Great God Almighty Done Parted the Red Sea One Mo’ Time

Easter Sunday dawned with Martin [Luther King] in jail. . . . We planned a march from New Pilgrim Baptist Church to the city jail for the afternoon of Easter Sunday. . . . By the time church ended some five thousand people had gathered . . . dressed in their best Sunday clothes. The marchers set out in a festive mood. Suddenly they saw police, fire engines, and firemen with hoses in front of them, blocking their path. “Bull” Connor bellowed, “Turn this group around!”

Five thousand people stopped and waited for instruction from their leaders…I can’t say we knew what to do.. . . I asked the people to get down on their knees and offer a prayer. . . . Suddenly Rev. Charles Billups…jumped up and hollered, “The Lord is with this movement! Off your knees! We’re going on!” . . . Stunned at first, Bull Connor yelled, “Stop ’em, stop ’em!” But none of the police moved a muscle. . . . Even the police dogs that had been growling and straining at their leashes . . . were now perfectly calm. . . . I saw one fireman, tears in his eyes, just let the hose drop at his feet. Our people marched right between the red fire trucks, singing, “I want Jesus to walk with me.” . . . [Bull Connor’s] policemen had refused to arrest us, his firemen had refused to hose us, and his dogs had refused to bite us. It was quite a moment to witness.

I’ll never forget one old woman who became ecstatic when she marched through the barricades…she shouted, “Great God Almighty done parted the Red Sea one mo’ time!”