Fires are a staple of television news — and church fires are a symbol of outright hatred and violence. Put them together, and you have a compelling combination that draws attention from around the globe.
The ATF and FBI have arrested three college students — charged with the intentional torching of nine churches in central and west Alabama. The first five happened in rural Bibb County. The other four were scattered in other counties a few days later, in an attempt to throw a wrench in the investigative track.
In one sense, these communities can start putting these events behind them. Knowing that it was dumb college kids and not race-or-religion-based hate is a slight comfort. Unfortunately, past history tells us that public perception on the national scale will not catch up to the facts. If asked, most people outside of the state will tell you that the last round of hyped church burnings (mid ’90s) were a racial plot, when in fact most were set by members. A year from now, others will insist the Bibb County church fires were set by the Klan. (A funny thought, considering that all five of the Bibb churches were white congregations.)
The state of Alabama has a long way to go in changing perceptions, and its people are at the mercy and whim of those who are content to carry the stereotypes. Those minds won’t be changed until they are ready.
While the state’s image is the indirect “loser” in this affair, the PR staff at Birmingham-Southern College is working to avoid direct fallout. Two of the three arrested are BSC students — and that is not exactly the top-of-mind impression you want to leave. Already, the school is fielding questions about the investigation, part of which occurred on campus:
“I can confirm the FBI was on our campus last evening conducting an investigation,†school spokeswoman Linda Hallmark said today. “At this time, we know nothing more than that. We’re waiting on information and instruction from the FBI.â€
UPDATE: Birmingham-Southern is going out of its way to come out of this in as positive a position as possible:
Pollick said it was too early to determine whether the aid would be in the form of money or labor. “We’re hoping to find the best way to help.â€
UPDATE 2: An analysis of the BSC official statement
The embers of perception burn long after the fires of hate go cold.
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An interesting question is whose perceptions need to be changed first? No doubt, Alabamians are projecting racist motives onto these fires as much as the outsiders are. I’ve heard plenty of criticism come from those located in other parts of the nation, but are those perceptions based on history or on the attitudes leaking out of Alabama?
Is this a problem that must be fixed from the outside in or from the inside out?
Great closing line, by the way.
Comment by Drew — March 8, 2006 @ 6:23 pm
I’d have to say that most Alabamians, being closer to the constant media coverage, knew early on that these were white churches this time around. I concede that the passage of time may have dulled local memories to the facts surrounding the previous round of church fires.
As to attitudes “leaking” out of Alabama — there are always those with an agenda, who benefit from cultivating and nurturing certain stereotypes and biases. That’s not so much a “leak” as a blatant attempt to distort or disregard fact.
My point is focused more on those outside who might get just a 15-second blurb on their local or national news. They are more likely to absorb an impression of what happened that is in line with their prior dispositions. The dearth of coverage and paucity of new facts will not be enough to overcome their internal story. Therefore, less of a chance of an attitude change.
I strongly recommend to you (or anyone else for that matter) The Story Factor by Annette Simmons.
Comment by Ike — March 8, 2006 @ 6:43 pm