In 1963, Birmingham, Alabama, was known as one of the most racist cities in the nation.
That spring, civil rights activists had been trying to pressure the city into ending segregation, but their sit-ins and protests had no effect.
One problem was getting enough people to take part in demonstrations. Black residents wanted an end to segregation but feared losing their jobs, if not their lives, if they spoke out against it.
Birmingham’s Black children were just as eager for change—and willing to step in where their parents couldn’t. When an activist named James Bevel asked for young volunteers, hundreds answered the call.
On May 2, 1963, more than 1,000 Black kids—some as young as 7—marched toward the city’s business district. They remained calm and quiet. Yet the police arrested and jailed hundreds of them. The next day, even more kids marched. This time, they were slammed by high-powered fire hoses and attacked by police dogs.
Day after day, as the jails filled up with kids, thousands more turned out to march, holding firm despite the violent backlash.
News images of the brutal response to the children’s peaceful protest shocked the nation. President John F. Kennedy sent officials from the Justice Department to the city to try to resolve the crisis. After eight days, the demonstrations ended with a victory: The city agreed to stop enforcing segregation laws and released the kids from jail.
The struggle against racism was far from over. But the Birmingham Children’s Crusade had made the ugliness of segregation plain to see—and inspired thousands of other young Americans to join the fight against it.