IT HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
WVTM13’S DAN ODLE JOINS US LIVE
OUTSIDE 16TH STREET BAPTIST
CHURCH IN BIRMINGHAM WITH MORE.
DAN: TO UNDERSTAND BILLY
GRAHAM’S IMPACT ON BIRMINGHAM,
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THIS CITY
AND THE CULTURE OF THE TIME.
A CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN
DESPERATE NEED OF HOPE.
AND A COMMUNITY IN NEED OF
GRAHAM’S GOSPEL MESSAGE.
SEPTEMBER 15, 1963.
A BOMB KILLS FOUR GIRLS AT 16TH
STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
>> IT BROUGHT A DARK CLOUDS BACK
OVER THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM.
DAN: TWO MONTHS LATER, PRESIDENT
KENNEDY ASSASSINATED.
>> THAT HIT US AGAIN.
THAT JUST SHATTERED US.
DAN: THAT’S WHEN BILLY GRAHAM
ANNOUNCED HE WAS BRINGING HIS
CRUSADE TO BIRMINGHAM.
>> WE NEEDED HIM.
A SPIRITUAL MAN WHO WOULD PULL
THIS CITY BEFORE THE THRONE OF
GOD.
DAN: GRAHAM CAME TO LEGION
FIELD EASTER SUNDAY, 1964.
>> WE WERE TOLD THAT BLACKS AND
WHITES WOULD HAVE TO BE
TOGETHER.
BLACKS AND WHITES WOULD SING IN
THE CHOIR TOGETHER AND STAND
WITH EACH OTHER.
I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I GOT IN THE CHOIR
>> GOD SAYS, I WILL FORGIVE YOU
FOR ALL OF YOUR SINS.
>> THAT PLACE WAS PACKED,
CROWDED AT THERE AT LEGION
FIELD.
DAN: 4,000 PEOPLE RESPONDED TO
GRAHAM’S INVITATION.
>> YOU TALKING ABOUT WORKING FOR
INTEGRATION.
WE WORKED FOR IT REAL HARD, BUT
THROUGH THAT ONE SERMON HE
BROUGHT IT.
>> FIRM WILL OFFER YOU A PARTY,
SAYS GOD.
I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW LIFE.
-- I WILL OFFER YOU A PARDSON,
SAYS GOD.
>> AFTER DR. GRAHAM LEFT, IT
LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE WERE MORE
CORDIAL TO EACH OTHER.
THERE WAS A SPIRIT LINGERING
HERE.
DAN: TO HEAR
