[1][2] The bombing, which ripped through the church and killed four young girls, became a rallying cry for the Civil Rights Movement and propelled the problems of racial segregation in The South into the national spotlight.
[1] His parents were Margie Ann and John H. Cross Sr.[2] He became interested in the ministry very early in life when he gave his first trial sermon as a teenager.
[1] Cross was asked to serve at the church because he seemed to be a good match for its congregation, who largely consisted of conservative, well educated African Americans.
The city had earned the nickname of "Bombingham" by 1962 due to the large number of racially charged bombings during the 1950s and early 1960s.
[1] Birmingham's notorious public safety commissioner, Eugene "Bull" Connor, was well known for turning high-powered fire hoses and attack dogs on protesters.