“The Ballad of Birmingham” is a poem written by renowned author Dudley Randall. The poem serves nicely as a traditional ballad in which the story is told in song-like fashion. The informative tone of the poem seeks to teach us something in efforts to advance the theme of inessential devastation. Additionally, Randall creates the tone of the story and conveys its message using many literary devices. To begin with, it is obvious that irony is of utmost importance throughout this poem. Specifically, the young child dying in the church after his mother tells him to go there to be safe is very ironic and fully describes the current problem of racial violence in the southern states as well as the country. The dramatic lack of security sums up the difficulties caused by the American government, whose primary task was to ensure peace and security for all. Unfortunately, African Americans did not receive what they were sworn to. In “Ballad of Birmingham,” Dudley Randall illustrates a disagreement between a child who seeks 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 of Birmingham, Alabama. He said, “For dogs are fierce and wild, and clubs and pipes and guns and prisons are not good for a little child.” Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The majority of this poem is presented as a dialogue between a mother and child. Additionally, this particular style imparts the feeling of an intimate tone and further includes the mannerisms of the characters. Throughout this poem, the child is excessively eager to travel to Birmingham in hopes of marching for freedom. The child asks: “Mother dear, can I go downtown/And march through the streets of Birmingham/In a march for freedom today?” ". However, as it is extremely dangerous, the mother is terribly adamant and opposed to the idea. African Americans in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1960s were subjected to countless harsh and horrific acts on a daily basis. Dudley Randall states in his art: The mother smiled to know that her child was in the sacred place, But that smile was the last smile to appear on her face For when she heard the explosion, Her eyes grew wet and wild. The mother's approach to walking is unreasonable fear for her child's safety; it is hopelessly a state of mind that implies one's disinterest in the events and opinions that fuel the march. This quote is an example of the many tragedies that African Americans had to endure in 1960s Birmingham. Several tragic murders of African Americans have occurred in Birmingham. Individuals would set off bombs, which later led to Birmingham often being nicknamed "Bombingham". In conclusion, the bombing of the black church was done because of someone who was prejudiced. The march was specifically organized for equal rights for African Americans. Because of these killings, African Americans feel unsafe everywhere they go, including churches. This “ballad” contains a variety of well-articulated words that can touch the heart of anyone and any race. It has a regular counter when reading it. We could easily put it to music to make a beautiful song..