The 16th Street Baptist Church is a historic African American church located in Birmingham, Alabama. It played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. On September 15, 1963, the church was the target of a racially motivated bombing by white supremacists. The explosion killed four young African American girls: Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Carol Denise McNair.

The bombing shocked the nation and galvanized support for the Civil Rights Movement. It drew attention to the violent resistance faced by African Americans fighting for equality and justice. The tragedy at the 16th Street Baptist Church became a turning point in the fight for civil rights and helped spur the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The church remains a symbol of the struggle for racial equality and justice in America. It has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for civil rights.