Warm-Up
now leonardo had a COMELY daughter that was
named hero. not only was hero beautiful but she was
DULCET and VIRTUOUS as well
COMELY- attractive
DULCET- sweet and soothing
VIRTUOUS-having high morals and standards
Monday, February 2
Agenda
– Warm-Up “Caught ‘ya”
– Pre-poem Activity
– Historical Context
– “The Ballad of Birmingham”
Dudley Randall
– Tone/Mood Work
– Poetry Workshop
Poetry Activity
Make a list* of good
qualities for each of the
following…
1. Mothers
2. Children
3. Mother-Child
Relationship
*3-5 items per list
Historical Context
Birmingham, Alabama (in the 1960s)
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One of America’s most racially divided cities
Alabama governor was pro-segregation
Strong (and dangerous) chapter of the KKK
Police Commissioner was infamous for his brutality with
African Americans
Historical Context (cont.)
Martin Luther King Jr.
Spring 1963
– MLK and members of SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership
Conference) organize non-violent campaign to combat
segregation.
– MLK arrested and, while in jail, and writes letters to white
ministers justifying the campaign.
– “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” published along with photos
of police violence.
August 1963
– MLK Jr. delivers his “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington,
DC.
Historical Context (cont.)
Birmingham Bombings (1963)
– 16th Street Baptist Church was a prominent headquarters
for the Civil Rights movement of the time.
– KKK members routinely called in bomb threats to disrupt
meetings.
– On Sunday, September 15th, a bomb detonated at
10:22am as people were gathering for the 11:00 service.
– Many people were injured as a result of the blast; one
child who was waiting in line for the restroom lost her
eye.
– Additionally, four young girls, all under the age of 14,
were killed in the blast.
Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole
Robertson and Denise McNair
Historical Context (cont.)
Aftermath of the Birmingham Church Bombing
– Thousands of African Americans gathered at the church
to protest the violence.
– Alabama governor sent troops to break up the protest,
and a riot broke out.
– Two more people were killed during the riot.
– Several people were suspected for having a part in the
bombings but no one was brought to justice before they
died.
Lasting Effects
– Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965
– Important – Bombings had the exact opposite effect than
intended
Ballad of Birmingham
Dudley Randall
“Mother dear, may I go downtown
Instead of out to play,
And march the streets of Birmingham
In a Freedom March today?”
“But, mother, I won’t be alone.
Other children will go with me,
And march the streets of Birmingham
To make our country free.”
“No, baby, no, you may not go,
For the dogs are fierce and wild,
And clubs and hoses, guns and jails
Aren’t good for a little child.”
“No, baby, no, you may not go,
For I fear those guns will fire.
But you may go to church instead
And sing in the children’s choir.”
Ballad of Birmingham
Dudley Randall
She has combed and brushed her
night-dark hair,
And bathed rose petal sweet,
And drawn white gloves on her small
brown hands,
And white shoes on her feet.
For when she heard the explosion,
Her eyes grew wet and wild.
She raced through the streets of
Birmingham
Calling for her child.
The mother smiled to know her child
Was in the sacred place,
But that smile was the last smile
To come upon her face.
She clawed through bits of glass and
brick,
Then lifted out a shoe.
“O, here’s the shoe my baby wore,
But, baby, where are you?”
Mood and Tone
Step I Write the “Title” at the top of the page.
Step II Fill out the “Mood” (how it makes you feel)
boxes
Step III Fill out the “Tone” (how the speaker feels
about the subject) box
Step IV Choose a box from either the “Mood” or
“Tone” Section to share with the class.
Poetry Workshop
1.
2.
3.
4.
Free Verse Poem – Object (at least 10 lines)
Free Verse Poem – Person (at least 10 lines)
Haiku (Three)
Narrative – MUST HAVE A RHYME SCHEME (at
least 20 lines)
Create drafts for each of these poems; if you are
comfortable with them, bring them to me and we’ll
go over them together.