Handwritten and signed photo essay by Sarah Collins, the ''5th Little Girl'' whose sister and friends perished in the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, described by Martin Luther King, Jr. as ''one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity.'' Of the five little girls who were in the basement when the bomb attack happened, Sarah Collins is the lone survivor.
Collins here describes the moments before and after the bombing, and the wounds she endured. Essay is penned in white felt-tip on a 20'' x 16'' photo of the blast above photos of the victims including Sarah in the hospital. She writes, ''My two sisters and I were so excited and happy that day walking about 17 blocks to the 16th Street Baptist Church to go to Sunday School. When we got there, Sunday School was already in session. So we went to the ladies lounge of the basement of the church that morning waiting for Sunday School to end. Denise McNair, Carol Robertson and Cynthia Wesley came into the bathroom. My sister Addie was standing by the stained-glass window and I was standing by the sink. Denise asked Addie to tie the sash on her dress. I never got a chance to see her tie it because all of a sudden I heard a loud noise. Boom! And I heard someone holler, Somebody bombed the 16th Street Baptist Church! I called out for Jesus and my sister Addie! Addie! Addie! But she didn't answer. I lost my right eye in the bombing and I'm reminded of it everyday when I look into the mirror, by seeing the scars on my face and the prosthetics. / Sarah Collins Rudolph / 'The 5th Little Girl' / Survivor of the 16th Street Baptist Bombing''.
Occurring on 15 September 1963, the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing shocked the world as to how low some would go to uphold segregation. Three men would ultimately be prosecuted for the crime, but not for almost forty years after the bombing. The event is said to have been a turning point in the Civil Rights campaign.
Glossy photo measures 20'' x 16'', in very good to near fine condition. Accompanied by a photo of Sarah Collins Rudolph signing, as well as an LOA signed by her.