A young business man sitting next to me on my flight from Atlanta to Philadelphia asked where I lived. I told him I was from Birmingham and he said he was from Philadelphia.
Then I asked…
“What comes to mind when you think of Birmingham?
“He said, “You have dirt roads, don’t you?” Continue reading What do people outside of Alabama think of Birmingham?
We in Birmingham join in mourning of the passing of the legendary South African leader, Nelson Mandela, who died last week at the age of 95.
It’s ironic that we are currently celebrating the 50th anniversary of our Civil Rights struggle the same year as Nelson Mandela’s death.
Many renowned speakers came to Birmingham this year and emphasized that Mandela was inspired by the Civil Rights struggle here in Birmingham. It’s clear that Birmingham played a key role in changing the world. Continue reading Why Birmingham can never have a Mandela
I hear these comments regularly…
“Good column, David, but I’m perplexed why you choose to live outside Birmingham.”
“If you love Birmingham so much, why don’t you move there?”
“Sher, you don’t live in Birmingham. Why should anyone pay attention to you?”
I grew up in Birmingham, but I’ve never kept it a secret Continue reading Why should I have to move back into Birmingham?
ComebackTown is published by David Sher to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.
Today’s guest blogger is Steve Boswell. We love to hear from young professionals. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.
“Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and persistent work of men willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail
This year marked the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement’s commencement in Birmingham. A movement whose impact would serve to pave the path of minority progress far beyond the streets of downtown Birmingham. When I reflect on what happened fifty years ago in Birmingham, there are four people who immediately come to mind. Four people, separated in pairs, and pitted against one another as implacable foes. On the one side were Continue reading Birmingham and the Detached Millennials
How’s it possible for similar Southern cities three hours apart to have totally different outcomes?
Amazingly the fortunes for both Birmingham and Nashville changed drastically in one pivotal year.
The year was 1963—exactly 50 years ago.
1963 was the year the city of Nashville consolidated with Davidson County. In April, Nashville celebrated 50 years of unified government.
1963 was also the year that Birmingham became infamous Continue reading The one big thing Birmingham could learn from Nashville
ComebackTown is published by David Sher & Phyllis Neill to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.
Today’s guest blogger is Jack Schaeffer who has some great ideas for Birmingham. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.
I would like to discuss some of the great things that are happening in Birmingham right now, and also propose a few of my own ideas that I feel will help Birmingham progress as an amazing and special place to live.
First and foremost, the current governing administration Continue reading Jack Schaeffer has a clear “vision” for Birmingham
ComebackTown is published by David Sher & Phyllis Neill to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.
Today’s guest blogger is Sue Johnson. Sue has some great experiences to share. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.
I took a walk this afternoon with my dog. It’s been three years since my husband, Jimmy, and I moved downtown to live and to start a new venture by opening Dog Days of Birmingham. As I walked, I reflected on our journey.
In 2009 we purchased the Hunter Furniture Store building Continue reading We moved to downtown Birmingham and LOVE it
ComebackTown is published by David Sher & Phyllis Neill to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.
Today’s guest blogger is Mark Naggar. We love to hear from young professionals. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.
Birmingham will forever have a special place in my heart – it’s my hometown. My parents, both immigrants, relocated to Birmingham in the 70’s and I have both the pleasure and privilege to say I’m a Magic City native. My father owned and operated a retail business on 2nd Avenue North just steps away from what is now the McWane Center. I spent much of my childhood downtown helping (and playing) in that store and exploring downtown.
Continue reading Birmingham: Waking the resting giant of Vulcan
ComebackTown is published by David Sher & Phyllis Neill to begin a discussion on a better Birmingham.
Today’s guest blogger is Jeffrey Bayer. If you’d like to be a guest blogger, please click here.
On July 30, 2013, I posted a blog proposing we bring the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County together in some configuration to create a better model for governance for our metro area.
Never could I have been prepared for the OVERWHELMING positive response. I literally can’t leave my house Continue reading Jeffrey Bayer sticks his neck out
Recently, I authored an artcle titled, “Surely this article will get me sued.”
It was about the daughter of a friend of mine who while studying abroad was asked by a fellow student why Birmingham had a separate bar association for African-Americans. (Her friend had discovered on the Internet)
I wrote specifically that I was not knowledgeable about our bar associations and I wasn’t being judgmental, but I was concerned with the perception of Birmingham since historically we have had a poor reputation for race relations.
I was immediately accused by commenters of “race baiting”… Continue reading Birmingham: No one wants to talk about race