Audrey Faye Hendricks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Audrey Faye Hendricks
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|---|---|
| Born |
Audrey Faye Hendricks
1953 |
| Died | March 1, 2009 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Years active | 46 years and a 3d |
| Organization | Southern Christian Leadership Conference |
| Known for | The youngest known demonstrator to be incarcerated during the Civil Rights Movement |
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Notable work
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The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, A Young Civil Rights Activist 2017 by Cynthia Levinson |
Audrey Faye Hendricks (born in 1953) was a brave young girl who played a big part in the Civil Rights Movement. She is known as the youngest person to be jailed during this important time in 1963.
When she was just nine years old, Audrey joined marches to fight for equal rights. She was one of many children who were arrested and put in jail. Audrey also took part in the Children's Crusade on May 2, 1963. This was a huge protest where thousands of kids marched for justice.
Growing Up in Birmingham
Audrey Faye Hendricks was born in 1953 in Birmingham, Alabama. Her parents were Lola Mae Haynes and Joseph Hendricks. She also had a sister named Jan Hendricks Fuller.
Audrey went to Center Street Elementary School in Birmingham. Her mother, Lola Mae Hendricks, worked as a secretary. She worked for a Civil Rights leader at the Bethel Baptist Church.
Standing Up for Change
The Civil Rights Movement was a time when people fought for equal rights for all Americans. In 1954, the Supreme Court made a big decision. They ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that having separate schools for different races was against the law.
In 1961, Audrey's parents and other activists won a lawsuit. This lawsuit helped to open Birmingham's parks to everyone, no matter their race. But the police commissioner closed the parks instead of integrating them.
In 1963, Audrey and other students decided to join a march. They walked out of school and joined Civil Rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. They marched to Birmingham's Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. The students formed protest groups and marched for four days. They wanted to show how unfair things were in Birmingham.
By May 6, Audrey was one of about 2,000 children who were arrested. They were jailed in Juvenile Hall. This event became known as the Children's Crusade. Because of this, Audrey became known as one of the youngest people jailed during the Civil Rights Movement.
About 15 years after the Brown v. Board of Education ruling, Audrey attended her first school that was open to all races.
Her Life After the Movement
After her brave actions in the Civil Rights Movement, Audrey went to Bishop College. She became a school teacher in Dallas, Texas.
Eight years later, she moved back to Birmingham, Alabama. For 25 years, she helped children from low-income families. In 2007, she earned her master's degree.
Audrey Faye Hendricks passed away on March 1, 2009, in Birmingham, Alabama. She was 55 years old.
In 2017, a book was published about Audrey's life. It is called The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist. The book tells about her journey and experiences as a young activist.
See also
