate: Restaurants, schools, library sections, entrances to places of entertainment, playgrounds and no billiard games between whites and blacks

READING 26

Racism causes PTSD, even microaggressions can lead to long term damage.

Dr. Monnica T. Williams wrote an article about how racism causes trauma in those that experience it, from microaggressions to full on hate crimes. Many times when we think of the damage that racism causes we think of the images above but the effects of everyday exposure to racism of being followed in stores, people moving away fom you on the subway can lead to feelings of paranoia that can lead to PTSD symptoms.

READING 27

The 16th street tragedy brought outrage-Black and White- shocking the US into action.

Bombings were commonplace in Birmingham, Alabama, the most racially tense US city. Nicknamed “Bombingham” due to regular KKK attacks, September 15, 1963 was too much. With the martyrdom of four girls, the chapel and SCLC rallying point now represented the depth of segregation’s social injustice. Martin Luther King, jr and John Kennedy called citizens to action. Men like Governor Wallace and Bull Conner would no longer go unchecked; eventually four Klansman were brought to justice.

rEADING 28

Parallels between Birmingham and Charleston
Hatred takes the lives of black churchgoers in the South through bombs and bullets.

The 1963 bombing of a black church in Birmingham, Alabama takes the lives of 4 young girls. 14 years after the bombing 3 former members of the KKK are convicted for the attack. 52 years later, Dylan Roof enters a historical black church in Charleston, South Carolina with the intention of ending black lives. He fires 70 shots and kills 9 people before walking out. Roof leaves churchgoer Polly Sheppard alive to “tell the story.”