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

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

100-year-old Birmingham man meets angel two weeks before his death

Ri
Richard Friedman

Today’s guest columnist is Richard Friedman.

Two weeks before he died, Myron Radwin was in his room at Grandview Hospital recovering from surgery when something unexpected happened.

Shortly thereafter, at home and in declining health, Myron and his daughter Holly Mazer, who was in his hospital room that day, recounted the story. Continue reading 100-year-old Birmingham man meets angel two weeks before his death

To begin a conversation about a better Birmingham