Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Shuttlesworth Goes to Work
March Route Towards a Purposeful Life
— Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail —
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
1. Shuttlesworth Goes to Work Marker
1955
After arriving in Birmingham, Rev. Shuttlesworth became active with the local NAACP and became its membership chair. He organized 76 Birmingham ministers to petition Birmingham's commissioners to hire Black police officers. The petition failed. His new work for civil rights took him throughout the state of Alabama to help the cause of freedom on any front. In 1954, he met the young Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and reconnected with college classmate Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy. He assisted them in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, where Black citizens refused to ride in segregated buses. Rev. Shuttlesworth also provided support to friend Autherine Lucy, who in 1956 became the first Black student to integrate the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
"I have always felt that the preacher is God's first man."
Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth
Birmingham Foot Soldier General.
Lesson E5: Research the role of the NAACP lawsuits that ended the "separate but equal" rule.
Erected by the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail. (Marker Number E5.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights
this page online
Location. 33° 31.261′ N, 86° 48.709′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. Marker is at the intersection of 19th Street North and Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard, on the right when traveling north on 19th Street North. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Birmingham AL 35203, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Answering the Call (within shouting distance of this marker); Shuttlesworth Starts the ACMHR (within shouting distance of this marker); Love & Marriage (within shouting distance of this marker); Boutwell Auditorium (within shouting distance of this marker); The Boy Becomes a Man (within shouting distance of this marker); Raymond Weeks (within shouting distance of this marker); Shuttlesworth v. "Bull" (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Birth of an Icon (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Birmingham.
More about this marker. The primary marker is missing. You can see the mounting bolts in the sidewalk in photo #2. It went missing (removed) sometime between May, 2019 and Feb. of 2020.
Regarding Shuttlesworth Goes to Work.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
2. Shuttlesworth Goes to Work Marker
The mounting bolts for the missing "paired" E5 marker can be seen in the sidewalk, to right of this side of the marker.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021
3. Shuttlesworth Goes to Work Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 167 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 6, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of "paired" Shuttlesworth Goes to Work" marker (with text). • Can you help?
