The 16th Street Baptist Church in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, was a fixture in the civil rights movement -- even more so after a bombing there on September 15, 1963, killed four girls.
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
The 16th Street Baptist Church in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, was a fixture in the civil rights movement -- even more so after a bombing there on September 15, 1963, killed four girls.
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The young victims, seen together in black and white in the bottom center of this calendar cover, became martyrs to the movement. They are, clockwise from top left, Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Denise McNair. Their deaths shocked the nation and inspired lasting change.
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
The young victims, seen together in black and white in the bottom center of this calendar cover, became martyrs to the movement. They are, clockwise from top left, Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson and Denise McNair. Their deaths shocked the nation and inspired lasting change.
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The pastor of the historic church today is the Rev. Arthur Price Jr., whose Wednesday evening Bible studies draw about 40 people.
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
The pastor of the historic church today is the Rev. Arthur Price Jr., whose Wednesday evening Bible studies draw about 40 people.
Kendrick Brinson/Getty Images for CNN
In preparation for a tour group, the faces of the four girls are projected onto the walls in the church's main sanctuary. Visitors flock to the church from all over the world to get a firsthand look at history.
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
In preparation for a tour group, the faces of the four girls are projected onto the walls in the church's main sanctuary. Visitors flock to the church from all over the world to get a firsthand look at history.
Kendrick Brinson/Getty Images for CNN
The clock that once hung in the church's sanctuary stopped at 10:22 a.m. when the bomb planted by Ku Klux Klansmen exploded 50 years ago. It is on display in the church basement, along with photographs illustrating the tensions of the era.
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
The clock that once hung in the church's sanctuary stopped at 10:22 a.m. when the bomb planted by Ku Klux Klansmen exploded 50 years ago. It is on display in the church basement, along with photographs illustrating the tensions of the era.
Kendrick Brinson/Getty Images for CNN
Carolyn McKinstry Maull, author of "While the World Watched," was in the church that fateful day. She lost friends and says her parents didn't talk about what happened "because there was nothing they could do about it." She also says she remained afraid for 10 years and was convinced she, too, would die in an explosion. Today she spreads a message of reconciliation.
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
Carolyn McKinstry Maull, author of "While the World Watched," was in the church that fateful day. She lost friends and says her parents didn't talk about what happened "because there was nothing they could do about it." She also says she remained afraid for 10 years and was convinced she, too, would die in an explosion. Today she spreads a message of reconciliation.
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Sarah Collins Rudolph was 12 and with the four girls in the ladies restroom when her world changed. Glass exploded into the room, piercing her chest, face and eyes (she lost one). She opens one of the many books in her living room to share a photo that was taken of her in the hospital after the blast.
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
Sarah Collins Rudolph was 12 and with the four girls in the ladies restroom when her world changed. Glass exploded into the room, piercing her chest, face and eyes (she lost one). She opens one of the many books in her living room to share a photo that was taken of her in the hospital after the blast.
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Because she didn't die that day, Sarah Collins Rudolph often feels forgotten. She holds out hope that someday she'll get restitution for her suffering and the loss of her sister. The occasional honors have been nice, but she can't help but think she deserves more. "It's not my fault I went blind."
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
Because she didn't die that day, Sarah Collins Rudolph often feels forgotten. She holds out hope that someday she'll get restitution for her suffering and the loss of her sister. The occasional honors have been nice, but she can't help but think she deserves more. "It's not my fault I went blind."
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The McNair family believes it is a duty to share their story, and for that reason they make a point of speaking to high school students who travel to the South to learn about the civil rights movement. The letters of gratitude show them that younger generations understand why the story matters.
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
The McNair family believes it is a duty to share their story, and for that reason they make a point of speaking to high school students who travel to the South to learn about the civil rights movement. The letters of gratitude show them that younger generations understand why the story matters.
Kendrick Brinson/Getty Images for CNN
Maxine McNair, left, sits next to her daughter Kimberly McNair Brock, the younger of the two girls she had after Denise died. Kimberly was born 17 years after Denise and realizes she's spent her life being drawn to women that much older in an unconscious effort to fill a void.
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
Maxine McNair, left, sits next to her daughter Kimberly McNair Brock, the younger of the two girls she had after Denise died. Kimberly was born 17 years after Denise and realizes she's spent her life being drawn to women that much older in an unconscious effort to fill a void.
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Cynthia Wesley, one of the girls killed in the blast, got her name after being informally adopted by the Wesleys. Photos from her time with them are cherished by the sister who was similarly adopted by the couple after Cynthia was gone.
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
Cynthia Wesley, one of the girls killed in the blast, got her name after being informally adopted by the Wesleys. Photos from her time with them are cherished by the sister who was similarly adopted by the couple after Cynthia was gone.
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A biological brother of Cynthia Wesley, Fate Morris, insists she never stopped being a Morris and should be remembered by that name. Anger overcame him the day she died; he was 11 at the time. "I hated white people," he says. He and his friends went out "and threw bricks at people's cars."
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
A biological brother of Cynthia Wesley, Fate Morris, insists she never stopped being a Morris and should be remembered by that name. Anger overcame him the day she died; he was 11 at the time. "I hated white people," he says. He and his friends went out "and threw bricks at people's cars."
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Cloth flowers stand on the headstone of Carol Denise McNair, who went by her middle name. She died at 11, the youngest of the four victims; the other three were 14. Her mother says she was the sort to stand up for others. Etched into the grave marker are the words, "She loved all -- but a mad bomber hated her kind."
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
Cloth flowers stand on the headstone of Carol Denise McNair, who went by her middle name. She died at 11, the youngest of the four victims; the other three were 14. Her mother says she was the sort to stand up for others. Etched into the grave marker are the words, "She loved all -- but a mad bomber hated her kind."
Kendrick Brinson/Getty Images for CNN
A statue of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. stands in Kelly Ingram Park (formerly West Park). He looks out over 16th Street Baptist Church. To his left, across the street from the church, is the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. What happened in this city and area 50 years ago changed futures. Surviving family members of the victims and thousands of others are gathering on the anniversary to honor and remember the past.
Legacy of Birmingham's 'four little girls' —
A statue of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. stands in Kelly Ingram Park (formerly West Park). He looks out over 16th Street Baptist Church. To his left, across the street from the church, is the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. What happened in this city and area 50 years ago changed futures. Surviving family members of the victims and thousands of others are gathering on the anniversary to honor and remember the past.
Kendrick Brinson/Getty Images for CNN