The day the two sisters went to the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church is unforgettable.
A civil rights bombing by members of the Klu Klux Klan killed four little girls at the Birmingham, Ala., church including their sister, the late Addie Mae Collins.
Witnesses to terror
Sarah Rudolph, known as ‘the fifth little girl,’ was in the vestibule of the ladies’ room when the bomb exploded. She survived but suffered vision loss and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Her sister, Junie Williams, had to identify her older sister Addie Mae by her shoes since her face was virtually unrecognizable. Next year, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the historic event.
Telling their stories on campus
Wednesday, the two sisters — Sarah and Junie — will share their heroic stories, discuss their struggles with post-traumatic stress and encourage others who cope with adversity as part of the first event in the annual Diversity Lectures and Cultural Arts Series.
“We are excited to bring this nationally-recognized lecture to the medical center campus as our kick-off series event,” said Linda Cunningham, diversity specialist in UNMC’s Human Relations department. “I know it will be educational and engaging for our community.”
“A Tale of Two Sisters: Civil Rights Project” starts at 11:30 a.m. in the Sorrell Center’s Campus Events Center. Lunch will be provided to the first 35 attendees.