Others are more determined in their hopes that our nation will finally discover how to live in harmony with each other. As Dr. King emphasized, we have not learned the art of living together. Reminders such as the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City, or the many churches burned down in recent months, and other hate crimes point to the fact that the journey is not over. Birmingham has made great progress in 34 years. Although problems of race continue to reveal themselves in various pockets of our metropolitan community, no one should believe that the civil rights movement was not successful in bridging the wide gap that exists between blacks and whites and other ethnic groups.
Racism is real and decisions are made every day to keep people separated.
At Sixteenth Street Church, we have intentionally focused on ways to help close the gap. It would have been easy for members of our congregation to allow the building to become a museum, a relic of a horrible event. However, through difficult times, our membership has remained committed to making the ministry of Sixteenth Street viable. We have established partnerships with various groups and organizations who are seeking ways to eradicate social ills that are devastating to people. Our historic facility is used by many of these groups and organizations for various programs.