Leaning Tower of Pisa

Soul and Heart of the Birmingham movement passed Wednesday October 5, 2011, at the age of 89-Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. Shuttlesworth was known by many, loved by many, and remembered as one of the historic and heroic individual who lived a heroic and tragic life. Dedicated his life to strengthen the cause for justice for all Americans.

Shuttlesworth was born on March 18, 1922 in Montgomery, Alabama. He is the son of Biological father Vetta Green and mother Alberta Robinson Shuuttlesworth. Raised by mother and step-father William Nathan Shuttlesworth-farmer in Oxmore, Alabama-in Oxmore, Alabama. Shuttlesworth attended Oxmore Elementary School and soon went on to Wenonah High School, but ended up graduating from Rosedale High School in 1940. Following year 1940, Shuttlesworth married Ruby Keeler who was a nurse and later moved to Mobil, Alabama in 1943 where he became a truck driver and studied auto mechanics and Attended Cedar Grove Academy(local bible college) that same year.

Struggles of Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth soon begins. Prichard, Alabama, 1945, Fred gave a biblical lesson at Selma University and four years later he became the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Selma, Alabama and decided to pursue A.B. degree there including Alabama State College where he graduated in the years 1951-1952. Year of 1953, Shuttlesworth became the pastor of Bethel Baptist Church. May, 1956, Shuttlesworth established Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights and the Civil Rights activities made him the target of the Ku Klux Klan so on Christmas day that very same year his home was bombed, but Shuttlesworth managed to escape unhurt so he started a rally the very next day. Not only did that all happen in one year, He was also beaten by a white mob with whips and chains because Shuttlesworth attempted to enroll his daughter into an all white School. 1957, Shuttlesworth joined Martin Luther King, Ralph David Abernathy and Bayard Rustin to reform Southern Christian Leadership conference. Martin Luther king describes Shuttlesworth as the most courageous Civil Rights fighter in the South.

Good and Hard times still go on of the life of reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. Years 1960-1961, he participated in the sit-on protests against segregated lunch counters and helped Congress on racial equality organize Freedom Rides. May, 1963, Led mass demonstrations against segregation in Birmingham-battle that focused national spotlights on violent resistance to equal rights in South and force change-which caused him to be hospitalized from being slammed against walls by water from fire hoses. Shuttlesworth had the determination to never give up and to never give in. Historian Huntley of Birmingham Civil Rights Institute said that Shuttlesworth personally challenged just about every segregated institution in the city from schools to parks to buses and even waiting rooms. Shuttlesworth became Pator of the Great New Light Baptist Church in Cincinnati,