Situational Irony In Dudley Randall's 'Ballad Of Birmingham'

Dudley Randall's "Ballad of Birmingham" draws in a variety of different elements to fulfill it's purpose: bring light to despicable mistreatment of people of color in this nation, specifically the south. The poem was written at a time of horrendous violence due to racism. He specifically depict the even on September 15, 1963. A Baptist church was bombed, killing four pure young girls. This poem uses hints of situational irony laced with powerful imagery. It is written in majority quatrain form, with a simple rhyme scheme. Both tools used to shed light on the long-fought battle for civil rights.
The first notable element is his use of situational irony. The mother is not allowing her young girl to go to the march protesting her rights. She then encourages her daughter to go to church instead. The march is where the danger would be expected, …show more content…
They could have been a victim anywhere at this time in history: bombings, riots, and fires. The horror happened in the sacred place: " The mother smiled to know her child / Was in the sacred place," (Stanza 6. Line 21-22) not the feared place as the mother talks about in Stanza 4 after the daughter has asked to go to the march: "No, baby, no you may no go, / For I fear those funs will fire." Those lines are horribly ironic. The mother prepared her daughter for church in white clothes, which were in harsh contrast against her dark skin: "And drawn white gloves on her small brown hands, /And white shoes on her feet." It draws a picture and represents the innocence and purity of the young child. Not only that, but the young girl is intentionally preparing herself for going into the church, showing how much she respects it. The innocence of the church and the purity of the white make the damage even harsher. It symbolizes the