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Photo: Gwen
By Gwen DeRu
BIRMINGHAM IS MAKING HISTORY….. STILL!!! CHECK IT ALL OUT!!
WORLD RECOGNITION! EMPOWERMENT WEEK! TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY COMES TO BIRMINGHAM!! LAUGHTER AT THE STARDOME! AND MORE!!!!
Birmingham is holding it down….. September is full of things all over the place. There will be good food, great entertainment, and plenty of people everywhere. Check out Jamie Foxx, Jill Scott and ‘Uncle’’ Charlie Wilson….if you can. But know that there are plenty more things going on and you can not make them all. I will see you somewhere… around town. Smile for the Camera!!
Now…, Let’s start with a ‘world’ recognition, again! This time in Fodor, a leading guide for world travelers. (This comes after the New York Times article by Joe Gose who wrote about a Return to Downtown Birmingham article and Regions Field being named the Ballpark of the Year in the baseballparks.com.) GO BIRMINGHAM!!!
**FODOR’S NAMES BIRMINGHAM AS A TOP WORLD DESTINATION – Birmingham was one of five American cities named to a list of 14 Best Places to Go This Fall compiled by Fodor’s, a leading guide for world travelers. Fodor’s encouraged travelers to visit Birmingham as it honors the 50th anniversary of Civil Rights milestones this fall with various events, including a Jazz Festival, a Civil Rights Film Festival and a Birmingham Museum of Art exhibit by Dawoud Bey dedicated to the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church.
“We are excited to be included in this list as one of only five U.S. cities,” said Birmingham Mayor William Bell. “We want the world to know that Birmingham is ready to welcome visitors from around the world as we commemorate 50YearsForward.”
The new Westin hotel in downtown Birmingham and one of the country’s largest urban parks, Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, also were cited. The full list, includes Paris, France, Kenya and Hong Kong, among others.
THIS IS EMPOWERMENT WEEK – A WEEK OF REMEMBERING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN BIRMINGHAM – There are so many things going on this week and weekend. All year long the City and the country have been recognizing the efforts of the last 50 years as more and new things are getting recognition. Here are just a few…
NEW MUSEUM IN OLD BESSEMER JAIL – The old Bessemer jail will become a museum for Martin Luther King’s experience in the Bessemer County Jail. Jefferson County Commissioner Sandra Brown, Sheriff Mike Hale and Mayor Kenneth Gulley of Bessemer announced plans to transform the old Bessemer County jail into a Museum to tell the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s experience in a Bessemer jail in 1967. The exhibit at the county jail in Bessemer will highlight King’s connection to Bessemer. Artifacts from the evening Martin Luther King, Jr. was arrested and taken to the Bessemer County jail in 1967 will be on display. EXHIBIT OF KING’S BRIEF STAY IN 1967 WILL OPEN IN JANUARY OF 2014. While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s footprint is all over Birmingham, his journey took him to Bessemer’s county jail where he served the balance of a sentence (3 days) along with A.D. King, Ralph Abernathy, and Wyatt T. Walker after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s conviction that he and others protested without a proper permit. The project will be funded totally by private donations and those persons who would like to help make this museum a reality should contact the organization at www.opendoortohistory.org.
**Remembering 4 Little Girls: A Gallery of Creative Expressions –
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing with an opening reception of its new exhibition, Remembering 4 Little Girls: A Gallery of Creative Expressions. The exhibition will be on display through December 31, 2013 in the David Vann Gallery. The Remembering 4 Little Girls exhibition, which is one of six owned and circulated by BCRI, consists of the top 36 multi-media entries from a nationwide high school contest sponsored by Home Box Office (HBO) in 1998. The contest was held in conjunction with the release of Spike Lee’s Oscar nominated documentary “4 Little Girls.” Lee’s film explores the historic 1963 bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama which killed four little African-American girls attending Sunday School. The exhibition and related education programs are supported by Wells Fargo.
**FOUR SPIRITS STATUE IS A SCULPTURE TO BE UNVEILED SEPT 14
There has been some confusion between the 4 Little Girls Memorial Fund and the “Four Spirits” statue that will be unveiled on Saturday, September 14th at 4 p.m. across the street from the 16th Street Baptist Church.
FOUR LITTLE GIRLS MEMORIAL FUND – The 4 Little Girls Memorial Fund is a college scholarship fund that has been serving as a “Living Legacy” to the 4 Little Girls for the past 30 years – living through the lives of our college scholarship recipients. On Saturday, September 14th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the 4 Little Girls Memorial Fund is hosting a 50-Year Memorial Tribute reception at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Admission to this scholarship fundraising reception is by ticket, available at 4LittleGirlsFund.org or at the door. Tickets start at $50 (and include a $35 tax-deductible contribution to the Fund).
**TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY COMES TO BIRMINGHAM – Talladega Superspeedway supported the Empowerment Week with an appearance of the NASCAR Chase for the Championship Driver Greg Biffle. Biffle is a candidate for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship. As a part of Birmingham’s 50 Years Forward campaign commemorating key events in the Civil Rights Movement, it was a Day of Service for hundreds to volunteers to help improve the downtown area, a Tribute to the City’s first responders and a Kickoff to the 50th Anniversary of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing. Biffle seeded seventh out of the 12 drivers in The Chase and was in town to talk about the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup and the Camping World RV Sales 500 Weekend October 18 – 20- at Talladega Superspeedway. Biffle met with Firefighters at Birmingham’s Fire Station 1, assisted with washing a fire truck, and toured the fire station before taking the truck for a lap around the block.
A PIECE OF HISTORY – Talladega College was the place where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Andrew Young were first introduced. It was on the Talladega College campus with Dr. English in 1958. Talladega College will be celebrating the 50th Anniversary of these historic civil rights events throughout the year. (Contact Talladega College for more details.)
**BABJ CONFERENCE RECOGNIZE GREAT PERSONS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT – DON LEMON spoke, recently, at the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists Mountaintop Awards event and honored Emory O. Jackson, our very own Dr. Jesse J. Lewis, Sr. and Dr. Shelley Stewart. BABJ continued to honor the 50th Anniversary Year of the Civil Rights Struggle with the Standing on Their Shoulders Conference while celebrating the courageous journalists of the past, present and future who put the spotlight on issues of civil and human rights. Media perspectives of civil and human rights….Then and Now included HANK KLIBANOFF, DOUG JONES and BARNETT WRIGHT as well as many others.
LAUGHTER AT THE STARDOME COMEDY CLUB – the MIDNIGHT SWINGER is performing at the StarDome Comedy Club this weekend. Call him cocky, call him confident, but never call him dull. The Midnight Swinger erupts onto the stage like the volcano in front of the Mirage Hotel in a fresh and original, over the top event that has been called “sharp-witted,” “clever” and “classy.” The never subtle or soft spoken Midnight Swinger heats up the room as he puts on a classic Las Vegas style show filled with great comedy, music, singing and dancing. Call (205) 444-0008 for more. Tell Bruce and Che Che that Gwen sent you.
EMPOWERMENT WEEK – CHECK OUT THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES FOR MORE!!
TODAY….
**U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS – The U.S. Conference of Mayors will convene 9 a.m. – 12 Noon. Panel discussions with Mayors on Economic Justice; Building Tolerance at the 16th Street Baptist Church, 1530 6th Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama.
**MARTINI THURSDAY, 8:30 p.m., at Ona’s Music Room.
**LIVE JAZZ WITH PJ SPRAGGINS and FRIENDS, 7:30 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
FRIDAY…..
**SEMINAR – FINANCIAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS & RECOVERY, 2 – 3:30 p.m. at the Innovation Depot on First Avenue North. FREE. Register at info@bbrc.biz.
**SASSY BROWN with the SASSY BROWN BAND, 10 p.m., at Ona’s Music Room.
**KING’S HOUR and VIP FRIDAY with DJ Dirty Vegas and Young Dil on the Mic at Merienda Lounge. Call (205) 422-9849 for more.
**BISHOP CALVIN WOODS. SR. CELEBRATES 80 YEARS –Get out and celebrate the80th Birthday Celebration for Bishop Calvin Woods, Sr. at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, 2315 26th Avenue North. For more information call (205) 322-5291.
**SOULED OUT LIVE, 7:30 p.m. at Jazz Underground. Call (205) 202-3640.
SATURDAY……
**HEELS AND CHUCKS, 10 p.m., at Ona’s Music Room.
**SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE at the Merienda Lounge.
**LIVE JAZZ WITH ON PURPOSE, 7:30 p.m. at Jazz Underground. There is an After Midnight Old School After Party at midnight. Call (205) 202-3640.
SUNDAY….
**CHRISETTE MICHELE LIVE at the Merienda Lounge. Merienda is celebrating its Third Year Anniversary Party featuring a performance by Christette Michele. Call (205) 422-9849 for more.
**SALSA SUNDAY, 6 p.m. at Jazz Underground. Call (205) 202-3640.
COMING SOON…
**SEPTEMBER 26 – GREASE with slick hair, fast cars and unquestionable good times On Thursdays through Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays, 2 p.m. until October 20. Call (205) 324-2424 for more.
**SEPTEMBER 26 – HAYES HIGH SCHOOL ALL CLASSES REUNION – Carol Hayes High is hosting an all classes’ reunion, September 26-29, 2013, in Birmingham, Ala. Contact persons are Jimmy L. Burton 205-798-0979, Dennis Jenkins 205-836-1377, Annie Lewis Myricks 205-777-3838, and Florine McMullin 205-787-1018.
For you… Birthday Ballers…..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL CELEBRATING!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ….. MANY, MANY MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!! ENJOY!!
Well, that’s it for now. Tell you more ‘next’ time.
(People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send comments to my emails: thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com or gwenderu@yahoo.com)
