Carolyn Maull McKinstry

The author was one minute away from death when she climbed the steps out of the Sixth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Visiting her four friends who were making sure they looked presentable for the youth presentation on youth Sunday, Carolyn greeted them in the basement bathroom, and then went up the steps to record the Sunday school attendance.

Suddenly, a bomb exploded, throwing her friends against the wall and trapping them inside the concrete. Carolyn was haunted for years. Tired and depressed from the services, and the "what ifs'" she constantly tortured herself with, she spun more and more into severe depression. The person responsible for placing the bomb was tried, but was not arrested. There was no price paid for the death of her friends until years later when the case was once again opened.

Later, when the bombing and the deaths were examined more closely, there was retribution. But, for years, Carolyn only went through the motions of moving on. Marrying, having two children, and moving a lot when her husband's job demanded this, Carolyn grew ever depressed.

Writing and speaking about her friends brought anger and extreme sadness. It seemed that in the south, "While the World Watched," the culprits who bombed houses, who killed innocent black children and adults, got away with murder. The trial of Emmett Till only added to her sadness and anger when she realized yet another innocent young man could be blatantly murdered with no recourse. The KKK got away with their night raids of terror and their plans of severe harm.

She marched with the children as "Bull" Connor had the fire hoses blast children against buildings as their German Shepard dogs took pieces of flesh from their skin. She knew Martin Luther King personally as well as other Civil Rights advocates.

It was only her Christian faith and the knowledge that she had to forgive to move forward. I'm not sure I could have had the courage she did, nor am I sure that I could have forgiven those who blatantly, with malice watched as others were killed or maimed.

One of the best books I've read about the years during the American Civil Rights movement.

Five Stars… (lisätietoja)

by Carolyn Maull McKinstry | Read by Felicia Bullock
Biography & Memoir • 8 hrs. • Unabridged • © 2013
On September 15, 1963, a bomb exploded in the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Felicia Bullock narrates with a gentle, subtle voice that complements the text and captures the emotions involved in the author’s account. She was 14 years old at the time and had just left the church’s bathroom. Four little girls were killed. She survived, and the Civil Rights movement was propelled forward. Bullock focuses on every word and pauses effectively to allow listeners to contemplate the author’s experience. She does, however, read just a bit too slowly, dragging out sentences and leaving too much space in her narration. This makes what should be a more spirited book languish. R.I.G. SYNC 2014 © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2014]

Trade Ed. • Oasis Audio • 2013

CD ISBN 9781613755549 $27.99 • Seven CDs

DD ISBN $19.59



Library Ed. • Oasis Audio • 2013… (lisätietoja)

I can't believe this book was eliminated from a public library, but I suppose they ran out of space. This story should never be forgotten. Hopefully this copy purchased used from the Friends of the Library Bookstore and preserved now in a church library will be read and understood by generations to come. The author, Carolyn Maul McKinstry was a 15 year old eye witness to the horrific tragedy in Birmingham, Alabama when the 16th Street Baptist church was bombed and her four friends were killed. Denise McNair, 11, Carole Robertson, 14 Addie Mae Collins. 14 and Cynthia Wesley, 14.need to be remembered. This book, While the World Watched will take you back to what some of us saw on TV back in 1963. This book fills in all the details of the girls, their families, their church what it was like in the Jim Crow South. It is a tearjerker of a multilayered story that must not be forgotten. Dr. Martin Luther King, spoke at funeral services. The book concludes with a significant letter. dated Sept. 15, 2008 from Barack Obama to the church. Young and old are encouraged to read this book. Let's not let the tragic death of Addie, Carole, Cynthia and Denise be in vain. One sweet memory the author has as she look back 40 years is of her and friends singing that old precious song "it is Well with My Soul."… (lisätietoja)