Susie Hale

Susie Hale

I now live in Asheville, NC, but I was born and reared in Birmingham, as was my dad. In 1963, I was 10 years old. One may say that was too young to recall or ”feel” the unrest and uncertainty of the times. ”One” would be wrong. It shaped my life. Turning 60 this year gives perspective, but doesn’t change the basics – Birmingham was a hard time.

The school picture

When the bombing of the church occurred and those girls were killed, I was about 10 years old. Our family lived in what was then called Bluff Park (which is now part of Hoover) on Shades Mountain. I was born there, grew up there, attended Bluff Park Elementary school, was an active member of Bluff Park Baptist Church, and had what I thought was an idyllic life. Little did I know what was bubbling all around me.

Unbeknownst to me, my parents had become somewhat involved in the Civil Rights Movement.