On December 11, 1954, Charles Patrick drove to downtown Birmingham to buy a Boy Scout uniform for his son. Christmas traffic around the downtown department stores was heavy, and Patrick circled unsuccessfully until at last a streetside spot opened up and he began to pull in. As he did so, he was cut off by a woman who ordered him out of the way, as she was the wife of a city police officer. Patrick pulled away, remarking, Ma am, he doesn t own the streets of Birmingham.

Normal low-level urban hassle? Not in 1954 Birmingham, when the woman was white and Patrick black. The woman...