While attending the African American Travel Conference in April in Birmingham, Alabama, I had the opportunity to visit the 16th Street Baptist Church on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The church was bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1963, killing four young girls and becoming one of the defining tragedies of the Civil Rights Movement.
During my visit, historian Barry McNealy gave a powerful
presentation on the history of the church. His friend and colleague, Dr. John
A.E. Plump, sang several songs with deep meaning in the Black community. He
also performed “Ol’ Man River,” noting that the great Paul Robeson had sung the
song in the church many decades earlier.
Plump is a graduate of Alcorn State University, where he
studied voice with a concentration in classical music and contemporary opera.
Take a moment to listen to this powerful performance.
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