Johnson: Listen to Birmingham’s foot soldiers, whose voices are strengthened by their pain

This is an opinion column.

Listen.

They’re hard to hear sometimes—even when they’re near.

Still, listen.

Some of the voices have been stilled. Stilled by time. Stilled by weariness. Stilled by pain. Stilled by tears.

Leaving you wishing you’d…listened.

Some of the voices are faint—yet strong. Faint from weariness. Faint from pain. Faint from tears. Faint from loss.

Faint from battles still not won.

Yet still strong. Strengthened by the cause. Strengthened by victories. Strengthened by friends. By their faith. Friends who walked beside them. Friends who ran with them from racist police, from the Klan—usually one and the same back then. Friends who laughed, sang, and endured and endured beside them…. READ MORE