Today’s guest columnist is Paul Kix.
I am a white man from Iowa who married a Black woman from Houston, and we’re raising our three biracial children in suburban Connecticut, and I’m here to tell you: My life is only possible because of Birmingham, Alabama. Continue reading Birmingham changed America and my life forever
Today’s guest columnist is Michael Calvert.
A few years ago, there was no neighborhood other than public housing in downtown Birmingham.
Pioneering loft residents created a vibrant, social life to make “wonderful days” and wonderful nights, too, in Birmingham’s downtown neighborhood.
Like Mister Rogers, they said to each other, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” Continue reading Mr. Rogers would be proud of wonderful downtown Birmingham neighborhood
Today’s guest columnist is Jeffrey Bayer.
Last week, after a successful annexation vote, Mayor Sandy Stimson of Mobile proudly proclaimed, “We’re bigger than Birmingham!”
Up until recently Birmingham was concerned about falling behind Huntsville.
Now we’ve fallen behind, not only Huntsville, but also Montgomery and Mobile. Continue reading Birmingham doesn’t need Mtn. Brook, Vestavia, or Hoover to grow
Today’s guest columnist is Ruth Ann Moss.
We all want our children—all Birmingham’s children—to have bright futures.
Yet, according to the Brookings Institute, “a child born poor in Birmingham has a 1 in 20 chance of making it to the top income distribution, lagging almost everywhere else in the country.” Continue reading Birmingham, largest implementer of talk technology for babies as young as 4 months old
By David Sher
I’m sometimes criticized for comparing Birmingham to Nashville.
But in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, when I was growing up, Nashville was a smaller city than Birmingham.
My dad used to take me to Rickwood Field to watch the Birmingham Barons play baseball with the Nashville Vols. Continue reading Nashville punished, a cautionary tale for Birmingham
Today’s guest columnist is Richard Friedman.
During my long tenure as Executive Director of the Birmingham Jewish Federation, an Israeli Consul General told me something I’ve never forgotten. “You know,” he said. “We consider Alabama the most pro-Israel state in the country.” Continue reading Alabama may be the most pro-Israel state in the country
Today’s guest columnist is Karen Musgrove.
On April 1, 2022, the children at our school, the Magic City Acceptance Academy (MCAA), were attacked.
MCAA, a free public charter school founded in 2021 by BAO (Birmingham AIDS Outreach), opened with 250 students grades 6th through 12th. Continue reading What do you do when your children are attacked by an Alabama politician?
Today’s guest columnist is Maury Shevin.
If there is any dream that I have for my hometown it is this:
Birmingham, Alabama is a metropolitan area where its young people do not leave home for other cities; rather young people move to Birmingham for its world class job opportunities and vibrancy. Continue reading Birmingham, My dream for my hometown
Today’s guest columnist is Dick Pizitz.
In 1969, a future mayor of Birmingham, David Vann, recruited a few people to initiate a quiet campaign to consolidate all of the municipalities and unincorporated areas of Jefferson County into a single combined metropolitan government. Continue reading How Birmingham came within one vote of becoming a major U.S. city
Today’s guest columnist is Bill Ivey.
There’s no way to understand Birmingham until you know its history.
Slavery was never practiced in Birmingham because it wasn’t founded until 1871, six years after the Civil War.
But after its founding Birmingham took an ugly turn. Continue reading The ugly turn Birmingham took after its founding