Category Archives: Guest columnist

Mtn. Brook mom pained by parental social media rants

Caleigh Rathmill Alevy
Caleigh Rathmell Alevy

Today’s guest columnist is Caleigh Rathmell Alevy.

If you’d like to be a guest columnist, please click here.

In recent weeks, I have witnessed parents in my community battle on social media as we are approaching the start of the school year. Parents who want the best for their children and will fight to make sure their children get as much of that as possible. Continue reading Mtn. Brook mom pained by parental social media rants →

Startling observation from my quarantine drive

The Rev. Jon Chalmers
The Rev. Jon Chalmers

Today’s guest columnist is The Rev. Jon Chalmers.

If you’d like to be a guest columnist, please click here.

Judging from the license plates along the gravel road to Hargrove Shoals along the Cahaba River in Bibb County, my quarantine driven desire for a road trip was shared by many in our community. Continue reading Startling observation from my quarantine drive →

B’ham black attorney gets last laugh

J. Mason Davis
J. Mason Davis
Today’s guest columnist is J. Mason Davis.

If you’d like to be a guest columnist, please click here.

There is one incident in my life that I have always remembered and told and retold to audiences that had an interest. It occurred during summer break between my second and third years of Law School. 1958. Continue reading B’ham black attorney gets last laugh →

High stakes–How to open Alabama schools

Dr. Karim I. Budhwani, CEO CerFlux,

Today’s guest columnist is Dr. Karim I. Budhwani.

If you’d like to be a guest columnist, please click here.

Many parents, teachers, and administrators are agonizing over the safety of students and ultimately their loved ones as Alabama schools open in the next few weeks. Continue reading High stakes–How to open Alabama schools →

Black bodies falling in the streets–Does B’ham have the will to act?

Onoyemi Williams
Onoyemi Williams

Today’s guest columnist is Onoyemi Williams.

If you’d like to be a guest columnist, please click here.

What if there were a proven vaccination for the Coronavirus and our government chose to ignore it?

Gun violence is ravaging neighborhoods in Birmingham, leaving families devastated, communities torn asunder.

We have a proven strategy to reduce gun violence in Birmingham. Continue reading Black bodies falling in the streets–Does B’ham have the will to act? →

Hoover and Mountain Brook not immune from Coronavirus

Frank McPhillips
Frank McPhillips

Today’s guest columnist is Frank McPhillips.

If you’d like to be a guest columnist, please click here.

If you live in a leafy over-the-mountain community, you might think you have nothing to worry about when it comes to COVID-19.

The argument goes like this: the coronavirus won’t bother me because I don’t belong to an at-risk population. Continue reading Hoover and Mountain Brook not immune from Coronavirus →

Pollyannish white man: ‘B’ham has reached a tipping point’

Maury Shevin
Maury Shevin

Today’s guest columnist is Maury Shevin.

If you’d like to be a guest columnist, please click here.

A few weeks have passed since our nation and our city erupted in righteous revulsion to the killing of George Floyd.

Like many, I am still putting events into perspective, but  Floyd’s death can only be described as a 21st Century lynching. Continue reading Pollyannish white man: ‘B’ham has reached a tipping point’ →

Birmingham surprised me!

Jeff Barrett
Jeff Barrett

Editor’s note: On January 17th, Jeff Barrett, a highly respected business writer, wrote a piece for Entrepreneur saying Birmingham, Alabama was the most interesting place he visited in 2019. He’s not done bragging on Birmingham…

If you’d like to be a guest columnist, please click here.

When you spend two years traveling to 50+ cities, 40+ states for Inc and Entrepreneur you gain a very unique perspective about the country. There isn’t a bad trip; everyone is putting their best foot forward.

Still, Birmingham has surprised me. This isn’t another article. This is a thank you letter to Birmingham. Continue reading Birmingham surprised me! →

The Talk

Thom Gossom, Jr.
Thom Gossom, Jr.

Today’s guest columnist is Thom Gossom, Jr.

If you’d like to be a guest columnist, please click here.

(Editor’s note: This piece originally appeared on Facebook and is being  published with permission of author)

I remember “the talk.”

The talk that black fathers gave and probably still give to their sons. It was time. I was probably getting closer to driver’s license age and that meant I could venture further from the nest on my own.

The talk was serious. No! It wasn’t the sex talk. We had that one too. It was like the sex itself. Quick and… well you know. Continue reading The Talk →

What B’ham swastika drawing students didn’t know

Teresa Thorne
Teresa (T.K.) Thorne

Today’s guest columnist is Teresa (T.K.) Thorne.

If you’d like to be a guest columnist, please click here.

How could students from a Birmingham-area school think it’s cool to draw swastikas on each other? This happened recently and brought home a warning. Continue reading What B’ham swastika drawing students didn’t know →