Category Archives: Guest columnist

Greatest college football team was not coached by Saban

Norman Jetmundsen wearing vintage football helmet
Norman Jetmundsen wearing vintage football helmet

Today’s guest columnist is Norman Jetmundsen.

In the country as a whole — and certainly in Alabama — college football is tantamount to a religion.

It’s what people read, write, watch, talk and argue about, not just during the season, but all year round.

It is natural, therefore, that much time and energy is spent in debating who were the greatest teams in the history of the game. Continue reading Greatest college football team was not coached by Saban →

Atlanta man has crazy bold Elon Musk idea for Birmingham

Wood Hughes
Wood Hughes

Today’s guest columnist is Wood Hughes.

In the early 1890s, a newly married young South Carolina man was looking for a better life than the worn fields and swamps then owned by his family.

He decided to move his Charleston bride to the booming town of Atlanta where he got on with the Atlanta Police Department. Continue reading Atlanta man has crazy bold Elon Musk idea for Birmingham →

A Birmingham barbershop–Where men spew hate

Chervis Isom (Photo by Hugh Hunter)

Today’s guest columnist is Chervis Isom.

As a young boy I always enjoyed my visits to the Johnson barbershop on 12th Avenue North in the Norwood neighborhood of Birmingham.

I liked the place because it was a man’s world where men talked about men stuff—sports and politics—and there were no women around to hold them accountable. Continue reading A Birmingham barbershop–Where men spew hate →

One of neatest cities in America in Jefferson County

John Hardin
John Hardin
Barry Smith
Barry Smith

Today’s guest columnists are John Hardin and Barry Smith.

It’s really quite unique!

Jefferson County is home to one of the neatest cities in America–a Mayberry-like town that enjoys incredible diversity and embraces that diversity.

Diverse, yet has one of the best, if not the best, school system in Alabama. Continue reading One of neatest cities in America in Jefferson County →

Life in prison can’t hold this Alabama man down

Jennifer L. Greer
Jennifer L. Greer

Today’s guest columnist is Jennifer L. Greer.

Think about the worst thing you have ever done. Does it define you?

No. And it doesn’t define Daoud Boone, a military vet, theatre major in college, aspiring poet/playwright, and an incarcerated Alabama man serving a life sentence — without parole. Continue reading Life in prison can’t hold this Alabama man down →

Opportunity for young Alabama minorities to succeed

Charisse Stokes
Charisse Stokes

Today’s guest columnist is Charisse Stokes.

Since childhood, I’ve been surrounded by few females and minorities in my academic and work environments, unfortunately, that’s typical in the technology field.

Being ‘the only’ black female in the room has encouraged me to expose more women and minorities to tech and innovation fields. Continue reading Opportunity for young Alabama minorities to succeed →

Imagine our future if Alabama leaders had vision

Memphis Vaughan

Today’s guest columnist is Memphis Vaughan.

Recently ComebackTown published a column on the  possibilities of a bullet train from Birmingham to Atlanta.

The response on social media was wildly positive.

Hundreds of commenters wanted to know why high speed rail and other visionary projects are dead on arrival in Alabama. Continue reading Imagine our future if Alabama leaders had vision →

My heart aches for Birmingham’s old music scene

Terry Barr
Terry Barr

Today’s guest columnist is Terry Barr.

Recently a friend sent me a copy of Blake Ells’ history of Birmingham music, Magic City Rock: Spaces and Faces of Birmingham’s Scene.

It’s a cool read, especially if, like me, you haven’t lived in Birmingham for decades and, at best, have only heard rumors of the continuing Rock and Pop and DIY music scene. Continue reading My heart aches for Birmingham’s old music scene →

1979 Birmingham murder leads to lynching and end of Alabama KKK

Jay Glass
Jay Glass

Today’s guest columnist is Jay Glass.

When you read about lynchings and the KKK in Alabama, you expect to be reading about incidents that happened 100 years ago. But this chain of events happened between 1979 and 1987–just 34 years ago.

Certain acts can have important unintended consequences.

An example of such a profound delayed effect with far-reaching social ramifications would have its origin in downtown Birmingham on the afternoon of November 29th, 1979 in front of Newberry’s in the 200 block of 20th Street North. Continue reading 1979 Birmingham murder leads to lynching and end of Alabama KKK →