A couple of weeks ago, my eldest daughter, Tyler, was asked
to play at a luncheon honoring notable business women in the Houston area.
Tyler is a violinist (for those of you who don’t know). She played the national
anthem while the color guard from a local school led the salute to the flag.
Her performance was stellar and many words of praise and pats on the back
followed, one of which came from a woman who was seated next to us. She
promptly booked Tyler to play the same song for her foundation’s upcoming
event, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of1964. We heartily agreed to be there, of course.
I’ve attended many events with my daughter before, but this
one in particular will stick with us. The two honorees for the evening were The
honorable Senfronia Thompson, Texas
State Representative for the 141st District, and – hold on to your
hats – Sarah Collins Rudolph, the 5th
victim and ONLY survivor from the bombing of the 16th Ave. Baptist
Church in Birmingham, AL in 1963. She has been a footnote in the annals of
history and the Honey Brown Hope Foundation has helped to elevate her story so
that our children can know that there were more than the FOUR LITTLE GIRLS
we’ve all read about in history class. Mrs. Rudolph was the youngest of the
victims. Her sister and three other young girls died that day because of an
unforgettable act of violent hatred. Mrs. Rudolph survived, but lost her right
eye and partial sight in her left eye.
Both women were more than deserving of the awards,
proclamations, and accolades they received that night. One woman, a public servant
and champion of the disenfranchised and forgotten, and one standing as the
symbol of the indomitable spirit of a survivor of one of the harshest chapters
in American history. It was truly an honor to meet them both. But I think the
sweetest memory that I will cherish from that evening was watching my daughter
connect with living history in such a way that she was compelled to take her
experience back to school and share it with her teachers and classmates. The
sacrifices of people she’s only heard and read about became a reality for her
and she’ll never be the same.
God is good!
Sarah Collins Rudolph
State Representative Senfronia Thompson
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