“The Ballad of Birmingham” is a poem written by the famous author Dudley Randall. The poem serves nicely as a traditional ballad where the story is told in the style of a song. The informative tone of the poem seeks to teach us something in an attempt to further the theme of inessential devastation. Additionally, Randall creates the tone of the story and conveys its message using numerous literary devices. To begin with, it is evident that irony is of utmost importance in this poem. Specifically, the child dying in the church after his mother told him to go there for safety is very ironic and fully describes the current issue of racial violence in the Southern states and the country. The dramatic absence of security summarizes the difficulties caused by the American government since its main task was to ensure peace and security for all. Unfortunately, African Americans were not given what they were sworn to do. In “Ballad of Birmingham,” Dudley Randall illustrates a disagreement between a child trying to march for civil justice and a mother who only wants to protect her child. Additionally, Randall uses imagery to give the audience a sense of the setting in Birmingham, Alabama. He says, "Because dogs are fierce and wild, and clubs, hoses, guns, and prisons are no good for a little child." Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. Most of this poem is conveyed as a dialogue between a mother and a child. Additionally, this particular style ensures the feeling of an intimate tone and further encompasses the characters' mannerisms. Throughout this poem, the child excessively desires to travel to Birmingham in hopes of marching for freedom. The child asks, “Mommy dear, can I go downtown/and march through the streets of Birmingham/in a freedom march today?” However, because it is extremely dangerous, the mother is terribly adamant and opposes the idea. African Americans in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1960s experienced countless harsh and gruesome acts on a daily basis. Dudley Randall states in his art: The mother smiled knowing that her son was in the sacred place, but that smile was the last smile to appear on her face because when she heard the explosion, her eyes became wet and wild. The mother's approach to the march is an unreasonable fear for her son's safety; it is desperately a state of mind that implies his disinterest in the events and opinions that fuel the march. This quote serves as an example of the many tragedies that African Americans had to endure in 1960s Birmingham. Several tragic murders of African Americans occurred in Birmingham. The individuals were detonating bombs, which later led to Birmingham often being called "Bombingham". In conclusion, the bombing of the black church was done because of someone who was prejudiced. The march was held specifically for equal rights for African Americans. The killings made African Americans feel unsafe wherever they went, including churches. This “ballad” contains a variety of well-articulated words that can touch the heart of anyone and any race. It has a smooth counter when reading. It could easily be set to music to create a beautiful song.