Long Time Coming

by Petric J. Smith

An insider’s story of the Birmingham church bombing.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Shannan Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. What the author went through to help justice be served was saddening. I would say It's hard to believe some of this happened, but with the way things are going in today's time, I'm not surprised. I'm glad they're finally able to live their truth.

[Burt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elizabeth Cobbs' aunt was married to a man named Robert Chambliss. In 1963, Chambliss masterminded the bombing of Birmingham, Alabama's 16th Street Baptist Church. The bombing resulted in the deaths of 4 girls who were preparing for church services.

The power of Cobbs' story is that she knew Chambliss and many of the other people who were involved in the bombing. These people regularly visited Cobbs' family. In Long Time Coming, Cobbs recounts what it was like to live in that scary world.

In 1977, the State of Alabama charged Chambliss with the murder of the four girls. Cobbs agreed to testify for the prosecution. Long Time Coming does a good job of explaining how Cobbs came to be a witness - and the price that she paid for her testimony.

Long Time Coming is a good, short read. It is just 190 pages and 30 of those are pictures. I wish that Cobbs had written a bit more, as her life had some interesting twists and turns after her testimony concluded.

So much has been written about the Birmingham bombings that the outline of the story will be familiar to many readers. But the book is worth reading because it offers the telling, personal details.

[Dewin Anguas Barnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I read this after seeing it referenced in Last Chance for Justice by T.K.Thorne, also an excellent book. Smith included a lot research, including copies of some of the police and legal papers. I learned at least two new major things about the case that I had not known, in addition to learning more about Chambliss and his family. But, the biggest revelation I think was just the fact that so many law enforcement and political players were involved. This book may not offer fledged "proof", but it does an excellent job of putting all the pieces together and consolidating the holes into a list of specific questions which remain now, and most likely forever, unanswered.

I was so disappointed when I found out online after finishing the book the Smith passed away only 4 years after this book was published. He was a brave man and sacrificed so much throughout his life.

[Jewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Factual account of the niece who testified her uncle who took place in the bombing of the 16th street Baptist church in 1963 Birmingham. I read this because it was referenced in The book Bending Towards Justice by the current senator Doug Jones who also wrote about the trials that took place after the bombing of which he prosecuted and won his case, leading to the conviction of two klan members responsible for the bombings as well


I have to tip my hat to the author as she endured threats against her life from members of her family and klan members for the duration of her life. For me it would be interesting to read more I left the klan stories just to better understand and appreciate the change of heart those people had....

[Chantel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely can't understand why this book is out of print. It was detailed and moving and explained the civil rights movement on Birmingham with so much detail. For people who enjoy history this is a must read.

[Linda Naylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in Birmingham,Ala was the same age as the four young girls who we're murdered at that time. Also knew them. Very riveting account of that sequence of events.