Behind the Magic Curtain: Secrets, Spies, and Unsung White Allies of Birmingham’s Civil Rights Days
TK Thorne
As a former Birmingham police officer and long-time resident of Birmingham, T.K. Thorne has a unique perspective on Alabama’s largest city, which is still known by many for its central role in the Civil Rights campaign against segregation in the 1960s. In Behind the Magic Curtain – a reference to Birmingham’s nickname of “The Magic City,” which was earned during a period of remarkable growth in the early 20th century – Thorne peels back the veil of history to show the nuances of how the city shook off the stranglehold of segregationists led in part by Public Safety Commissioner Eugene “Bull” Connor not just because of mostly-black civil rights marchers, but also by the progressive action of many white allies working behind the scenes in ways never fully explored. She also sheds light on how law enforcement monitored the Movement, and how journalists covered – or didn’t cover – the significant news story that would make Birmingham notorious.
