Category Archives: What’s great about Birmingham

Sick and tired of Birmingham being stereotyped as racist

16th
16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham

My wife and I got on the shuttle bus leaving Protective Stadium following a UAB football game.

We walked to the back, sat down, and watched as people boarded.

A young couple, likely UAB students, sat down in front of us. The male was African American and his girlfriend was white. He put his arm around her and she laid her head on his shoulder.

And then do you know what happened? Continue reading Sick and tired of Birmingham being stereotyped as racist

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

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

What can Birmingham claim that no other city in the world has?

Richard Dickerson

Today’s guest columnist is Richard Dickerson.

What can Birmingham claim that no other city in the world has?

Some folks may say it is healthcare…

Others may point out our incredible restaurants.

However, other cities may claim the same.

So what is totally unique to Birmingham? What should be our face to the world? Continue reading What can Birmingham claim that no other city in the world has?

Birmingham bullet train to Atlanta

The westbound Amtrak Crescent streaks through the Titusville neighborhood in Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday, July 3, 2013. (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)
The westbound Amtrak Crescent streaks through the Titusville neighborhood in Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday, July 3, 2013. (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)

I actually wrote this column last year, but decided not to publish it.

It just seemed too farfetched.

But now that the Senate has passed a trillion dollar infrastructure bill, this could be Birmingham’s and Alabama’s big opportunity. Continue reading Birmingham bullet train to Atlanta

Huntsville is never going to be Alabama’s largest city

Tom Cosby
Tom Cosby

Today’s guest columnist is Tom Cosby.

There is a steady drumbeat in the clickbait news of how Huntsville is poised to overtake Birmingham as the state’s largest city.

While shocking in a man-bites-dog context, it is only true in the narrowest of contexts, that of comparing populations within a single municipality’s border. Continue reading Huntsville is never going to be Alabama’s largest city