Category Archives: Race relations

Guest blogger, Race relations, What's great about Birmingham

Director reckons with Art Museum’s ugly past

September 13, 2018 David Sher 5 Comments

Graham Boettcher, The R. Hugh Daniel Director of the Birmingham Museum of Art

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a more prosperous Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Graham Boettcher. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

The Birmingham Museum of Art is proud to serve the people of our city.

Through the generosity of our community, we’ve built an exceptional collection of more than 27,000 works of art, and last year, welcomed 123,000 visitors through our doors.

It wasn’t so long ago, however, when we failed many of our citizens, writing a shameful chapter in the Museum’s history that we are still striving to overcome. Continue reading Director reckons with Art Museum’s ugly past →

David Sher posts, Race relations

My dad’s struggle to do the right thing in racially charged Birmingham

August 15, 2018 David Sher 12 Comments

I grew up in the South in the 1950’s.

‘Negroes’ drank from water fountains labeled ‘Colored’; used separate restrooms from whites; and were relegated to sit in the back of buses.

My father owned a small retail store in downtown Birmingham. Continue reading My dad’s struggle to do the right thing in racially charged Birmingham →

Guest blogger, Race relations

David Carrington: ‘My most embarrassing moment’

April 25, 2018 David Sher 2 Comments

Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is David Carrington. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

(Comments of Commissioner David Carrington at the unveiling of the new mural at Jefferson County Courthouse April 24th)…

Today is my 70^th birthday – and I’m closer to my journey’s end – than I am to its beginning.

I’ve seen so many new things in my lifetime – from air conditioning – to indoor plumbing at my grandparent’s house – to color television sets – to images of a man walking on the moon – to microwave ovens – to a personal computer that conveniently fits in my shirt pocket – and is insultingly called a phone. Continue reading David Carrington: ‘My most embarrassing moment’ →

David Sher posts, Government structure, Population, Race relations

Mtn. Brook, Homewood, Vestavia wannabe gambles & loses

March 14, 2018 David Sher Leave a comment

Rarely do you have an opportunity to read an article that clearly shows why we’ve had virtually no job growth in our metropolitan area.

Erin Edgemon of al.com recently wrote a piece about how a Jefferson County municipality took a big gamble and lost.

Continue reading Mtn. Brook, Homewood, Vestavia wannabe gambles & loses →

Guest blogger, Race relations, What's great about Birmingham

Birmingham’s award-winning food scene vilified: BAD FOR AMERICA

September 19, 2017 David Sher 11 Comments

ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.

Today’s guest blogger is Samantha Dubrinsky. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Food & Wine magazine would be relocating to Birmingham. For weeks, there were articles highlighting what a wonderful move this is for Birmingham and the food industry. Continue reading Birmingham’s award-winning food scene vilified: BAD FOR AMERICA →

David Sher posts, Race relations, What's great about Birmingham

Time for Birmingham to embrace our civil rights past

July 25, 2017 David Sher 5 Comments

Birmingham’s been called the ‘city of perpetual promise.’

But that potential seems to elude us.

Destiny, however, has dealt us a hand and it’s up to us to grab it.

If we want to make our mark on the world then we must identify how we’re unique and how we can exploit that uniqueness. Continue reading Time for Birmingham to embrace our civil rights past →

David Sher posts, Government structure, Race relations

Why politics in Birmingham default to race

January 4, 2017 David Sher 1 Comment

William Mohammad, member Birmingham Water Works Board — William Mohammad, Birmingham Water Works Board

David Carrington, member Jefferson County Commission

I’ve never met William Muhammad, the newly reappointed member of the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB)—so I’m unable to comment on his character.

However, I’ve known Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington for many years and can strongly testify that he’s not a racist.

In fact, Commissioner Carrington is a poster child for ‘inclusiveness.’

Continue reading Why politics in Birmingham default to race →

Corporate community, David Sher posts, Race relations

How Trussville mucked up Birmingham’s future

November 1, 2016 David Sher 4 Comments

Okay, I should have titled this column, “How Trussville, Adamsville, Hueytown, and Pleasant Grove mucked up Birmingham’s future.”

I’m repeatedly surprised by the animosity between our suburbs and the City of Birmingham.

The lack of trust between our City and its suburbs continually plays havoc with our progress. Continue reading How Trussville mucked up Birmingham’s future →

David Sher posts, Race relations

Are black politicians what’s wrong with Birmingham?

September 20, 2016 David Sher 4 Comments

Jonathan Austin, President of the Birmingham City Council & Mayor William Bell

Week after week I read comments on al.com and on social media blaming Birmingham’s misfortunes on black politicians.

They infer Birmingham would be a better city if whites were in control.

Recently ComebackTown published a piece on efforts to designate our Civil Rights District as a new National Historic Park.

I immediately received a tweet, “Aren’t you embarrassed by what black people have done to Birmingham once they took COMPLETE political control of the city?” Continue reading Are black politicians what’s wrong with Birmingham? →

David Sher posts, Race relations

A white mayor for Birmingham?

May 16, 2016 David Sher Leave a comment

Last year who would have predicted that Donald Trump might win the Republican Primary?

Last year who would have thought that Bernie Sanders would still be giving Hillary Clinton heartburn?

People have become so unhappy with the status quo that they are willing to vote for outsiders and non-traditional candidates.

It’s become totally impossible to predict elections and that may be true for Birmingham also.

Continue reading A white mayor for Birmingham? →

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham