Birmingham Bombing Victim Speaks at Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Event

Sarah Collins Rudolph, a victim of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Ala., spoke of her experiences before and after the attack in the Madame Walker Theatre Center Monday as part of the center’s Martin Luther King Jr. holiday event.

Rudolph shared her story, from the start of the day of the bombing with her sisters through her struggle to receive restitution for her injuries. She described the events down to the fine details such as what color purse one of her sisters had the day of the bombing. 

“I didn’t know what had happened, and all of sudden, I hear someone say, ‘somebody bombed the 16th Street Church,’” Rudolph said as she recalled the explosion.

In the blast, four girls including one of Rudolph’s sisters had died. Rudolph survived the blast but lost her right eye.

During the question and answer session, Rudolph gave advice to the younger audience members.

“What I would like to let them go with today is we don’t have to go back to the past, and when we see things like this happening just stand up to be a voice you know like King did,” Rudolph said.

As the event drew to a close, Rudolph left the crowd with one final message about the difference between right and good.

“I just want you all to know that when you come to things that one is right and one is good, we should always do that which is good because out of this we can find love,” she said. “Out of good, we can put away evil.”

Before announcing the winners of the Project PRIDE essay contest, Kathleen N. Spears, president and CEO of the Madame Walker Theatre Center, said that Indianapolis City-County Councilman Vop Osili had talked with her and wanted to crowdfund money to help Rudolph with her “financial situation.” Spears said Osili is helping to spearhead the fundraising.

The Asante Children’s Theatre concluded the event by singing, “We Shall Overcome.”

“Being able to perform is exciting, but then again, it’s emotional because you are singing a song that was sung during a very important march in history,” said Brandy Scott, a member of the company. It’s very symbolic. she added.

Keiston Drake, another member of the children’s theatre, said that Rudolph’s story was very eye-opening, motivational and encouraging. Before her speech, Drake said he didn’t know about the bombings.

“You hear about different stories all the time like MLK, but you never actually get to hear it from their mouth, their point of view, so it was really nice to actually get to hear it from her and meet her,” Drake said.