Analysis of The Poem The Ballad of Birmingham by Dudley Randall

“The Ballad of Birmingham” is a poem written by well-renowned author, Dudley Randall. The poem pleasingly serves as a traditional ballad in which the story is being told in the style of a song. The informative tone of the poem pursues to teach us something in efforts to further the theme of inessential devastation. Furthermore, Randall creates the tone of the story and conveys his message by utilizing numerous literary devices. To begin with, it is evident that irony is of the most importance throughout this poem. Specifically speaking, the young child dying in the church after being told by their mom to go there to be safe is very ironic, and it fully depicts the present issue of racial violence in the southern states as well as the country. The dramatic absence of security summarized the difficulties caused by America’s government as their main job was to secure peace and safety for all. Unfortunately, African Americans were not given what was sworn. In “Ballad of Birmingham,” Dudley Randall illustrates a disagreement between a child who seeks to march for civil justices and a mother who only wants to protect her child. In addition, Randall uses imagery to provide the audience with an idea of the setting in Birmingham, Alabama. He says, “For the dogs are fierce and wild, and clubs and hoses, guns and jails aren’t good for a little child”.

Majority of this poem is delivered as dialogue amongst a mother and a child. Moreover, this particular style grants the feeling of an intimate tone, and it supplementary comprehends the manners of the characters. Throughout this poem, the child is excessively keen to journey to Birmingham in the hopes of marching for freedom. The child asks, “Mother dear, may I go downtown/ And march the streets of Birmingham/ In a Freedom March today?”. However, due to it being extremely dangerous, the mother is awfully adamant and opposed to the idea. African Americans in Birmingham, Alabama during the 1960s experienced countless harsh and gruesome acts daily. Dudley Randall states in his art: The mother smiled to know her child was in the sacred place, But that smile was the last smile To come upon her face For when she heard the explosion, Her eyes grew wet and wild. The mother’s approach toward the march is an unreasonable fear for her child’s safety; it is desperately a state of mind that implies her disinterest from the events and opinions that fuel the march. This quote serves as an example of the several tragedies African Americans had to endure in 1960s Birmingham. There were various tragic killings of African Americans to take place in Birmingham. Individuals were setting off bombs, which later lead Birmingham to often be referenced as “Bombingham.”

In conclusion, the bombing of the black church was done because of someone who was prejudice. The march was specifically held for the equal rights of African Americans. The killings caused African Americans to not feel safe anywhere they went, including churches. This “ballad” contains a variety of well-articulated words that can touch the heart of anyone and any race. It has a regular meter when reading it. It could easily be put to music to make a beautiful song.