September 15, 1963
Today was a crazy day! It started normal, I woke up late. It was after Joey had already gone to Sunday school. I was looking for the cornflakes when I felt the air change — it was like someone had sucked the air out of the house. My ears kinda popped. Then I heard a big rumbling noise, like a thunderstorm. I went outside but there weren't any clouds.
A few minutes later, a man came by and said they bombed the 16th Street Church. Mom and Dad ran out the door without saying anything. It was the church Joey was at. When I got to the church, Mom and Dad were freaking out. They couldn't find Joey anywhere, but you could see people coming out of the church all bloody, and you could tell people were buried under the part of the church that collapsed. I know that's what Mom and Dad were thinking.
I can't take anymore of this. First Kenny almost drowns, then we think Joey got killed by a bomb. I think I want to go back to Flint. Buphead's never gonna believe this mess.
I guess they bombed the church because the children were demonstrating against segregation.
Seotember 18, 1963
Today there was a huge funeral for three of the girls who died when the church was bombed. At first we thought people weren't going to go to the funeral — they were afraid someobody might bomb that too. But I guess people forgot about being afraid because they're so mad. I've never seen that many people in one place before. They were out in the street.
If I was one of those girl's fathers, I'd be ready to kill someone. Dr. King asked people not to take revenge, but people are real mad. I wonder if there will be any bombings of white churches.
I don't believe in all that God stuff, but I hope Dr. King's right, and that those little girls are up in heaven.
The Watsons go to Birmingham: 5 journal entries
