Smithfield Library to Host Program Remembering the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing February 21

Refurbished Sixteenth Street Baptist Church as it looks today

On Thursday, February 21, at 3:30 p.m., the Smithfield Branch Library is hosting a program paying tribute to the four little girls who died during the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.

When the Blast Occurred: Remembering the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing will feature Jim Baggett, head of Birmingham Public Library's Archives Department. In addition to discussing that incident that shocked the world during the civil rights movement in Birmingham, Baggett will discuss bombings of the Bethel Baptist Church in Collegeville.

Jim Baggett at Avondale Library's Everyday Heroes summer
learning program teaching children about Birmingham civil
rights crusaders

Using FBI files and forensic evidence stored in BPL's archives, Baggett will recall the experiences of people who survived the blasts. The program is among 90 free Black History Month activities and events being held at BPL's 19 locations throughout February. For a list of Black History Month programs and other activities at BPL, visit our events calendar.