Audrey Faye Hendricks

Audrey Faye Hendricks

Name	Audrey Faye Hendricks
Birth name
Birth date	March 22, 1953
Birth place	Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Death date	March 1, 2009
Death place	Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Alma mater
Occupation
Years active
Organization
Known for	Civil Rights Activism
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Audrey Faye Hendricks (March 22, 1953 – March 1, 2009) was an American civil rights activist known for being the youngest participant in the Birmingham Children's Crusade of 1963. Her involvement in the civil rights movement at such a young age highlights the significant role children played in the struggle for racial equality in the United States.

Early Life

Audrey Faye Hendricks was born in Birmingham, Alabama, a city that was a focal point of the civil rights movement due to its strict enforcement of racial segregation laws. She was raised in a family that was deeply involved in the fight for civil rights. Her parents, Joseph and Lola Hendricks, were active members of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights (ACMHR), an organization that worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

The Birmingham Children's Crusade

In May 1963, at the age of nine, Audrey participated in the Birmingham Children's Crusade, a pivotal event in the civil rights movement. The Children's Crusade was organized by the SCLC and ACMHR to protest against segregation in Birmingham. Thousands of African American children and teenagers marched to demonstrate against the city's segregation laws.

Audrey was among the first group of children to be arrested during the protests. Her arrest and the subsequent jailing of hundreds of children drew national attention to the civil rights movement and the harsh realities of segregation in the South. The images of children being sprayed with fire hoses and attacked by police dogs shocked the nation and increased support for the civil rights movement.

Impact and Legacy

The Birmingham Children's Crusade was instrumental in the eventual desegregation of Birmingham and contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Audrey's courage and the bravery of the other children who participated in the crusade are remembered as a testament to the power of youth activism.

Audrey Faye Hendricks continued to be involved in civil rights activities throughout her life. She became a symbol of the impact that young people can have in the fight for justice and equality.

Later Life and Death

After her involvement in the civil rights movement, Audrey Faye Hendricks continued to live in Birmingham, where she worked as a teacher and remained active in her community. She passed away on March 1, 2009, leaving behind a legacy of courage and activism.

See Also

• Birmingham campaign
• Civil Rights Movement
• Martin Luther King Jr.

References

• "The Children's Crusade: When the Youth of Birmingham Marched for Justice." History.com.
• "Audrey Faye Hendricks: A Young Hero of the Civil Rights Movement." National Civil Rights Museum.

External Links

• [Birmingham Civil Rights Institute](https://www.bcri.org/)