Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Alabama's Rebel Yell

March Route for Education

— Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail —

Alabama's Rebel Yell Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021

1. Alabama's Rebel Yell Marker

Inscription. Southern members of the U.S. Congress in 1956 issued the "Southern Manifesto” that called the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown decision an "abuse of judicial power." By forcing public school integration contrary to social custom, the high court had replaced "friendship and understanding" between the races with “hatred and suspicion," it said. In 1956, the Alabama Legislature adopted a resolution saying the Supreme Court's decisions affecting the separation of the races were “as a matter of right, null, void of no effect.” Alabama lawmaker Albert Boutwell (who became Birmingham's mayor in 1963) wrote the 1956 Pupil Placement Act, an amendment to the Alabama Constitution, which gave White parents and school administrators ways to avoid racially mixing students. Thus, Southern politicians ignored the federal court's 1954 Brown decision and did very little to integrate public schools.

Erected by the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail. (Marker Number D6.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education. In addition, it is included in the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.

Location. 33° 31.278′ N, 86°

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48.407′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. Marker is on 22nd Street North south of 7th Avenue North, on the right when traveling south. 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. Hope Arrives (a few steps from this marker); The Schoolhouse Stand at Alabama (a few steps from this marker); School Integration Now (within shouting distance of this marker); Children's Crusade for Education (within shouting distance of this marker); Southern Resistance (within shouting distance of this marker); Education of Black Folk (within shouting distance of this marker); Integration Begins: Desegregating Graymont School (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Little Lady Can Read (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Birmingham.

More about this marker. The 2nd "paired" marker is missing. You can see the mounting bolts in the sidewalk in photo #3. It went missing (removed) sometime after Feb. 2020.

Regarding Alabama's Rebel Yell. The Civil Rights Activist Committee “Home of the Foot Soldiers“ is the Information Center for the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021

2. Alabama's Rebel Yell Marker

Closeup of bolts showing location of missing "paired" marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 5, 2021

3. Closeup of bolts showing location of missing "paired" marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 169 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 7, 2021, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of "paired" Alabama's Rebel Yell" marker (with text). • Can you help?