Diary of a Birmingham Kid
August 12, 1963
Dear Diary,
Another scorching day in Birmingham. It feels like the heat is pressing down on everything, making everything heavier, even the air. Mama says it’s a sign of the times, but I think it’s just August in Alabama. Still, it’s hard to ignore the way things are changing, even for a twelve-year-old like me.
Yesterday, I saw Mr. Johnson get turned away from Woolworth's lunch counter downtown. He just wanted a cup of coffee. Just like anyone else. But they wouldn't serve him because of his skin. It made my stomach churn. Mr. Johnson's been a fixture in our neighborhood since forever. He always has a kind word and a piece of candy for us kids. Seeing him treated like that… it felt wrong, Diary. Just plain wrong.
Mama and Papa say we have to be brave. They've been attending meetings at the church every week, planning peaceful protests. Papa even talks about marching. I get scared thinking about it. I've seen the newsreels. I've heard the stories. The police dogs, the fire hoses… it's terrifying. But Mama says silence is worse. She says if we don’t stand up for what’s right, who will?
- Segregation:
- The separation of people based on race, class, or other characteristics.
- Boycott:
- To refuse to buy or use goods or services as a form of protest.
- Civil Rights:
- The rights belonging to a person by virtue of citizenship, especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and subsequent acts of Congress, including the rights to legal and social equality and to vote.
- scorching:
- Extremely hot, enough to cause discomfort or burning.
- fixture:
- A person or thing that has been in a place for a long time and is well known by everyone there.
- associating:
- Spending time with or connecting to a particular person or group.
- prevail:
- To win, succeed, or overcome difficulty in the end.
Educational example text · Diary Entry
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- 1How does Thomas describe the weather in Birmingham and what does he relate it to?
- 2What happened to Mr. Johnson at Woolworth's, and how did it make Thomas feel?
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About this diary entry passage for Middle School
“Diary of a Birmingham Kid” is a diary entry reading passage about Civil Rights Movement, written for Middle School. It takes about 3 minutes to read (400 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.