Baptist Church Service and Exploring the “Black Belt”
On Sunday we went to 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham for the 11am service. As we are a large group, it was difficult to blend in with the crowd; but there were other outsiders at the service, including an ambassador from Hungary and some Germans making a film. The service was exactly as I had expected it to be; full of energy and enthusiasm, filled with vibrant music, and very long. The two-hour service began with three women who led the song “Our God is an Awesome God,” followed by other songs and a sermon led by the most enthusiastic minister I have ever seen. He was yelling at the top of his lungs at some points, and I found myself a bit startled and overwhelmed by such a different service compared to what I am used to. I am thankful we were able to experience the typical Sunday worhship service for so many Christians in the South, although I am not sure if I felt so moved to become part of the church.
After the service we went to Montgomery, Alabama and I was shocked at how southern this place feels. It is much smaller and more abandoned than Birmingham, and the downtown area has some noteworthy characteristics. There are murals on some of the buildings that depict Christians who are fighting and presenting the holy cross; one wall also displays several bible verses. I was surprised to find this imagery in the middle of the city, let alone the capital of the state. There is also a monument in memory of the Confederate Army that stands directly to the side of the State Capital building. I could barely comprehend its geography and I wonder if its erection sparked controversy.
This morning we took a drive to the former location of “Tent City.” In the early 1960s, barely any blacks were registered to vote, and to gain access to such an important aspect of American citizenry thousands of people marched from Selma, 50 miles to Montgomery. While this movement worked on the third attempt (the first led to Bloody Sunday), once these citizens were granted the right to vote, many were kicked off their land and left homeless. This is how Tent City was formed; all those homeless from the whites’ reaction to the new voting rights stayed in this area for two and a half years! This area was incredibly powerful; it was difficult to imagine walking for fifty miles, having no idea whether this move would spark any change, and then once gaining this simple privilege, being kicked out of your home. This area is still known as the “Black Belt,” whose 30% of the population is below the poverty line. The surrounding counties are among the very poorest in Alabama. Driving around this area made me feel very sad because I feel that change still needs to continue. Yes, certain rights that were not previously available have been granted, but when almost one-third of a population does not even hit the poverty line, there are still many issues to be addressed. I wonder what would be most helpful in an area like that, in order to give everyone opportunities equal to more fortunate American citizens for their future. I also wonder if people who grew up in this area ever move away.