A letter written in 1976 went viral last year.
In 1970, the newly elected Alabama Attorney General, 29 year old Bill Baxley, reopened the 1963?16th Street Church bombing?case that killed four young African-American girls and injured countless others. This enraged many people, specifically the Ku Klux Klan. In 1976, an outraged Edward R. Fields, Grand Dragon of the New Order Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and founder of the National States? Rights Party, sent Baxley a threatening letter.
Mr. Baxley’s response to Mr. Field’s letter:
Dear ?Dr.? Fields, my response to your letter of February 19, 1976 is ? kiss my a**.?
Mr. Baxley?is now a Birmingham attorney, and was?interviewed?in 2007 by the?Hoover Gazette:
?I was aware there was danger out there. But I was young, you feel invincible, and I knew I was doing right.?
The 16th Street Church bombing marked a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement and was the motivation behind and Spike Lee’s 1997 historical documentary,?4 Little Girls,?and the 1964 Joan Baez song?Birmingham Sunday.??You can view a copy of the letter on the?Letters Of Note blog.
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Tiffany Willis is the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
