The poen "Ballad of Birmingham" by Dudley Randall

In the poem Ballad of Birmingham, by Dudley Randall, written

in 1969, Mr. Randall uses of irony to describes the events of the mothers decision,

and also her concern for the welfare of her darling little child. It seems odd that this

child would even know what a freedom march is, but this would be considered

normal back in the early 1960's, when Mr. Martin Luther King Jr. had rallies and

freedom marches to free the African American people from discrimination and

segregation (Hunter 6). It also seems very ironic that the young child is acting like

an adult in this particular situation (Hunter 12). I think the mother would be the one

who would want to got to the march to free her people, not the child. In the poem

'Ballad of Birmingham', by Dudley Randall, written in 1969, Mr. Randall uses tone

and irony to describe the events of the mothers decisions, and as well as her concern

for her child's well being.

English: Photograph of Rosa Parks with Dr. Martin ...

Abandoned Sears in North Randall, Ohio

Randall Park Mall in North Randall, Ohio

In the first stanza irony is used in order to make reading the

poem more interesting. The situation in this first stanza is also very important. The

little child is in a desperate situation and wants to help better the lives of the African

Americans. Randall also focuses on specific culture here. The speaker is allowing

the reader to make a mental picture of one specific march in Birmingham (Hunter

17). But, you know as well as I, that with peace marches and rallies comes violence

and hostility. This is exactly what the little girls mother is afraid of, this is why she

will not let her go to the march. It also seems weird that her mother is so sure that

going to church, instead of going to the march, will be...